No-Fuss Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill

By Amanda Paa – Updated April 22, 2023
4.78 from 9 votes
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Learn how to make this easy rotisserie chicken on a gas grill, and turns out incredibly moist and juice, with the crackliest, golden brown skin. There’s no overnight marinade or brining, just a simple dry rub and refrigeration for a few hours to dry out the skin for extra crispiness.

girl holding a rotisserie chicken attached to a spit, open grill in backround

This post is sponsored by Twin Eagles Grills, a year long partner of Heartbeet Kitchen. We have their 36 inch grill top with infrared rotisserie, on a portable base. Their meticulously engineered grills are as beautiful as they are high performance.

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We’ve been cooking a rotisserie chicken on the grill quite often this summer, and ya’ll, I might just have to replace the Thanksgiving turkey with it. This is an an all in one, easy peasy meal. The chicken cooks above a pan of potatoes and onions, which prepare themselves in the juices that drip from the bird.

And just like that you’ve outdone yourself with zero effort.

whole chicken on a white plate with potatoes and onions underneath it, sprigs of basil tucked in

I’ve never made a juicer chicken, with incredibly tender white and dark meat!
The skin is extra golden and crisp thanks to the rear infrared burner made specifically for using the rotisserie on our Twin Eagles Grill, rendering the fat slowly and basting itself with each revolution of the rotisserie.

This recipe takes the guess work out of making your own rotisserie chicken. There’s no liquid brine or overnight marinade, just some chill time, uncovered, in the refrigerator after seasoning.

How To Prep A Chicken For The Rotisserie Grill

raw whole chicken on a spit, on a white plate, person tying with string to truss

Important steps in making a rotisserie chicken on the grill including trussing it, and attaching it to the spit. The bird has to be trussed into a tight package and secured to avoid flopping wings and wobbly legs that will pull the bird loose from the spit forks.

  1. Pat the chicken dry, and insert the spit through the cavity,
  2. We watched this video to learn how to truss the chicken while it was on the spit, using butchers twine. You’ll want to cut the piece of string 4x longer than the length of the bird. It was easy and straightforward!
  3. Sink the 1st spit fork into the thighs. Slide the second spit fork on to the spit and push the fork into the bird’s breast meat just above the wings. Keep pushing until the bird is squeezed between both forks.
  4. Make sure the bird is centered on the spit, then tighten the second fork to lock the bird in place.

Instructions for Cooking a Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill

  1. When your whole chicken is securely on the spit, you’ll want to insert it into the highest rotisserie place holder.
  2. Then turn the rear infrared burner of your Twin Eagles Grill to high (that’s how we get the crispy skin!), and start the rotisserie by pushing the button on the right hand side of the grill. It should rotate freely.
  3. Sear on high, with the cover open, for 30 minutes. Then poke a few holes in the skin to let the juices start running out of it gently, and giving the skin what it needs to become extra crispy. Cook on high for 20 more minutes, then turn off the infrared burner.
  4. Turn the left and right burners on low, and close the lid, keeping the rotisserie on. You’ll cook the chicken at around 300-325 degrees F, until the internal temperature the thickest part of the breast is around 165 degrees F.
  5. To finish crisping the skin, you’ll turn the side burners off and the infrared rotisserie back on, until skin is deep golden brown.
  6. Let rest for 20 minutes, off the grill. Then remove from spit and carve.
girl standing in front of a grill, with a chicken on a rotisserie
rotisserie chicken on a grill over a pan of potatoes and onions

How To Season a Rotisserie Chicken

As I mentioned, we’re keeping this recipe easy peasy. Chicken can be so moist and flavorful on its own, that I wanted to keep the seasonings simple.

First you’ll season generously with salt, then Watkins Organic Poultry Seasoning, rubbing it into the meat and outer skin. Half a lemon into the cavity, and that’s it!

How long to cook a rotisserie chicken on the grill?

Cooking a rotisserie chicken on the grill is measured by how long it takes to reach an end temperature of 180 degrees F, which also depends on the size of the bird. A larger bird will take longer. I like to use a 3 1/2 pound to 4 pound bird.

carved chicken on a white plate, with gold serving spoons. chicken is sitting atop small potatoes
carved chicken on a white plate, with gold serving spoons. chicken is sitting atop small potatoes

What To Serve With Grilled Rotisserie Chicken

First, eat the chicken with the perfectly grilled potatoes and onions that have cooked in the chicken fat. I mean, crusty edged, fluffy potatoes.! The ultimate comfort meal. You could even add this Grilled Romaine Salad to get some green into the meal, too.

Then, the options are endless with the leftovers! One of the reasons I like to make a rotisserie chicken on the weekends is so we can use it throughout the week for other meals. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

girl holding rotisserie chicken in front of garden. she is wearing white tanktop and grey shorts
rotisserie chicken sitting on top of potatoes and onions in an aluminum pan

No-Fuss Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill

An easy recipe for the juiciest rotisserie chicken on the grill.
4.78 from 9 votes
Prep Time :10 minutes
Cook Time :1 hour 45 minutes
Additional Time :4 hours
Total Time :5 hours 55 minutes
Author: Amanda Paa

SCALE:

Ingredients

  • 1 3 1/2 to 4 pound whole chicken
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons Watkins Organic Poultry Seasoning
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes or fingerlings
  • 2 medium onions cut into wedges

Instructions 

  • Pat the raw chicken dry with paper towels, and remove any giblets from inside cavity. Use your fingers to loosen the skin so you can work the salt and seasoning underneath the skin. Evenly distribute the salt throughout the bird, rubbing into the meat and skin. Then evenly distribute the seasoning throughout the bird. Put on a plate, and leave uncovered in refrigerator for at least 4 hours, up to overnight.
  • Pat the chicken dry again, and insert the spit through the cavity.
  • We watched this video to learn how to truss the chicken, and did so while it was on the spit using butchers twine. You’ll want to cut the piece of string 4x longer than the length of the bird.
  • After trussing, sink the 1st spit fork into the thighs. Slide the second spit fork on to the spit and push the fork into the bird’s breast meat just above the wings. Keep pushing until the bird is squeezed between both forks.
  • Make sure the bird is centered on the spit, then tighten the second fork to lock the bird in place. Squish one half of the lemon into the cavity. You’ll have to work around the spit forks.
  • When your whole chicken is securely on the spit, insert into the grill on the highest rotisserie place holder. Place an aluminum pan with your potatoes and onions directly underneath the chicken. Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper.
  • Turn the rear infrared burner of your Twin Eagles Grill to high (that’s how we get the crispy skin!), and start the rotisserie by pushing the button on the right hand side of the grill. It should rotate freely.
  • Sear on high, with the cover open, for 30 minutes. Then poke a few holes in the skin to let the juices start running out of it gently, and giving the skin what it needs to become extra crispy. Cook on high for 20 more minutes, then turn off the infrared burner. Use a spatula to mix the potatoes and onion, coating them in juices and fat that drip down from chicken. Do this several times throughout the cooking process.
  • Turn the left and right burners on low, and close the lid, keeping the rotisserie on. You’ll cook the chicken at around 300-325 degrees F, until the internal temperature the thickest part of the breast is around 165 degrees F.
  • To finish crisping the skin, you’ll turn the side burners off and the infrared rotisserie back on, until skin is deep golden brown and the temperature of the thickest part of the breast is 180 degrees F.
  • Let rest for 20 minutes, off the grill. Then remove from spit and carve.

Did you make this?

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August 30, 2020

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5 comments

  1. Jennifer A.

    5 stars
    Just got a new BBQ with a rotisserie and so had to try my hand at a chicken. Your recipe was easy to follow and turned out beutifully – I couldn’t believe it was me that cooked it! My 6year old son said it was “the best chicken he ever had” and “the seasonings were in the right order” lol. Thanks again for sharing!

  2. donna-marie

    What can you substitute for Watkins organic poultry seasoning?

    • Amanda Paa

      Any poultry seasoning will work!

  3. Carla

    This looks amazing! Qq – when do you place the potatoes under the chicken? Right at the beginning until the chicken is cooked?

    • Amanda Paa

      Hello! You’ll see that step in #6 of the recipe instructions. Enjoy!