9 Healthy Meal Prep Rotisserie Chicken Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is rotisserie chicken healthy for weight loss? ›

A rotisserie chicken is better than some of the other alternatives. Even with additives, a rotisserie chicken is a far healthier choice than a fast food run, says Allers. “It's still lower in fat and calories than fast food. It's serving its purpose – it's fast, but it can still help you create a balanced meal.

USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth.

Use your favorite preserves, chutney, barbecue sauce, or build your own thick and sticky concoction to coat the bird with. Think honey and lemon or brown sugar and soy sauce; just be mindful of how much salt the glaze contains as most store-bought rotisserie chickens are already seasoned with salt.

Rotisserie chicken tends to be very high in sodium, and if you eat a lot of it, you'll probably blow up your recommended daily allowance of sodium fairly quickly: Rotisserie chicken. Because it's chicken, it's a fairly healthy meat, low in saturated fats, and being meat, it's an excellent source of protein.

The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 13g of saturated fat per day—meaning a small serving of rotisserie chicken contains about 23% of your recommended daily intake. Eating saturated fat is shown to increase LDL cholesterol, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease.

It is not recommended to eat rotisserie chicken a week after purchase! The USDA guidelines state that cooked chicken is only good for 3-4 days when refrigerated.

If your chicken starts to look off-color (dark or faded), appears slimy, sticky, or tacky, or smells bad, it's time to throw it out. 2 Of course, chicken that's been marinated or drenched in sauce may not give you telltale clues that it's spoiling.

Some have contracts with local producers that will turn the meat into chicken salad and chicken salad sandwiches. Others make these products in house if they are equipped to do so. Some stores sell it to be turned into canned chicken meat and cat food. Still others donate it to local food kitchens—a tax write-off.

How to add more flavor to rotisserie chicken? ›

Add chili powder, salt, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, paprika, and pepper, and stir everything together. Cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds, to toast the spices. Add the shredded chicken and cook, stirring, until the chicken is hot and thoroughly coated with the spice mixture.

To achieve maximum crispness, the skin has to start dry and stay dry – if water is present, it will create steam, which inhibits crisping. For the ultimate crispy skin, start your prep the day before. After quickly rinsing your bird, be sure to thoroughly dry it inside and out with paper toweling.

Rotisserie: Cooking Style

No high-flame fire is required. Low heat in an open flame is sufficient. It is a slow cooking method and is ideal for bigger pieces cooking over a long time. Rotisserie chicken is much lower in calories due to being oven-roasted.

Roasted chicken is a healthy choice, especially compared to fried chicken. The rotisserie method drains the fat, while fried chicken absorbs it. To make rotisserie chicken even healthier, remove the skin and stick to white meat.

However, rotisserie chicken is often seasoned with herbs, spices, and oils, which can increase the calorie and fat content of the chicken. Additionally, store-bought rotisserie chicken may contain added sodium and preservatives.