I Asked 4 Chefs To Name the Best Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken—They All Said the Same Thing

There are few better scents than that of a piping hot rotisserie chicken. There’s nothing like driving home from the market with that wholesome, almost buttery aroma filling the car. But it’s not just the smell that makes a rotisserie chicken worth buying; it’s the versatility of the bird, its nourishing taste, and the way it makes for the perfect leftovers. 

While there are plenty of places that sell these glorious chickens, recently, I wondered which spot offers the very best. So I reached out to four chefs to get their consensus on the top store-bought rotisserie chicken, and they all mentioned the same grocery store!

The Chicken-Loving Expert Panel

• Dan Pelosi: Chef and New York Times bestselling author of Let’s Eat
• Jason Goldstein: Cookbook author and content creator at @ChopHappy
• Grace Vallo: Media personality and founder of Tastefully Grace
• Amanda Frederickson: Chef, recipe developer, and author of Simple Beautiful Food

The Winning Rotisserie Chicken

The chefs all favored Whole Foods Market's rotisserie chicken.

“While I grew up eating the famous and delicious Costco rotisserie chicken,” says Pelosi, “my adult years led me to Whole Foods.” Why? It’s cooked correctly.

As Vallo explains, “Whole Foods’ rotisserie chicken is extra tender, juicy, well-seasoned, and has crispy, golden-brown skin.”

All the chefs spoke of the chicken’s spot-on flavor. Some competitors are bland. Others are over-seasoned with tons of spices that limit their versatility. “Whole Foods chicken is only seasoned with salt and pepper, which is perfect for using it in a million ways,” says Pelosi, “If I am buying a rotisserie chicken, it's definitely to add it to several different meals throughout the week, or to make a big batch of chicken salad, or maybe even a chicken soup. I need to be the one controlling the seasonings on all of those!”

Chefs also appreciate that these chickens are ethically raised. “I know it’s free-range and raised responsibly,” declares Frederickson. And while these chickens might have a slightly higher price tag of $8.99, not only did the chefs agree that the quality and farming practices make Whole Foods birds worth the extra dollars, but Goldstein points out, “They’re usually on sale!”

While this moist, adaptable rotisserie chicken is pretty easy to devour right away, if you do have leftovers, store the remaining meat, says Vallo, “in an airtight container in the fridge once cooled completely, and remove the meat from the bones, if possible, to keep it moist and fresh for up to three days.”

If you might not make it through the chicken in a few days, Goldstein suggests shredding the meat and freezing it for up to six months. Pelosi also uses the freezing method, but he also freezes the bones separately to use for homemade stock.