Rotisserie Chicken Varies by Cut and Brand

USDA rotisserie references use original seasoning, cooked, meat only entries by cut — breast (FDC #171518), thigh (#171517), drumstick (#171519), wing (#171121) [1].

Store-bought birds differ by size, brining, sodium, skin consumption, and which cuts you eat. Weigh edible meat only — not whole bird weight with bones and discarded skin.

Sodium is elevated in rotisserie references (318–720mg per 100g by cut) from seasoning and brine — compare to plain roasted breast (~74mg).

Rotisserie Chicken Protein by Cut (meat only, per 100g)

CutProtein (g)Calories (kcal)Fat (g)Sodium (mg)
Breast (FDC #171518)28.01372.8318
Drumstick (FDC #171519)28.71766.8417
Wing (FDC #171121)27.71979.5720
Thigh (FDC #171517)25.320511.1335

Practical Tips for Rotisserie Chicken

  • 1

    Weigh meat pulled from the bird — whole chicken weight includes bone and unused skin.

  • 2

    Breast lists 28g protein/100g; thigh 25.3g — select the cut you actually ate.

  • 3

    Package Nutrition Facts for your store brand beats generic USDA when available.

  • 4

    Skin adds fat — meat-only references assume skin was not eaten with that meat weight.

Frequently Asked Questions — Rotisserie Chicken

How much protein is in rotisserie chicken breast?
USDA rotisserie breast meat only (FDC #171518) lists 28.0g protein and 137 kcal per 100g. A 3 oz (85g) portion provides about 23.8g protein.
Does rotisserie chicken have more sodium than plain chicken?
Yes. Rotisserie breast lists 318mg sodium per 100g vs plain roasted skinless breast at 74mg. Drumstick rotisserie lists 417mg; wing lists 720mg — seasoning and brine drive the difference.

Important Notice

Nutritional values from USDA FoodData Central rotisserie entries: breast #171518, thigh #171517, drumstick #171519, wing #171121. Store brands vary. Informational use only.

About the Author

Manish Kumar - Author
Manish KumarNASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)

Certified fitness professional and nutrition researcher with over 10 years of experience in the fitness and wellness industry. Founder of Food Nutrify, dedicated to making accurate, science-backed nutrition data accessible to everyone through free, easy-to-use calculators.

NASM Certified Personal TrainerSports Nutrition Specialist

References & Sources

  1. [1] USDA FoodData Central (2024). Rotisserie chicken: breast #171518; thigh #171517; drumstick #171519; wing #171121. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.