Your backyard grill can replace almost every cooking appliance in your house. But their utility at grilling very large pieces of meat is limited.
Enter the rotisserie – a cooking method that’s been used for thousands of years with perfect results. Cook whole chickens, turkeys or turkey breasts, gyros, and more at your own patio-side BBQ rotisserie restaurant.
Rotisserie is just another term for spit-roasting. It might be one of the oldest forms of cooking around, but it’s an oldie and a goodie.
Our recommendations for Best Gas Grill with Rotisserie:
- Best Overall: Weber Summit E-470 Propane/Natural Gas Grill
- Best Built-In Option: Napoleon Prestige 500
- Best Option for Big Groups: Broil King Regal Pro S590
- Budget Pick: Monument Grills 4-Burner Stainless Grill
- Best Compact Option: Weber Genesis II LX-240
Why Rotisseries Rock
You can rotisserie meat over any heat source, and modular and motorized spits are available in every imaginable shape and size. Yet, gas grills with rotisserie are the most convenient because they make controlling the heat easy.
Generally, you have an electric motor outside the grill, which mounts on a special bracket. The spit passes through a hole in the lid and extends across the broadest part of the lid.
A rotisserie unit increases the versatility of your grill. It’s the best way to cook large pieces of meat that require indirect heat.
Everyone thinks of whole chickens, but you can put any large poultry or roast on a rotisserie. A big enough rotisserie can even handle a whole pig or a turkey.
Advantages of Rotisserie
So what makes rotisserie-cooked food so scrumptious?
There are a few advantages, but the primary benefit is the spinning function that enables:
Even Cooking: The rotation also allows for more even cooking, and by controlling the heat and the speed of the rotation, you can achieve the level of doneness and speed of cooking that you desire. Since it’s not sitting in a pan, you can baste the meat throughout the cooking process.
More Juiciness: Imagine cooking a whole chicken in the oven or on the grill. All of the juices run to the bottom of the pan. While food cooks on a spit, however, the juices stay inside the meat as it spins around.
The result is a perfectly roasted meal that is juicy and flavorful, with no burning and lots of flavor. There’s no other way to get such good results on whole animals over a grill — it’s just too hard to cook it evenly.
Versatility: Rotisseries also make your grill much more versatile.
Here are some popular things that you can cook on it:
- Whole Chickens
- Whole Turkeys
- Beef Roasts
- Boneless Lamb Legs
- Prime Ribs
- Pork Shoulders
Whole chickens are probably the most common option. They are affordable, easy to cook, and delicious!
Here is a great video with tips for perfecting your rotisserie chicken:
Best Gas Grills with Rotisseries Reviewed
We have chosen different types of gas grills with rotisserie in this guide. Whether you are looking for a premium grill with all the fancy features you can wish for, a more budget-friendly option, or a compact model that you can fit on your balcony, you can find something suitable here.
Some of the more affordable options don’t include a separate rotisserie burner but they can still get the job done nicely.
Below you can find a few more useful guides:
- Best Built-In Gas Grills for Your Outdoor Kitchen
- Best Gas Grills Under $500 Reviewed
- Best Gas Grills Under $1000 Reviewed
Best Overall: Weber Summit E-470 Propane/Natural Gas Grill
Weber’s Summit series grills are their top-of-the-line models, and the E-470 is simply one of the best gas grills out there.
It’s loaded with every option the backyard chef could ask for. Sear burner? Check. Tuck-away rotisserie system? Check. LED fuel tank gauge, ten-year warranty, a smoker box with its own burner, and automatic LED lights? Check, check, check, and check.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane/natural gas
- Number of Main Burners: 4
- Rotisserie Burner: 10,600 BTU
- Additional Burners: Sear burner 10,600 BTU + smoker box burner 6,800 BTU + side burner 12,000 BTU
- Total BTU: 88,800
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 468
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 198
- Weight: 245 lbs
- Build Materials: Porcelain-coated steel and stainless steel
- Dimensions: 66″ x 26.5″ x 50.5″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: 10 years
The Weber E-470 is available in both propane and natural gas versions. It features 468-square-inch stainless cooking grate as well as a large warming rack.
The infrared rotisserie burner puts out a whopping 10,600 BTUs, while the traditional four main burners make 48,800 BTUs total. It also has a 12,000 BTU side burner and a 10,600 BTU sear burner.
Probably the coolest part of this grill is the way that the rotisserie is integrated. The whole motor assembly lifts out of the side tray. When tucked-away, it’s not even noticeable. The grill also has a special place to store the spit when not in use.
The Summit series grills share the same feature set but come in various sizes to suit any cook. Look for the six-burner version if you need a little more space. There is also a stainless version of the same grill available, the S-470 being equivalent to the E-470 enamel-coated model.
What We Love
- Well-designed rotisserie system
- Loaded with great features
- Heats up fast and gets very hot
- Durable materials
- Has an infrared rotisserie burner
- Versatile
- 10-year warranty
What We Don’t
- Expensive
Best Built-In Option: Napoleon Prestige 500
Setting up an outdoor kitchen?
This Napoleon Prestige line unit is a 500 square inch built-in option. It comes with a rotisserie unit and a rear infrared burner. Altogether, this 4 burner grill puts out 66,000 BTUs.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane/natural gas
- Number of Main Burners: 4
- Rotisserie Burner: 18,000 BTU
- Total BTU: 66,000
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 500
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 260
- Weight: 125 lbs
- Build Materials: Stainless steel
- Dimensions: 32.5″ x 25.5″ x 22.25″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: Lifetime (15 years for some parts)
Napoleon grills have a few great features worth noting.
They have stainless grates and a unique wave pattern, which makes attractive grill marks. In addition, Napolen grills use a trademarked JETFIRE ignition system that ensures quick startups.
They also integrate a nifty bicolored LED system in the burner control knobs, which makes the controls glow red when they are on. There’s an optional cast iron tray for charcoal or smoking, too, so you have many options with this grill.
The Prestige 500 comes with an outstanding lifetime warranty that covers almost all parts (15 years for the other parts). Since it’s a built-in unit, the manufacturer recommends that it is installed by licensed professionals to ensure installations are up to code.
The Prestige 500 is also available as a standalone option that includes the infrared rear-burner, so the choice between Napoleon and Weber is a matter of personal preference.
What We Love
- Great features
- Powerful rotisserie burner
- Durable stainless steel construction
- NightLigh control knobs with LED lights
- Made in North America
- Lifetime warranty
What We Don’t
- Regulator is not included
Best Option for Big Groups: Broil King Regal Pro S590
This bad boy has party written all over it. With 625 square inch main grilling area, it’s the biggest grill to make our rotisserie list.
The grate is made from ultra heavy duty 9 mm stainless rod, making amazing sear marks and distributes heat with ease. The five main burners produce 55,000 BTUs, and the 15,000 BTU rear rotisserie burner makes the package all the sweeter.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane/natural gas
- Number of Main Burners: 5
- Rotisserie Burner: 15,000 BTU
- Additional Burners: Side burner 10,000 BTU
- Total BTU: 80,000
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 625
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 250
- Weight: 215 lbs
- Build Materials: Stainless steel
- Dimensions: 62.5″ x 24.8″ x 49.2″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: Lifetime, 10, 5, or 2 years (depending on part)
This unit has a motorized rotisserie that is modular and mounts on a particular side bracket. With so many burners and a high-quality integrated thermometer, it’s easy to control the heat for the perfect roasted meat.
The Broil King Regal Pro comes with either a 10,000 BTU standard side burner or an infrared side burner searing station. The searing station has a large ceramic infrared element that can reach more than 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit quickly.
There are also smaller four-burner variants available.
What We Love
- Large grilling area
- Plenty of heating power
- Sturdy and durable
- Made in North America
What We Don’t
- Some parts have only 2-year warranty
Budget Pick: Monument Grills 4-Burner Stainless Grill
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly stainless grill with a built-in rotisserie, meet the Monument 17842.
This is a big four-burner model with 513 square inches of cooking area and another 210 on the warming rack. The main burners make 48,000 BTUs together, and there’s also a side burner for sauces.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane gas
- Number of Main Burners: 4
- Additional Burners: Side burner 12,000 BTU
- Total BTU: 60,000
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 513
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 210
- Weight: 108 lbs
- Build Materials: Stainless steel and porcelain-coated cast iron
- Dimensions: 54″ x 46″ x 46″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: 8 years for burners and 1 year for other parts
The rotisserie is modular, so it quickly snaps on and off the grill when you need it.
This grill is a bare-bones model when compared to the top-end units like the Weber Summit. But it has what you need, and you’ll be rotisserieing in no time.
What We Love
- Great value for money
- Heats up fast
- Easy to use
- Blue LED control knobs
What We Don’t
- No separate rotisserie burner
Best Compact Option: Weber Genesis II LX-240
The Weber Genesis line of grills is not the top-of-the-line, but they aren’t cheap either. They are built to exacting standards and have some really impressive grill features that make them attractive to cooks looking for the best grill they can get without spending all of their hard-earned cash.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane/natural gas
- Number of Main Burners: 2
- Additional Burners: Side burner 12,000 BTU
- Total BTU: 41,000
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 380
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 114
- Weight: 94 lbs
- Build Materials: Stainless steel
- Dimensions: 52″ x 29″ x 48″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: 10 years
The Genesis II doesn’t come with a rotisserie, but you can find one on Amazon. The grill itself is a 2-burner model with a side burner for sauces and side dishes.
It’s got 380 square inches of cooking real estate and a tuck-away warming rack that adds another 114 square inches.
Note that this grill lacks a rotisserie burner and has 2 primary burners. Having only 2 burner grills aren’t ideal for rotisserie since it will have less heat control than the other models reviewed in this guide.
Regardless, it’s big enough to use for whole chickens and large hunks of meat and puts out plenty of grilling power.
What We Love
- Great overall quality
- Great for small patios and balconies
- Durable construction
- Good grease management system
- 10-year warranty
What We Don’t
- No separate rotisserie burner
- Less heat control
What to Consider Before Buying A Rotisserie Gas Grill
Size and Capacity
Probably the biggest concern when looking at rotisserie grills is going to be the size. For a couple or small dinner parties, a standard 3 or 4 burner gas grill with a rotisserie kit is going to be sufficient.
But you’ll be limited to whole chickens, game birds, and turkey breasts. If you want to roast pigs or whole turkeys, you’ll need something bigger.
It’s also important to note that you’re not just limited by the grill’s physical size, but by the capacity of the rotisserie unit. Their motors and bearings are only made to take so much. Most will have their weight limits advertised clearly.
Design
Speaking of the motor, balance is essential to getting a good rotisserie. Most spits have an adjustable four-spike cage for the food.
You can’t have wings or legs getting loose while spinning, as they may jam in the lid of the grill. You also need to make sure that it spins smoothly and evenly, with no wobble or vibration. Many chefs use extra skewers or butcher’s twine to help keep everything together.
Burners
Beyond the rotisserie motor and spit themselves, you also want to look at your grill’s burners to make sure you can cook your food evenly. You’ll want to be able to control the heat evenly, from low to high.
Number of Burners
If your grill has a lot of hot spots, it might make things difficult. 4-burner grills tend to be the minimum size with a rotisserie option because that arrangement of burners allows for good distribution of indirect heat.
Separate Rotisserie Burners
Some grills now include a vertically mounted rotisserie burner specifically for the task. While these look flashy and put out a lot of BTUs, don’t lose sight of the purpose of rotisserie cooking and how it works.
It’s an indirect method of roasting a large piece of meat. The regular grill burners will likely work well too, but it’s nice to be able to fine-tune the heat for any size meat.
The bottom line?
Don’t consider a separate rotisserie burner a must-have item.
Price and Warranty
Finally, rotisserie grills come in every flavor from bargain bottom-dollar to luxury high-end.
Choose a unit like the Weber Summit E-470 if you are going looking for a versatile high-end grill that’s going to last for decades. Or get a more affordable option if you just want a basic unit without burning a hole in your wallet.
You can compare the rotisseries in terms of how much weight they can spin, the motor’s wattage, or how high quality the components used are.
But you should also look at the warranty. What’s covered, and what is not?
If you’re going to use it a lot, a good warranty that will replace any parts, like the grills burners, or rotisserie motor and bearings, if needed is worthwhile.
Rotisserie Gas Grill FAQ
Having a rotisserie on your gas grill is especially useful for cooking large items like whole chickens and turkeys, as well as roasts and ribs. Without a rotisserie system, you will easily end up burning this type of meat on one side.
The rotisserie allows you to cook the meat more evenly and retain its juiciness. You can also baste marinade all over the meat easily while it’s rotating on the spit.
Purpose-built regular or infrared rotisserie burners are a nifty tool to help you distribute heat around the grill box. They’re often mounted vertically on the back surface of the grill.
When combined with the regular burners below, they can throw out a lot of heat. They’re all about giving you more control.
Yet, you can manage just fine with the regular burners on your grill. So a separate side burner for the rotisserie is optional.
Yes, it’s best to keep the lid closed so that heat will be distributed more evenly around the meat and it will be cooked faster and more evenly.
You can start with cooking a whole chicken. It’s affordable, easy to cook, and delicious!
Just remember to baste it well with a marinade and cook it for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours depending on the size of the chicken. Insert a meat thermometer to the thickest part of the thigh and cook until it reaches about 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can also find a great video in this article that gives more tips for cooking a rotisserie chicken.