How to Spit Roast: Beginner's Guide to Meat, Setup & Cooking Times

Two whole chickens spit roasting over an open flame on an SNS Kettle charcoal BBQ.

Your First Spit Roast Doesn’t Have To Be Scary

If you’ve ever stood in front of a spit rotisserie thinking, "Where do I even start?”, you’re not alone.

This beginner spit roast guide will walk you through everything step-by-step, so your first time rotisserie cook is stress-free, delicious, and gets you a nod of respect from your mates.

By the end, you’ll know how to choose your meat, prep your spit, manage your fire, and serve up a cracking roast that’ll have people coming back for seconds.

Why Spit Roasting is the Ultimate Backyard Cook-Up

There’s something magical about watching meat slowly turn over glowing charcoal. Crispy outside, juicy inside, smoky all the way through.

Best part? Once you’ve set it up, it pretty much cooks itself, leaving you free to grab a beer and enjoy the arvo.

For Beginners, Spit Roasting is Perfect Because:

  • It’s low effort, high reward
  • You can feed a crowd without being a slave to the BBQ
  • Everyone’s going to be raving about it for months to come

Choosing Your First Spit Roast Meat

For your first cook, keep it simple. You want a cut that’s forgiving, tasty, and doesn’t need hours of babying.

Top beginner-friendly options:

1. Whole chickens - cook fast, juicy results, easy to season

Close-up of whole chickens spit roasting over hot charcoal on a rotisserie skewer.
 

2. Pork shoulder - melts in your mouth and gives you crackling

Spit roasted pork shoulder and lamb cooking on a Flaming Coals Cyprus Spit with skewered vegetables over charcoal.
 

3. Boneless lamb leg - tender, flavoursome, and a crowd-pleaser

Leg of lamb roasting on a Flaming Coals Mini Spit Roaster with hood open.
 

Pro tip: Avoid whole lambs or huge cuts until you’re confident. Start small and win big.

Setting Up Your Spit Like a Pro

1. Balance is everything – Make sure your meat is centred on the skewer so it spins evenly.

Whole lamb secured on a large rotisserie spit, seasoned and ready for charcoal spit roasting.


2. Charcoal over gas – For that real BBQ flavour, go lump charcoal. Spread it evenly for consistent heat. We suggest using a natural charcoal such as Flaming Coals Lump Charcoal for that authentic flavour without all the nasties.

Hot charcoal getting ready to cook meat on
 

3. Let the gear do the work – A good rotisserie motor will turn your meat steadily while you relax.

Heavy Duty Spit Roast Motor- 60kg
 

If you need help picking your setup, check out our free Spit Rotisserie buying guide for step-by-step advice.

Easy Spit Roast Recipe For Beginners

This one’s foolproof and absolutely mouth-watering.

Garlic & Herb Rotisserie Chicken

  • 1 whole chicken (1.5–2kg)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced

Method:

1. Rub chicken with olive oil, then season all over (including inside the cavity).
2. Skewer and secure with spit prongs.
3. Preheat charcoal until glowing, then place the spit over medium heat.
4. Cook for 1.5 hours or until internal temp hits 75°C.
5. Rest for 10 minutes, carve, and watch it disappear.

Close-up of two whole chickens roasting on a rotisserie spit with seasoning.
 

For more easy recipes, check out our Spit Roasting for Beginners Video series.

Common Spit Roast Mistakes (& How to Avoid Them)

  • Too much heat too fast – Add smaller parts of charcoal and add to it as you need. Don't use too much too soon. 
  • Not enough seasoning – Double check every part of your meat has been covered with seasoning before you start cooking. 
  • Cutting too soon – Resting the meat for 5-10 minutes will make sure you don't lose any of its flavour. 

Want more hints and tips around how high to have the meat over the coals, how to know when your meat is ready and much, much more. Download our Spit Roasting for Beginners Video series.

Author Name

by: Sasha Halabi