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Kamado Joe Jr. Rotisserie
The 13.5-inch diameter of the Kamado Joe Jr grill grates means that it isn’t directly compatible with the Joetisserie accessory, which is designed to fit on larger models like the Kamado Joe Classic.
This has inspired a lot of people to get creative with improvising an aftermarket universal rotisserie or building their own rotisserie with a collar to fit the Kamado Joe Jr.
You can use an aftermarket “Universal Rotisserie” meant for a slightly larger 22-inch diameter kettle grill to slow-roast a piece of rotating meat on a Kamado Joe Jr.
Though this requires running the spit rod across the mouth of the grill, which prevents you from fully closing the lid.
This can make heat control a problem in longer cook sessions.
So, it’s probably wiser to stick to a smaller piece of meat, like bone-in chicken thighs, Cornish game hens, or shish kebabs.
A deboned, and trussed leg of lamb or a thick pork tenderloin is probably the biggest thing you should try to cook with an improvised rotisserie set up on a Kamado Joe Jr.
Kamado Joe Jr Accessories
There are several great accessories that are compatible with the Kamado Joe Jr. including the charcoal basket, a sear plate, and soapstone.
Unfortunately, Kamado Joe does not offer the popular Joetisserie in a size that will fit the 13.5-inch diameter of the Joe Jr.’s grill grates.
Kamado Joe Jr DIY Rotisserie
The simplest way to add a rotisserie to your Kamado Joe Jr. is to seek out a “Universal Rotisserie” through an aftermarket vendor.
They are often made to fit on popular 22-inch kettle grills, though the adjustable fork tines let you reduce it down enough to fit over the 13.5-inch diameter grill grates of a Kamado Joe Jr.
However, this setup requires you to leave the Joe Jr. lid open slightly.
This can make heat control a challenge over the course of a long cook.
If you have modest metalworking skills, you can create an offset collar for your Kamado Joe Jr.
This requires a pair of 13.5-inch diameter metal hoops, a piece of sheet metal, and the right tools. This is where a flux welder comes in handy.
Though you might be able to get by with a soldering iron and a lot of patience.
You can then use the following steps to improvise a collar to support a universal rotisserie on a Kamado Joe Jr.
Step One: Lay the two 13.5-inch diameter hoops on top of each other. Elevate the top one roughly 10-inches high on one side. Then insert a spacer to hold it in place.
Step Two: Weld or solder the area where the two hoops are touching. You should have roughly a 35-degree angle.
Step Three: Wrap a 10-inch diameter piece of sheet metal around the hoops to enclose them. You can then weld or solder it to both hoops.
Step Four: Use a robust pair or power tin snips to cut off the sheet metal along the upper hoop. This will create your collar.
Step Five: Measure the thickness of the spit rod on your universal rotisserie.
Many are 5/8 or 3/8ths of an inch. You want to make a hole in the sheet metal of the collar that is at least 1/8th to 1/4th of an inch wide with a metal drill bit. Make another hole immediately opposite it.
When you want to use this rotisserie collar on your Kamado Joe Jr. you can thread the spit rod through the first hole. Attach the first set of tines.
Then drive the spit rod through the meat out the other side.
Then insert the second set of tines and pass the spit rod through the opposing hole in the sheet metal collar.
You can then set up your electric motor and counterweights per the rotisserie manufacturer’s instructions.
Can You Use a Rotisserie on a Kamado Joe Jr?
You can use an aftermarket universal rotisserie on a Kamado Joe Jr. Though you won’t be able to fully latch the lid.
The spit rod will need to pass through each side of Joe Jr. grill grates and won’t sit flush the way a Joetisserie does on a larger grill.
Should You Try and Use a Rotisserie on a Kamado Joe Jr?
You can use a standard aftermarket universal rotisserie on a Kamado Joe Jr to roast a lot of things like bone-in cuts of chicken, Cornish game hens, and even pork tenderloins.
You might even be able to make a great stuffed & trust boneless leg of land.
Though larger pieces of meat and things like whole broiler-fryer chickens that require much longer roasting times might not be a good idea for improvising a rotisserie on a Kamado Joe Jr.
The small air gap in the lid needed to run an aftermarket rotisserie makes consistent heat control more and more difficult as time goes on.
This can lead to flare ups, burned food, and rollercoaster changes in temperature.
Final Thoughts
Since it only has a 13.5-inch diameter, the Kamado Joe Jr. isn’t directly compatible with the Joetisserie accessory, which is designed to fit on larger models like the Kamado Joe Classic.
Yet many outdoor chefs have come up with creative ways to use aftermarket universal rotisseries or even build their own rotisserie with a collar to fit the Kamado Joe Jr.
The best type of aftermarket universal rotisserie for a Kamado Joe Jr. was originally meant for a slightly larger 22-inch diameter kettle-style grill.
Using it straight out of the box means running the spit rod across the mouth of the grill, which prevents you from fully closing the lid.
The small stream of fresh air coming through the gap in the lid can lead to heat control issues over time.
If you are going to use a universal rotisserie in this way, it’s best to stick to a smaller piece of meat that cooks faster.
This includes things like bone-in chicken thighs, Cornish game hens, or perhaps a large pork tenderloin.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.