Air Fryer Whole Chicken
by This Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe is a simple and super tasty Keto dinner option, perfect for beginners! With a whole chicken, simple seasonings, an air fryer, and nearly ZERO effort, you can enjoy an incredibly fresh and juicy rotisserie chicken with crispy skin at home!
Use our handy chart to determine the cooking time and temperature based on the size of your chicken. This easy recipe is great for everyday dinners or a holiday spread.
Ingredients
It’s so effortless to make a whole rotisserie style chicken in the air fryer! Simple seasonings and dry herbs bring out the chicken’s natural flavor, and that’s truly all you need.
- Whole chicken: With giblets removed. Select a chicken that fits in your air fryer.
- A 3 lb bird for a 5 qt. air fryer,
- A 4 lb bird for a 6 qt. Air fryer, or
- A 5 lb bird or larger for an 8 qt.
- Seasonings: Coarse sea salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder.
- Dry herbs: Rosemary and thyme (or use Italian seasoning). If using fresh herbs, increase the amount as they are less potent.
No air fryer? No problem.
If you don’t have an air fryer, roasting a whole spatchcock chicken in the oven is another fantastic way to enjoy a juicy, flavorful chicken with less roasting time. Check out my recipes for Herb Roasted Spatchcock Chicken or Maple Orange Spatchcock Chicken for a delicious alternative!
How to make air fryer whole chicken
Making a rotisserie chicken in air fryer requires very little effort, and clean-up is easy too.
- Prepare the chicken: Remove the giblets from the cavity and pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Season the chicken: Mix all herbs and spices in a small bowl. Use your hands to spread the seasoning blend under the skin, on top of the skin, and on the front and back of the bird.
- Air fry: Air fry: Place the chicken breast side down and tuck the wings underneath. Roast at 360°F (182°C) for 30 minutes.
- Flip and continue cooking: After 30 minutes, flip the chicken breast side up. Roast for another 20 minutes if your chicken is 3 lbs, or 25 minutes if it’s 4 lbs. For larger chickens, refer to the time chart below.
- Check temperature: The chicken is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (73.9°C) for breast and 170°F to 175°F (77°C to 79°C) for thighs. Roast for 5 additional minutes until the internal temperature is high enough.
- Rest: Once cooked, let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before you carve it.
- Gravy (optional): Sieve the chicken juice caught in the air fryer basket through a strainer and serve the juice on the side or make a gravy, if you like. It’s got great flavor!
Whole chicken in air fryer: temperature and time guide
Cooking a whole roasted chicken in an air fryer is a breeze! You can achieve a crispy, juicy bird in no time. This timing chart for air fried whole chicken works for popular air fryer brands like Instant Pot Vortex Plus, Gourmia, or Cosori. I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus.
| Weight of Whole Chicken | Air Fryer Size | First Side Cooking Time | Flip Side Cooking Time | Total Time |
| 2 lbs (0.9 kg) | 5 quart | 360°F (182°C) for 30 minutes | 15-20 minutes | 45 to 50 minutes |
| 3 lbs (1.4 kg) | 5 or 6 quart | 360°F (182°C) for 30 minutes | 20-25 minutes | 50 to 55 minutes |
| 4-5 lbs (1.8-2.3 kg) | 6 quart | 360°F (182°C) for 30 minutes | 25-30 minutes | 55 to 60 minutes |
| 5-6 lbs (2.3-2.7 kg) | 8 quart | 360°F (182°C) for 40 minutes | 25-30 minutes | 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes |
What to serve with air fryer rotisserie chicken
Air fryer roast chicken is such a versatile protein option, it goes with anything! Pair with your favorite vegetables and grain or serve alongside soup and salad for a larger meal. Here are some of my favorite pairings for this gourmet main.
- Starchy veggies: Baked Miso Sweet Potato with miso butter will elevate any meal. Opt for Kabocha Squash Soup for warmth and comfort. Or try this easy Air Fyer Delicata Squash recipe with a parmesan honey glaze.
- Non-starchy veg sides: These Steakhouse Mushrooms are classic. Honey Sriracha Brussel Sprouts are great for a holiday spread. Tender Roasted Bok Choy is ready in just 8 minutes!
Umami Tips
- Choose Your Chicken Size Wisely: Make sure the chicken fits inside your air fryer basket. A too-large chicken can touch the heating source, causing burns, smoke, and uneven cooking.
- Flip for Even Cooking: Start with the chicken breast side down, then flip it breast side up halfway through. This ensures even cooking and crispy skin all over.
- Optional Trussing: Truss the chicken for a more uniform shape and even cooking. It keeps the legs and wings close to the body, preventing them from drying out.
- Adjust Cooking Time Based on Size: Use the time and temperature chart above to guide your cooking based on chicken size. Always check the internal temperature to ensure it’s cooked through.
- Don’t Skip the Temperature Check: Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest parts of the breast and thighs. Aim for 165°F (73.9°C) for the breast and 170°F to 175°F (77°C to 79°C) for the thighs for safe and juicy chicken.
- Use the Drippings: Strain the juices from the air fryer basket after cooking. Serve them as-is or use them to make a delicious gravy.
- For more air fryer cheat sheets: Download my air fryer cooking times for meats, vegetables, and more!
FAQs
No, trussing is optional. It helps the chicken cook more evenly and keeps the legs and wings close to the body, which can prevent them from drying out, but you can skip this step if you prefer.
If the chicken isn’t fully cooked, return it to the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Then, check the internal temperature again. Repeat until the chicken reaches at least 165°F (73.9°C) for the breast and 170°F to 175°F (77°C to 79°C) for the thighs
Yes, for a 5 lb chicken, use an 8-quart air fryer to avoid burns and ensure even cooking. If your air fryer is smaller, use a smaller chicken for best results
Yes, you can use fresh herbs like basil, thyme, or oregano when you air fry a whole chicken. Double the amount compared to dried herbs, and finely chop them to release more flavor.
What to do with leftover chicken?
There’s so much you can do with leftovers of your air fryer rotisserie whole chicken! Shred your chicken to make sandwiches, chicken salad, or one of these nourishing soups. Use the carcass to make a broth.
- Chicken kale soup with cooked chicken, tons of veggies, and bacon crumbles is as beautiful as it is delicious.
- Asian chicken noodle soup made with leftover chicken, shiitake, carrots, baby bok choy, garlic, and ginger is simple to make and classically delicious.
- Hot and sour chicken soup is tangy, spicy, loaded with nutrients, and ready in 30 minutes!
- Spicy chicken noodle soup will warm you up from the inside out! It’s so simple to make and bursting with comforting Asian-inspired flavors.
Air fryer whole chicken recipe
Video
Ingredients
For a 5 qt. Air fryer:
- 3 lbs whole chicken
- 1.5 tsp coarse salt
- ¼ tsp each black pepper, sweet paprika
- ½ tsp each garlic, onion powder,
- ½ tsp each dry rosemary, dry thyme (or 1 tsp Italian seasoning)
For a 6 qt. Air fryer:
- 4 lbs whole chicken
- 2 tsp coarse salt
- 1/4 tsp each black pepper, sweet paprika
- ½ tsp each garlic, onion powder,
- ½ tsp each dry rosemary, dry thyme (or 1 tsp Italian seasoning)
Equipment
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Remove the giblets inside the whole chicken cavity. Pat dry with a clean paper towel.
- Gather spices: Combine dry spice seasonings from salt to thyme in a bowl.
- Season the chicken: Use your fingers to gently separate the skin from the meat to create small pockets. Be careful not to tear the skin.
- Use your hands to gently spread the spice mixture under the skin as evenly as you can. Make sure to season the whole front and back of the bird, too.
- Air fry: Tuck the wings under the back of the chicken and place it breast side down in the air fryer. Roast at 360°F (182 °C) for 30 minutes.
- Rotate the bird: Flip the chicken (breast side up) and roast at the same temperature for 20 minutes (for a 3 lbs. chicken) or 25 minutes (for a 4 lbs. chicken).
- Temperature test: Insert a digital meat thermometer at the thickest part without touching the bones. The chicken is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (73.9°C) for chicken breast and 170°F to 175°F (77°C to 79°C) for chicken thighs. If not, send it back and roast for 5 additional minutes then test the temperature again.
- Rest and serve: Allow the chicken to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.
- Tip: The bottom of the air fryer basket will catch all the chicken juice. You can sieve it through a strainer and serve the juice on the side or make a gravy, if you like.
Notes
- Some people prefer to truss the chicken. If you want to learn how to truss a whole chicken, here is a great video to watch.
- Leftover: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How long to cook a whole chicken in air fryer?
Nutrition
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This looks amazing and I will try it in my brand new never used airfryer! Would I have to do anything different if I use stuffing in the bird?
Hey Joanne, I would assume you will need longer time and different temperature to get the stuffing inside of the bird cooked. Maybe search for a recipe with stuffing inside?
Wow! This was AH-mazing! I’ve had the insta pot/air fryer for 6 months now & have only used the pressure cooker feature so far…no more! This chicken was fantastic! My picky eaters…AKA children…gobbled this up! I had a 4.5 lb chicken and doubled the spice blend (we like a lot of seasoning) & did a combo of thyme, rosemary, Italian seasoning & a bit of dried parsley. Also added a bit of cayenne because we love spice. This was so juicy & cooked perfectly! Thank you for the recipe….definitely going in the rotation!!
Thank you so much for sharing with us! Instant pot air fryer sounds awesome!
Perfect chicken, perfect instructions. My picky toddlers gobbled this up. It was picture perfect.
Thanks, Jane! My husband LOVES this dish, too! He said “it’s so much better than store bought rotisserie! “
We have a toaster oven with a convection setting that I’m told is equivalent to an air fryer but this model does not have the basket.
Any instructions on how to do the whole chicken?
Thks
HI Max, thanks! Does your toaster oven comes with a rotating fork? If so, it should work! You might need to adjust the temperature and time to make sure the chicken is cooked perfectly. As always, please use a meat thermometer to test the temperature. If it’s under, you can always send it back to cook longer. 🙂
My air fryer is a rotisserie style with a spit rod that rotates (Pampered Chef AF). Will that be okay for this or does it need to be face down?
Hey Tina, if yours rotates I think it should be fine as long as it cooks all sides 🙂
Wow. Wow. Wow.
I made this tonight after my fiancé started Whole30 this month and I was searching for new recipes.
I followed the recipe exactly (used Italian seasoning as recommended). It came out delicious, crispy and so moist!
Thank you, Luis. So happy to hear!