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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.
Table of Contents
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.
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- 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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I have been cooking for over 40 years and I can sincerely say this air fryer chicken is the best roasted chicken I ever made. And, that’s saying a lot! Wings got ripped off and eaten way before the 10 min. cool down. 🙂 Thank you for the recipe. Followed it exactly except for using fresh rosemary instead of dried. Happy to have found your site. Look forward to trying more of your recipes.
Thank you so much! So happy to hear!
This is the best air fried whole chicken ever! So easy to make and juicy delicious. My whole family loved it!
So happy to hear!
Absolutely adore this air fryer recipe! Omg the chicken came out super juicy delicious and the skin is crisp. So much better than store- bought rotisserie. Thanks for another wonderful recipe! Chihyu!
So wonderful to hear. Thank you!
Any recipes for air fryer is always welcome and what’s the best way to rotisserie a whole chicken
Second time in one week that I made this chicken. Delicious. This was my first time using the rotisserie function on my new Nuwave Airfryer. Great combo of spices.
So happy to hear. We love air fried whole chicken, too!
First whole chicken in my new Nuwave Airfryer. After searching through many recipes this one caught my eye as it listed the pounds. Chicken came out incredibly moist and flavorful. My airfryer has an actual rotating rotisserie which seemed to get stuck because my chicken was so big so I was unsure if the chicken would be cooked correctly. However, it all came out terrific.
So happy to hear!
Delicious! I had to make myself stop eating it. Thanks for helping me experiment with my air fryer.
Thanks so much, Coral! We love making roasted whole chicken in air fryer. So juicy!
This looks so good! I’ve been wondering whether or not to get and Air Fryer, but this looks so amazing I definitely need one!
I had no idea a whole chicken can be Air Fried.
The chicken turned out amazing! Super juicy delicious. Next time, I’ll experiment with my own spice rub combo. Thanks for the great recipe!