Air fryer whole chicken recipe
Learn how to cook a rotisserie-style Air Fryer Whole Chicken with crispy skin & tender meat. Great for everyday dinners or special occasions.
Servings: 4 people
Equipment
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)
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.
Video
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
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 1315mg | Potassium: 419mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.03g | Vitamin A: 378IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg