Enjoy this hassle-free way to roast chicken! This air fryer whole chicken will quickly give you a flavorful and tender rotisserie-style chicken every time with very little effort!
- Whole chicken: Look for one that is around 4 pounds/1.8 kilograms. You’ll want to remove the giblets If they haven’t been already.
- Seasoning: I like to season my chicken generously with smoked paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Air Fry a Whole Chicken
With the air fryer’s ability to achieve crispy skin, shorter cooking times, and easy clean-up, you’ll love this hassle-free recipe! Let’s take a look at the step-by-step process of making it.
I always start by brining my chicken. It makes it so succulent and juicy! Brining chicken takes time, so if you have 12 – 24 hours before you want to air fry the chicken, then I strongly suggest giving it a try. If you don’t want to brine, then you can still make this recipe and it will be delicious.
- Make seasoning. Start by preheating the air fryer to 350°F (180°C) and combining all the seasonings in a small bowl.
- Prepare chicken. Pat it dry and drizzle the skin with oil and rub the seasoning all over. At this stage, you can truss (tie) the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the bird, so they don’t burn.
- Air fry the chicken skin side down for 25 minutes. If it’s getting too brown, then use some aluminum foil to shield the skin from burning. If you’re wondering, in the images I’m using parchment paper liners for easy cleanup!
- Flip. Use kitchen tongs to flip the chicken over and air fry for a further 25 minutes until cooked through. It should read 165°F/74°C on a kitchen thermometer.
- Rest it for 10 minutes then carve the chicken and serve while it’s warm.
Tip!
It’s important to note that the cooking time may vary slightly based on the size of the chicken and the specific model of air fryer you are using.
Recipe Tips
- Always make sure to pat the chicken dry before applying the oil and seasoning. This ensures that the seasoning sticks to the chicken better, giving it more flavor.
- Throw in some veggies. If there’s room in your air fryer basket, you can add some baby potatoes 10-15 minutes into the cooking and some green beans closer to the end. You can also experiment with other vegetables and adjust the cooking times accordingly.
- Keep an eye on browning. If you notice the air fryer whole chicken browning too quickly, cover it with a piece of aluminum foil to prevent it from getting too dark.
- Don’t throw away the chicken carcass! You can use it to make chicken stock or broth.
Using Leftovers
From salads to sandwiches, soups to stir-fries, chicken is your versatile friend! Shred the leftovers to add to Instant Pot chicken soup or slice it to lay on top of Caesar chicken salad.
One of my favorite ways to use up leftovers is to make a creamy chicken salad which I then serve on croissants. It’s the perfect lunch!
For a quick dinner, throw some of the cooked leftovers together with veggies for an easy stir fry. Teriyaki chicken stir fry is a tasty choice or a simple chicken and broccoli stir fry never disappoints!
Storing Tips
Store leftover air fryer whole chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days.
To reheat, place the chicken in the air fryer at a lower temperature (around 325°F/160°C) for a few minutes until warmed through.
You can also reheat it in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate in 30-second increments until the chicken is warmed through. Be careful not to overcook it in the microwave, as it can dry out the meat.
I hope you try this delicious roast chicken in the air fryer! It will truly surprise you with how good it is!
What To Serve With
The thing about a simple air fryer whole chicken is that it pairs well with a plethora of side dishes!
For something a little simple, a side of oven baked potato wedges and grilled corn on the cob is always popular.
If you’re feeling a little fancy or are serving dinner guests you could opt for something a little extra like Boursin mashed potatoes, mushroom spinach orzo, or lemon ricotta pasta.
When you’re looking to keep it low-carb, roasted root veggies and a parsnip purée are the way to go!
Recipe FAQs
While it’s recommended to use a 4-pound (1.8 kg) bird for this recipe, you can adjust the cooking time accordingly if you have a larger or smaller one. Just make sure it fits in the basket if you’re cooking anything larger. Keep in mind that cooking times may vary, so it’s essential to check the internal temperature for doneness using a kitchen thermometer.
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with additional seasonings or herbs to customize the flavor of your air-fried chicken. You can try adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, or even some lemon zest for a citrusy twist.
Crispy skin is one of the best parts of this recipe! Make sure to pat the chicken dry with paper towels before seasoning it which will help to remove excess moisture. Additionally, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking can help evenly distribute heat and crisp up both sides.
It’s not recommended to cook a stuffed chicken in the air fryer. Air fryers work best with single-layered items to ensure even and efficient cooking. If you prefer it stuffed, it’s better to roast it in a conventional oven.
More Air Fryer Recipes To Try
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
Save this recipe for the next time you want something simple, flavorful, and elegant to serve your dinner crowd. Pin it for more people to enjoy too!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Recipe Video
Equipment
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 4 lb (1.8 kg) whole chicken giblets removed
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil or avocado oil, not extra virgin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C) for 5 minutes. If your air fryer does not have a preheat option, simply run it for 5 minutes at the mentioned temperature.
- In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to prepare the seasoning.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and make sure that the cavity is empty. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil, sprinkle the prepared seasoning over it, and rub it all over the chicken evenly. If you wish, use kitchen twine to truss the legs together.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, breast side down, and cook for 25 minutes. If you notice that the chicken is browning too quickly, shield it with a piece of aluminum foil.
- Using kitchen tongs, carefully flip the chicken and cook for another 25 minutes. Keep an eye on the chicken during this process, and if required, shield with foil. The chicken is ready when the internal temperature of the thickest part of the breast or thigh registers 165°F/74°C on a meat thermometer.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes. This helps in retaining the juices when you carve the chicken. Carve the chicken and serve it warm.
Notes:
- Always make sure to pat the chicken dry before applying the oil and seasoning. This ensures that the seasoning sticks to the chicken better, giving it more flavor.
- The cooking time may vary slightly based on the size of the chicken and the specific model of air fryer you are using.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature (165°F/74°C).
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Courtney LeCompte says
you stayed tha brining the chicken beforehand means you have to shorten the cook time. what is the cook time if you brine the chicken? I want to try brining but don’t want to overcook the chicken or dry it out.
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Hi Courtney! The air fryer cooking time doesn’t change if the chicken has been brined. The amount of time in the air fryer will depend mostly on the size of the chicken. Enjoy!
Patricia Cutler says
really helpfull thank you
Kara says
Nice and juicy, and it was so nice not having to heat up my oven. Thanks for the recipe!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
You’re welcome, Kara! I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Sharina says
One of the best air fryer recipes I’ve tried! It is indeed hassle-free and turned out perfectly juicy and tender. We’ll surely have this on repeat.
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Thank you, Sharina! That’s so amazing to hear!
Toni says
This is such an amazing recipe for chicken! It was a huge hit at my house!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit, Toni! Thank you for the great review!