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Air Fryer Whole Chicken

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overhead shot of a whole chicken in a air fryer
This air fryer whole chicken is a delicious, crispy, and fast way to get dinner on the table with minimal effort!
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Table of Contents
  1. Air Fryer Whole Chicken Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How to Make This Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storage
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Recipes You’ll Love
  8. JUMP TO RECIPE

Making this air fryer whole chicken is a fun and delicious way to make a meal. It’s fast, easy, and yields crispy, juicy results since air frying allows you to get the perfect crunch without deep frying – while still giving you that tasty fried chicken feel. 

overhead shot of a whole chicken in a air fryer

Air Fryer Whole Chicken Ingredients

Air Fryer Whole Chicken raw ingredients that are labeled
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An air fryer whole chicken has a delicious and crispy texture rivaling a traditional deep-fried version. But it’s also much better for you due to not using oil or other unhealthy fats. 

The chicken comes out juicy and flavorful, with the perfect crunch from the air frying process. You’ll love the taste of this guilt-free meal!

You’ll need:

  • 4-pound whole chicken
  • 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon of coarsely ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon of onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil

PRO TIP:

Choose a smaller chicken to ensure it fits in your air fryer. My chicken was 5 pounds (on the larger size), and it fits nicely in my air fryer. If the chicken is too large or the legs get stuck when opening the air fryer, you can press down on the breastbone of the chicken to help flatten it.

Substitutions And Additions

SEASONING: This delicious chicken recipe is fully customizable regarding your seasonings.

You could try everything from lemon pepper to Italian seasoning to a flavorful spice blend.

How to Make This Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe

Skip the rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, as this recipe will come together in a flash right in your own kitchen.

All you need to do is prep the chicken as usual and pop it into the air fryer.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Make sure to check your air fryer manual for cook time guidelines for your specific model, as times and temperatures vary depending on the type of air fryer you have.

STEP ONE: Remove the chicken from the packaging. Remove the neck and/or giblets from the cavity of the chicken. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.

STEP TWO: In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and smoked paprika.

salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika combined in a bowl

STEP THREE: Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and rub it into the skin.

olive oil drizzled on the whole chicken

STEP FOUR: Sprinkle ⅓ of the seasoning on one side of the chicken and ⅓ of the seasoning on the other side, rubbing the seasoning all over the exterior of the chicken and inside the cavity. (Reserve the remaining seasoning.)

STEP FIVE: Place the chicken in the air fryer, breast side down. Fold the wings behind the chicken.

Close the air fryer drawer/door and cook at 350°F for 30 minutes.

PRO TIP:

Tucking the wings behind the chicken and tying the legs together help prevent these parts of the chicken from drying out. 

whole chicken placed in an air fryer

STEP SIX: Turn the chicken breast side up. Tie the legs with kitchen twine, if desired, and sprinkle the reserved seasoning over the breast and legs.

seasoning sprinkled on the whole chicken in an air fryer

STEP SEVEN: Cook for an additional 25 to 30 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken registers 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast.

whole chicken cooked in an air fryer

STEP EIGHT: Leave the chicken to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before carving.

a piece of baked chicken sliced off

How To Serve

The sides you can serve with a whole roast chicken are too many to count, but we have a few options to get you started.

Roasted vegetables such as broccoli or stovetop glazed carrots are a great option. 

Other popular side dishes include roasted potatoes (cut into wedges) or creamy mashed potatoes paired deliciously with the juicy meat.

And don’t forget the dinner rolls!

Two more air fryer recipes that we know you will love are our air fryer chicken wings and air fryer baked potato recipe.

Storage

If you have any leftovers, here are the guidelines for storing the chicken.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store leftover roasted chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days.

IN THE FREEZER: Freeze leftover chicken tightly wrapped in a freezer bag for up to one month.

close up shot of slices of chicken with a fork

With delicious crispy, flavorful skin, juicy meat, fast cooking time, and effortless preparation, this air fryer whole chicken is definitely an easy way to get dinner on the table! Much faster than in a conventional oven, you will wonder why you didn’t try this recipe sooner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of chicken should I use for this air fryer rotisserie chicken?

The best type of chicken for this rotisserie style chicken is a whole, fresh chicken. You can also use a frozen whole chicken, but make sure to thaw it fully first.

What should I do before cooking the chicken in an air fryer?

Before placing the chicken in the air fryer, you’ll want to rub it with oil and seasonings and let it sit for about 15 minutes at room temperature. This will help ensure a more even cooking and more flavorful result.

Can I use different seasonings than listed for this air fryer roast chicken recipe?

If you have a preferred spice rub, you are more than welcome to use that on your roast chicken.

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overhead shot of a whole chicken in a air fryer

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

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This air fryer whole chicken is a delicious, crispy, and fast way to get dinner on the table with minimal effort!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 4 pounds whole chicken
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Remove the chicken from the packaging. Remove the neck and/or giblets from the cavity of the chicken. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
  • In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and smoked paprika.
  • Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and rub it into the skin.
  • Sprinkle ⅓ of the seasoning on one side of the chicken and ⅓ of the seasoning on the other side, rubbing the seasoning all over the exterior of the chicken and inside the cavity. (Reserve the remaining seasoning.)
  • Place the chicken in the air fryer, breast side down. Fold the wings behind the chicken. Close the air fryer drawer/door and cook at 350°F for 30 minutes.
  • Turn the chicken breast side up. Tie the legs with kitchen twine, if desired, and sprinkle the reserved seasoning over the breast and legs.
  • Cook for an additional 25 to 30 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken registers 165°F.
  • Leave the chicken to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before carving.

Notes

  • Choose a smaller chicken to ensure it fits in your air fryer. My chicken was 5 pounds (on the larger size), and it fits nicely in my air fryer. If the chicken is too large or the legs get stuck when opening the air fryer, you can press down on the breastbone of the chicken to help flatten it.
  • Make sure to check your air fryer manual for cook time guidelines for your specific model, as times and temperatures vary depending on the type of air fryer you have.
  • Tucking the wings behind the chicken and tying the legs together help prevent these parts of the chicken from drying out.

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 877mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 286IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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