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Best Air fryer whole chicken recipe that is easy, simple, and straightforward. This air fried rotisserie chicken is well seasoned, packed full of flavor, crispy skin, moist and tender inside. It’s perfect for Sunday roast, weeknight dinner, or special occasions. Learn how to cook whole chicken in air fryer with this step by step guide.
Air fryer whole chicken is my new favorite way of making roast chicken when I’m not making my instant pot whole chicken. Cooking is just more fun and easier with those two gadgets. In fact, I’ve loved everything I have made in my air fryer since I bought it. It is easy to use, simple and straightforward settings, and doesn’t take up much space. Cooking has never been made easier.
This air fryer roast chicken recipe is not just flavorful and delicious, it’s also ready in just under an hour.
You will love this perfect air fryer rotisserie chicken recipe that is as simple as season, air fry, rest it, carve, and serve!
Pair with roast potatoes, roasted vegetables, gravy, sauce, or any sides of choice for the perfect roast dinner, special occasions, or weeknight dinner.
Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe
In this post, I have detailed how to make air fryer whole roast chicken that the skin comes out crispy without burning and the meat inside is moist, juicy, and tender.
You need just a few pantry ingredients to season and you get flavor-packed chicken. Let me also add that the ingredients for this recipe are budget-friendly and you are most likely to have them in your kitchen cupboard.
With this recipe, you get a perfectly seasoned and delicious roast that you will be proud of.
For this recipe, I used my Probreeze XL 5.7 quarts air fryer. Other air fryer brands I recommend include:
I used a 1.4kg (3.2lb) chicken for this recipe and it fitted nicely with enough space left in my 5.5 liters air fryer. The 5.7 quarts should fit in up to 4 lb chicken.
When buying chicken from the shop, put into consideration the size of your air fryer. You can also spatchcock the chicken (this is helpful if you need to cook a big bird) if need be. Check my detailed post on how to Spatchcock a chicken.
Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need the below ingredients (The full ingredient list and directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post).
Whole chicken
Smoked paprika
Onion powder
Garlic powder or granules
Oregano
Pepper– Black or Cayenne pepper
Salt
Olive oil – This helps the seasoning stick. You need just a tablespoon for this recipe.
MORE SEASONING OPTIONS
Some other seasonings i use to marinate chicken are listed below. You can choose to use any of these so you’re not limited to one.
How to Cook Whole Chicken in Air fryer
Here’s a step by step guide on how to air fry whole chicken
First, mix the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and oil. Mix well.
Remove the cavities from the whole chicken and pat it dry with a paper towel.
Rub the seasoning marinade all over and inside the chicken making sure all parts are covered.
Reserve a little bit of the marinade as you will use it later in the cooking process.
You can leave the chicken to marinate for 15-30 minutes or longer if you have the time.
Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer basket.
Turn on the air fryer and set it to a temperature of 350F/ 175C and time to 40 minutes. Cook breast down on this setting.
After 40 minutes, bring the basket out and use a thong to flip over the chicken to breast side up. Brush the side up with the leftover marinade then cook at a temperature of 360F/180C for 10 minutes.
Switch off the AF, bring out the basket and leave the chicken to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving.
Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is atleast 165F when cooked as it is not safe to eat if internal temperature is below this number. Use a meat thermometer to check.
Don’t leave the chicken to rest in the air fryer as the heat will keep cooking it and dry up the chicken. Bring the basket out to rest.
Frozen Whole Chicken in Air Fryer
It’s best to cook from fresh but yes you can cook whole chicken from frozen. Run under water to deglaze any ice on it then follow the cooking instructions above. Note that cooking time will be longer as you will have to cook at a lower temperature so the chicken gets to defrost and not cook too quickly.
How long to cook whole chicken in the Air Fryer
This depends on the size of the chicken and the brand of your air fryer. For this 3.2lb (1.4kg) chicken, I cook for 40 minutes breast side up then 10 minutes breast side down at a temperature of 180C/360F. Don’t cook at a higher temperature as this will make the skin burn before the inside is well cooked rather air fry on low heat for longer to ensure even cooking.
2kg – Cook for 50 minutes breast side down and 1 minutes breast side up.
What to serve with
Air fryer roast potatoes – These fluffy inside and crispy outside potatoes make a perfect side.
Air fryer Vegetables or Carrots
Gravy
Yorkshire pudding
Tips for Air fryer whole chicken
- If you use a bigger chicken you will have to increase cooking time.
- Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer brand.
- Don’t forget to remove the cavity from the bird.
- If cooking a big-sized chicken you can spatchcock the chicken to flatten it so it fits in the AF.
- Cook breast side down first.
- Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is at least 165F when cooked as it is not safe to eat if the internal temperature is below this number.
- Allow chicken to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving. Don’t rest it in the air fryer, bring it out to rest.
- If using a big chicken without much room in the AF, tie the legs to prevent them from touching the top and overcooking.
How to Store
Leave to cool completely, put in a Ziploc or put in an airtight container, label then store:
In the fridge – for up to 3 days.
In the freezer – If stored in the freezer, it can be stored for up to 6 months.
To reheat– It can be reheated from frozen. Remove from packaging, place inside the basket, and air fry at a temperature of 200C/400F. Start from 4 minutes and adjust time till it is hot and heated through.
More Air Fryer chicken recipes
Air fryer southern fried chicken
Other AF recipes you’ll love
I hope you like this recipe as much as I do. If you find this post helpful, please rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you.
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Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1.4 kg (3.2lb) Whole Chicken
- 1.5 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Oregano
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoon Oil Vegetable or Sunflower oil
Instructions
- First, mix the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and oil. Mix well.
- Remove the cavities from the whole chicken and pat it dry with a paper towel.
- Rub the seasoning marinade all over and inside the chicken making sure all parts are covered. Reserve a little bit of the marinade as you will use it later in the cooking process.You can leave the chicken to marinate for 15-30 minutes or longer if you have the time
- Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer basket. Turn on the air fryer and set it to a temperature of 350F/ 175C and time to cook 40 minutes. Cook breast down on this setting.
- After 40 minutes, bring the basket out and use a thong to flip over the chicken to breast side up. Brush the side up with the leftover marinade then cook at a temperature of 360F/180C for 10 minutes.
- Switch off the AF, bring out the basket and leave the chicken to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving. Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is atleast 165F when cooked as it is not safe to eat if internal temperature is below this number. Use a meat thermometer to check.Don't leave the chicken to rest in the air fryer as the heat will keep cooking it and dry up the chicken. Bring the basket out to rest.
Video
Recipe Notes
- If you use a bigger chicken you will have to increase cooking time.
- Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer brand.
- Don’t forget to remove the cavity from the bird.
- If cooking a big-sized chicken you can spatchcock the chicken to flatten it so it fits in the AF.
- Cook breast side down first.
- Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is at least 165F when cooked as it is not safe to eat if the internal temperature is below this number.
- Allow chicken to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving. Don’t rest it in the air fryer, bring it out to rest.
- If using a big chicken without much room in the AF, tie the legs to prevent them from touching the top and overcooking.
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