The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken

So here is a confession. I am addicted to chicken recipes. This makes friends and family super happy since they get to eat chicken in this, that and every which way.

The latest way being juicy and succulent Air Fryer Whole Chicken with a super crispy skin to boot.

It’s perfect store quality chicken that is juicy off the bone with crispy skin. If your family is like mine, they’ll be tearing the bird up and you’ll wonder if there will be enough for leftovers.

Related Recipe : Air Fryer Chicken Breast.

And making whole chicken in the air fryer is a great weeknight, make ahead, meal planning to eat all week. Make Air Fryer Whole Chicken and you’ll get chicken salad sandwiches for lunch, chicken tacos for dinner and still have enough to make a chicken noodle soup.

If you’ve always wanted to make rotisserie style chicken at home you need to get an air fryer.

I still loooooooooove roasting chicken but THIS Air Fryer Roasted Chicken recipe has me forgetting all about my oven. #sorrynotsorry.

Why You’ll Love It

•  It requires 3 ingredients and minimal prep work.
• Flavour with seasonings you have in your pantry.
• Healthier and affordable meal loved by the whole family.
• It is great for make ahead eating, meal prep and freezer friendly.

Tools Needed

Ready to learn how to make a whole chicken in Air Fryer? Gather your ingredients and let me show you how……

How to Make Air Fryer Whole Chicken

1. Preheat the air fryer to 180C / 350F.
2. Pat chicken dry. Rub in the dry rub and sprinkle salt if desired.
3. Spray air fryer  with cooking spray.
4. Add meat in and cook for 30 mins on one side.
5. Then flip and cook for 15-30 mins on other side depending on the size of your bird.
6. Important to check that the of the Air Fryer Chicken is 75C (165F) using a Meat thermometer before serving.
7. Let the Air Fryer Roast Chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.

Make This In The Instant Pot

As much as I looooove the air fryer, I also love the little kitchen wonder that is the Instant Pot. The Instant Pot is a great choice for cooking a whole chicken in a very short amount of time.

It gives you super moist, tender, fall-off-the-bone meat every time. Check out my Instant Pot Whole Chicken post to learn just how easy it is to make.

Make This In The Slow Cooker

If you’re like me and often want to get a jump on suppertime before leaving the house in the morning, then making your whole chicken in the slow cooker is the way to go.

My Slow Cooker Whole Chicken recipe gives you all the information on how to get juicy and delicious chicken with set it and forget it ease.

Recipe Tips

Here are a few tips to make sure you get the best Air Fryer Roasted Chicken ever.

• Make sure your chicken is dry prior to adding the dry rub. A dry rub works best in the air fryer and you don’t want your dry rub to not stick. A dry chicken will help prevent the rub from slipping off during prep time and cook time.
• Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to break the backbone to fit. You might need to make your chicken work but make sure you buy a whole chicken that will suit your air fryer.

• Start with the whole chicken breast side down in the air fryer – which make it easier to shut the air fryer basket as the legs are out of the way.
• Do make sure the entire chicken is coated in the rub, so every mouthful is full of flavour.

• For the best results, let chicken rest for 15 minutes before you start carving.
• Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model, so it is important to always check your food for doneness.

RELATED : Air Fryer Chicken Recipes.

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning Ideas

You can season your air fryer roast chicken in a number of ways. I have suggested you use a dry rub of your choice. Some  seasoning ideas include

• Cajun seasoning.
• Creole seasoning.
• Smoked paprika.
• Italian seasoning.
• Poultry Seasoning Recipe.
• Italian seasoning.

Prep Ahead And Storing

Prep Ahead – This recipe is so easy to make and air fry. Season the chicken ahead of time and keep in the refrigerator till needed!

Store – Store cooked meat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze this.

• Transfer into these convenient Ziploc freezer bags.
• Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
• Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
• Store in the freezer for 3 months.
• To make reheating easier, freeze in the right portion sizes that you need for the future.

• To Thaw – Remove the frozen chicken from the freezer the night before needed and let thaw in the fridge.

Meal Planning Ideas

And making a whole chicken in the air fryer is great for meal planning for the week especially for everyone’s lunch. Sky is the limit really but here are a few ways to use up your make Rotisserie Chicken.

You can also make this ahead of time and use for later or serve for dinner and enjoy the leftovers in a few different ways.

• Chicken Tacos or Quesadillas.
• Chicken Salad.
• Air Fried Chicken Fried Rice.
• White Chicken Chili.
• Chicken Noodle Soup.

FAQS

How Long Do You Need To Cook This For?

Wondering how long to cook chicken in your air fryer? Cooking time for your whole chicken in the air fryer can be anytime between 45-60 mins depending on the size of the chicken.

Mine took 45 minutess and was 1.5kg (3.5lbs). When cooking this for the first time, I recommend aiming for 45 minutes and then checking the internal temperature.

Air Fryer Roasted Chicken Temperature

The temperature for cooking the air fryer roast chicken in this recipe is 350F /180C.

The most important thing is to make sure that the cooked chicken must reach an internal temperature of 75 C (165 F) before serving. Use a Meat thermometer for this.

RELATED : Air Fryer Chicken Recipes.

Why You Should Try the Air Fryer

Folks, if you have an air fryer it can do way more than just make frozen French fries crispy.

Yeap, you can make all kinds of delicious food in the air fryer and sometimes even quicker than it would take in an oven or convection oven.

Very little oil is needed when cooking in your air fryer. The air fryer uses a powerful fan to ‘fry’ your food.

You’re eliminating the need for excess fat and calories when using an air fryer but not compromising on texture and flavour. This is a win for your waistline.

If you use too much oil your food may become soggy, but if you use just about 1 to 2 tbsp your chicken will come out juicy and succulent on the inside with a crispy skin on the outside.

And you’ll get food on the table even faster, especially foods like this air fryer rotisserie chicken. For some recipes, the air fryer can cut the cooking time in half.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Breasts.
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
• Air Fryer Cornish Hen.
• Air Fryer Pork Chops.
• Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas.
• Crispy Air Fryer Bacon.
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
• Air Fryer Fried Chicken.

Serving Suggestions

• Red Potato Salad.
• Pan Fried Green Bean Almondine from Wholesome Yum.
• Rosemary Parmesan Roasted Sweet Potato from Flavor the Moments.

Recipe Video*

Weight Watchers Points

There are 7 Blue Plan Smartpoints in one serving.

Thank you for reading my Whole Chicken Air Fryer recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Originally published oct 2018.

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