Enjoy deliciously juicy roasted chicken with nicely crisped skin in just over an hour following our easy Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe! It's easier than you might think to air fry a whole chicken. We'll explain with step-by-step instructions, photos, and a video!
Jump to:
- Watch the Video
- Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Why air fry a whole chicken?
- Ingredients for Air Frying a Whole Chicken
- How to Air Fry a Whole Chicken
- Recipe Tips
- Air Fryer Thanksgiving
- How long does it take to air fry a whole chicken?
- What to Serve with Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Storage Instructions
- FAQ
- Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Feedback
Watch the Video
Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer
We've always been rotisserie style chicken fans. It's hard to resist the allure of juicy chicken with well-seasoned, crispy skin that shreds easily and lasts the week for however you want to serve it. That's exactly what our air fryer whole chicken recipe accomplishes: the same flavor, juiciness, and crispy skin as a rotisserie chicken, made easily in your air fryer!
Our goal with this recipe for whole chicken in the air fryer was to come up with an easy solution to cooking a small holiday dinner, all air fried. After extensive recipe testing, we found the perfect method and timing for achieving crisp roast chicken skin, tender meat, and plenty of flavor.
You might think cooking an entire chicken in the air fryer would be difficult, but it's actually very easy. We'll show you what to do in under 10 steps with just 10 minutes of simple prep work. Let's get air frying!
Why air fry a whole chicken?
- The results are unbeatable. An air fryer is the best way to roast a whole chicken because it delivers crispy, juicy results in less time, with less hassle, and in a healthier, more energy-efficient way.
- It's budget-friendly. Air frying a whole chicken will cost you much less than buying a rotisserie chicken, and if you're roasting chicken for the holidays, it's much less costly than a whole turkey.
- Thanksgiving dinner doesn't have to be turkey! Air fryer whole chicken has the crisp skin and juicy meat you're looking for in a Thanksgiving meal, so it's perfect for feeding up to six people.
- Air Fryer Whole Roasted Chicken isn't just for the holidays, though. It's a wonderful meal for a weeknight whenever you have a craving for a juicy chicken dinner.
- It's great for meal prep. Make an air fryer whole roasted chicken and use it for meal prepping throughout the week. Add it to tacos, nachos with air fried tortilla chips, chicken salad, sandwiches, toss it with peppers and onions, serve it alongside spaghetti squash or sweet potato cubes—we could go on; the possibilities are endless!
- Easy clean up too! Most air fryers have non-stick baskets that make cleanup a breeze. Plus, since the chicken is cooked in a contained space, there's less mess to deal with compared to using a roasting pan in the oven.
Ingredients for Air Frying a Whole Chicken
- Free Range Whole Chicken: If your chicken comes with giblets*, make sure to remove them. Choose a chicken that is five to six pounds to feed about six people if your air fryer allows. A three to four pound chicken will be enough for four people. The most important consideration is whether or not the chicken will fit in your air fryer, so be sure to check that the chicken you purchase will fit in the basket without touching the burner at the top!
- Kosher Salt: We prefer kosher salt or sea salt flakes for best flavor, and advise against using table salt.
- Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper works best!
- Olive Oil: We recommend light olive oil, as it has a higher smoke point than extra virgin olive oil. See our recommended oils for air frying.
- Turkey Rub Seasoning: Our turkey rub seasoning blend uses kosher salt, dried thyme, dried rosemary, black pepper, garlic powder, ground sage, and paprika. If you want to make it (and you should try it, it's super good!), you will need these ingredients. Otherwise, feel free to use your preferred seasoning for chicken.
*Check for Chicken Giblets: Be sure to check inside the chicken for the giblets and remove them before air frying. The giblets will be in a small bag usually, but they aren't always included, so if you don't find them - no worries. If your chicken comes with giblets, you might want to try making our giblet gravy. This recipe is for turkey, but works with chicken too!
How to Air Fry a Whole Chicken
Step 1
Pat whole chicken dry with paper towels. Remove giblets if included.
Step 2
Generously season the inside of the chicken cavity with kosher salt and black pepper.
Step 3
Brush the chicken with olive oil so it is evenly coated all over.
Step 4
Rub the chicken with turkey rub seasoning, being sure to coat the entire surface area of the chicken and gently rubbing under the skin wherever possible.
Step 5
Place chicken in the air fryer basket breast side up. Air fry at 350°F for 40 minutes.
Step 6
Using tongs, carefully turn chicken over so the breast side is down and continue air frying another 20-25 minutes.
Step 7
Check the internal temperature by inserting an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh meat without touching the bone. The chicken is done when the thigh meat registers between 165-175°F. If needed, continue air frying until the proper temperature is reached.
Final Step
Remove the chicken from the air fryer and rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Save the bones to make broth! See our chicken broth recipe on our sister site. Our recipe uses a whole chicken, but we have made this same recipe with just the chicken bones many times, and it works perfectly.
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer or microwave to enjoy alongside your favorite air fryer vegetables for a healthy air fryer dinner!
Air Fryer Thanksgiving
With more than 15 recipes, it's easy to make your entire holiday dinner in the air fryer!
How long does it take to air fry a whole chicken?
In our extensive recipe testing, we found that the optimal temperature for air frying a whole chicken is 350°F. This temperature will produce beautifully browned skin with just the right amount of crisp to it without drying it out. The meat is tender and juicy, and won't dry out so long as you make sure to check the internal temperature and avoid overcooking it.
As a general rule for air frying a whole chicken at 350°F, cook for 10 minutes per pound of chicken. For example, a 5-6 pound chicken will take roughly 50 to 60 minutes to reach the safe internal temperature of 165-175°F.
Start by air frying the chicken breast-side up for about 40 minutes to ensure a nice color and crispness. Then, flip the chicken over and continue to cook until you reach 165-175°F as read by an instant read meat thermometer.
Note: Every air fryer is a little different. Keep that in mind! You may need to experiment with your specific air fryer to find the perfect timing for you. We're using a 7 quart Gourmia Air Fryer from Costco.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Storage Instructions
- To store leftover chicken, take the meat off the bones and put it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in a freezer bag to freeze for up to 6 months. Use it for meal planning your lunches or make a completely different dinner with it, such as Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Soup.
FAQ
If the chicken fits in your air fryer basket, but you're concerned it's too close to the burner, you can gently push down on the breast of the chicken and it will give in to the pressure, flattening it out somewhat.
We're using a 7 quart Gourmia air fryer from Costco, but you can use another size. Just ensure the chicken you're buying will fit in the basket before you try to air fry it.
Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs from Frozen
- Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich
- See all our air fryer chicken recipes!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Paper Towels
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 pound Free Range Whole Chicken giblets removed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons turkey rub seasoning mix well before using
Instructions
Turkey Rub Seasoning
- In a small bowl, combine your turkey rub seasoning.
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Pat one 5 to 6 pound Free Range Whole Chicken dry with paper towels. Remove giblets if included.
- Generously season the inside of the chicken cavity with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Brush the chicken with 1 Tablespoon olive oil so it is evenly coated all over.
- Rub the chicken with 2 Tablespoons turkey rub seasoning, being sure to coat the entire surface area of the chicken and gently rubbing under the skin wherever possible.
- Place chicken in the air fryer basket breast side up.
- Air fry at 350°F for 40 minutes.
- Using tongs, carefully turn chicken over so the breast side is down and continue air frying another 20-25 minutes.
- Check the internal temperature by inserting an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh meat without touching the bone. The chicken is done when the thigh meat registers between 165-175°F. If needed, continue air frying until the proper temperature is reached.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and rest for 15-20 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Reserve giblets to make stock for gravy if you like.
- Turning the chicken halfway through air frying: Use silicone tipped tongs. Be careful not to rip the skin when turning. One tip of the tongs can go inside cavity, with the other tip on top of the chicken to get a good grip. You may want to use a spatula in your other hand to help guide the chicken over.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer. As always, use the cook time and temperature as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
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