Learn how to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer. Save money and time by making roasted chicken, rotisserie-style, with crispy seasoned skin and juicy meat. And ready in a fraction of the time!
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With just 5 ingredients (and even fewer if you use a seasoning blend) and 5 minutes prep time, you can have an Air Fryer Whole Chicken ready for a fancy dinner or plenty of chopped or shredded chicken for your favorite easy chicken recipes.
You'll need a large air fryer that's at least 5 quarts capacity, deep enough to hold a small whole chicken. I used a Ninja Pro XL 6.5 quart air fryer for this recipe for a 4 pound .
If you've been reading my recipes for very long, you know how I love the whole rotisserie chickens at Sam's Wholesale. So flavorful and convenient to make my recipes like Easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole and Crockpot Chicken and Dressing.
But I will say, once you learn how easy it is to air fry a chicken whole, this is how you will be making all your favorite recipes with rotisserie-style chopped or shredded chicken.
And just look how gorgeous is this Air Fryer Whole Chicken? It's worthy of any small gathering for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter!
Not to mention that crispy skin with tender and juicy meat on the inside due to the circulating high heat of an air fryer "oven".
Can you cook a whole chicken in an air fryer?
Absolutely! It can't get much easier than rubbing a little oil on the chicken, sprinkling with seasoning and placing it in the air fryer basket to cook (turning once).
In a nutshell, that's how to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer, but let me show you step by step with pictures. Let's get to air frying!
Shortcuts
- Faster Cook Time: The air fryer cooks in half the time as the oven because of the circulating high heat.
- An oven takes longer to preheat than it takes to prep the chicken. An air fryer heats up super quick due to the compact space.
Ingredients
- Whole, skin-on, bone-in chicken - You can buy these fresh or frozen. I like to buy them on sale and store them in the freezer, then thaw in the fridge before cooking.
Substitutions & Variations
- Seasoning - I always have these basic seasonings on hand, but also like to use blends that have salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Paprika adds a little flavor but I love how it adds a little extra color.
- Large chicken breasts- I often cook one or two large skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts with this same method. Reduce the cooking time by 10 minutes before and after turning it. Always check the internal temperature of chicken breasts to reach 165°F on instant read meat thermometer.
Did you know you can also roast a turkey breast in the air fryer?
How to "air fryer" a chicken whole
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
- This is optional, but I like to tie the legs together with dental floss. It just looks better if you are serving it whole.
- Rub with oil and sprinkle with seasonings.
- Place the whole chicken, breast-side-down, in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry the chicken according to time in the printable recipe below, turning once.
Let the chicken rest on a cutting board 10 minutes before serving for the juiciest meat. I like to sprinkle with a little parsley or any herb I have on hand, just to gild the lily!
Pro Tips
Don’t use a meat fork to turn chicken over. It will pierce the skin and allow the juices to run out, making the chicken dry.
Make sure your air fryer is deep enough so that the chicken doesn’t touch the heating coils in the top.
By cooking the breast side down, first and longer, it prevents the white meat from drying out and avoids burning the skin on the breast side.
How to cut and serve a whole chicken
Start by cutting off the wings with a sharp knife, then the thighs and legs. Slice off the breast meat, keeping it whole, then cut each breast into crosswise slices.
Helpful information
No. Air frying a whole frozen chicken will result in uneven cooking. This is a risk for having raw spots close to the bone, while over cooking the outside.
The best air fryer to use for cooking a whole chicken is one that is deep enough to fit a whole chicken in without touching the heating coils.
I use a Ninja Pro XL 6.5 quart basket-style large air fryer for a 4 pound chicken. To cook two small chickens at one time, I've used my Instant Pot VersaZone 9 Qt air fryer.
Want more air fryer recipes?
Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 4 pound whole chicken (giblets removed) (See notes for other sizes)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (avocado or other vegetable oil)
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- (Optional Step) I like to tie the chicken legs together with unflavored dental floss or kitchen twine. It’s not a must, but sure improves the appearance when serving the chicken whole.
- If you’re cooking the chicken strictly to chop or shred for other recipes, just go ahead and spread out the legs in the air fryer. It will actually cook it a little faster that way.
- Preheat a 5 to 6.5 quart air fryer at 360℉ degrees for 3 minutes. See Note.
Season Chicken
- Meanwhile, rub or brush the entire outside of the chicken with oil.
- Combine the garlic salt, onion powder and paprika, then sprinkle it over the entire chicken. (Or use your favorite seasoning blend.)
Air Fry Chicken Whole
- Place the chicken, breast side down, in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 360℉ degrees for 30 minutes. Carefully turn over the chicken with tongs. Cook for another 20 minutes or until an instant read thermometer registers 170℉ in the thickest part of the thigh and 165℉ in the breast.
- Whole Chicken in Air Fryer TIME: For a 3 ½ pound chicken, reduce the first cooking time by 5 minutes. For a larger 5 pound chicken, increase the first cooking time by 10 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Let it rest 10 minutes before cutting for the juiciest chicken results.
- Yield: One (4 pound) whole chicken, cooked, will equal approximately 3 to 3 ½ cups chopped or shredded chicken. It will serve 4 to 6 people cut into legs, thighs, and breasts.
Notes
-Don’t use a meat fork to turn chicken over. It will pierce the skin and allow the juices to run out, making the chicken less juicy.
-Pro tip: Make sure your air fryer is deep enough so that the chicken doesn’t touch the heating coils in the top.
-By starting the cooking with the breast side down, it prevents the white meat from drying out and avoids burning the skin on the breast side. -The best air fryer to use for cooking a whole chicken is one that is large enough to fit a whole chicken in without touching the heating coils. I used a Ninja Pro XL 6.5 quart basket-style air fryer.
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
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Scott P
This is so simple, easy, and delicious
Kathleen
Well said! And I agree with all three!
Scott P
Simple, easy, and delicious!