The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken [+Video]

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Discover the secret to perfectly cooked and juicy whole chicken in the air fryer. This easy and delicious recipe is sure to become a family favorite, with minimal prep and cook time. You’ll have perfectly crispy skin and tender juicy chicken in just 1 hour!

Serve it up with our creamy mashed potatoes or crunchy roasted herb potatoes and a side of grilled asparagus and you’ve got a comforting, family-friendly meal!

Ingredients for Airfryer Whole Chicken

Cooking an entire chicken in an air fryer couldn’t be easier! It tastes just like the yummy rotisserie chicken you can buy at the grocery store only you control all the ingredients. Here is what you will need:

  • Whole Chicken
  • Olive Oil
  • Butter
  • Seasonings: Smoked Paprika, Kosher Salt, Garlic Powder
  • Thyme
  • Honey

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card down below. This is just meant to be an overview of what you will need.

How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer

Airfrying a whole chicken is so simple! All you need to do is pat it dry, season it and let it cook in the air fryer. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

  1. Dry: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
  2. Rub: Mix the butter and spices together in a small bowl and then rub it all over the outside of the chicken and under the skin.
  3. Tie: Using kitchen twine, tie up the legs and wings.
  4. Air Fry: Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer preheated to 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
    • NOTE: If you don’t have an air fryer, I would recommend following our roasted chicken recipe and just cook it in the oven.
  5. Flip: Using paper towels, turn the bird over and cook for another 20-30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should be 165 degrees F.
  6. Rest: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes.
  7. Drizzle: Drizzle honey all over the top of the chicken and then slice and serve.

The complete instructions are available in the recipe at the end of the post. Keep scrolling for all the details!

a photo of a deconstructed whole chicken with crispy golden skin and half a lemon sitting next to it.

Tips for Achieving Crispy Skin

Patting the chicken dry before adding the butter and seasonings is critical to achieving that crispy delicious skin. Drying the chicken removes excess moisture which will allow the butter to help crisp up the skin. Afterall, it’s the crispy skin that we all want, right?! Flipping the chicken halfway through the air frying also helps the chicken cook evenly.

Cooking Time and Temperature Recommendations

Depending on the size of your whole chicken, it will take about 50-60 minutes to cook in the airfryer. You will start by cooking the chicken with the breast side down, and then flip it over and cook until the internal temperature measures 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the thigh. That will take an additional 20-30 minutes.

Alternative Seasoning Options

We love the simple combination of smoked paprika, salt, garlic powder and fresh thyme, but you can definitely experiment with different seasonings. You can change up the fresh herbs and use rosemary, basil, oregano, and/or sage. You could also add some lemon zest for a bright citrus burst of flavor. If you want to use the chicken for a Mexican meal, use cumin, chili powder or a taco seasoning blend. The options are really endless!

a photo of a whole chicken that has been air fried and broken down into parts with a half a lemon sitting next to it

What to Eat with a Whole Chicken

This air fryer whole chicken recipe is so flexible when it comes to finding sides to go with it. Here are a few suggestions:

How to Use Air Fryer Whole Chicken

If you have leftovers or you are just air frying the chicken to use in another recipe, this chicken goes great in soups, wraps, salads, sandwiches, pasta, bowls, etc. Some of our favorite ways to use this chicken is in chicken pot pie, honey lime chicken burritos, or white chicken chili.

Health Benefits of Cooking with an Air Fryer

Using an air fryer to fry food rather than oil reduces the calories and fat significantly.

Reasons I Love This Recipe

  • Quick: There is only about 5 minutes of prep time for this recipe and it only takes about an hour to cook.
  • Flavor: The flavor of this chicken is mouth-watering! That crispy seasoned chicken skin on top of the juicy chicken is irresistible.
  • Easy: No complicated cooking instructions here, just rub the seasonings all over the chicken and then let the air fryer do all the work.
  • Healthy: One serving of air fryer chicken is less than 300 calories and is low carb and high in protein.
  • Texture: The skin is crispy and adds so much texture when you pair it with that juicy chicken.
a photo taken over the top of a an airfried whole chicken with fresh thyme sprinkled around it

Storing and Reheating

Whole chicken should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week. I always prefer to use it within a day or two. It also freezes extremely well. A FoodSaver will help you to be able to get the best results when freezing chicken as it sucks out the air and vacuum seals the meat. Remove from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge for a least 1 day and probably more.

To reheat air fried chicken, place it back in the air fryer heated to 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. You can also reheat in a microwave on medium for 2-5 minutes. 

Learn how to achieve perfectly crispy skin and tender meat in your air fryer with this delicious whole chicken recipe. It’s a healthier and easier alternative to traditional roasted chicken that will have your taste buds begging for more.

More of Our Favorite Air Fryer Recipes:

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Resting Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Description

Discover the secret to perfectly cooked and juicy whole chicken in the air fryer. This easy and delicious recipe is sure to become a family favorite, with minimal prep and cook time.

Prevent your screen from going dark

  • Mix the seasonings together with the butter and rub the butter mixture over and under the skin.

    2 Tablespoons Butter, 1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika, 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt, 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 2 teaspoons Thyme, 1 Whole Chicken

  • Tie up the legs and wings and then put the bird breast down in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

  • Turn the bird over using paper towels and cook for another 30 minutes until an instant read thermometer reaches 165°F.

  • Remove from the air fryer and rest 10 minutes before cutting. Drizzle with honey before cutting and serving.

    Honey

Calories: 275kcalCarbohydrates: 0.4gProtein: 24gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 283mgPotassium: 251mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.02gVitamin A: 292IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Author: Sweet Basil

Course: Mom’s Best 100 Easy Chicken Recipes

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