The best use of your air fryer is making this air fryer whole chicken. The meat is juicy and the skin is extra crispy like a rotisserie chicken...you are going to love how easy this whole chicken in the air fryer is!
I have made several things in my air fryer that I love, but I think this Air Fryer whole chicken is my new favorite. The chicken is perfectly tender and juicy and has amazing crispy skin. My family gives it rave reviews! I bet you didn't think you could air fry a whole chicken, but you can! It just depends on how big your air fryer is and how big of a chicken you have.
I love this technique so much more than making a roast chicken in the oven. This air fried whole chicken is more like a rotisserie chicken because of the amazing flavor from the seasonings! A lot of people serve the air fried roast chicken with roasted potatoes for a classic complete meal. I like to pull the meat from the bone and have it on salads for a low carb and keto friendly meal.
I have lots of other air fryer recipes including: Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Bacon, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, and Air Fryer chicken tenders. This air fryer whole chicken is one of my most popular, though. Along with my air fryer chicken thighs and air fryer chicken breasts!
Air fry whole chicken recipe
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this air fryer whole chicken recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For a printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
5 - 6 pound whole chicken, giblets removed
Seasoning blend:
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
How to make an air fryer whole chicken
This section explains how to make this whole chicken in the air fryer recipe, step by step. For a full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
This recipe is super easy but I have a few tricks that will ensure that your chicken does not dry out before it is cooked all of the way through.
I started with a chicken that was approximately 5 pounds and I use my 5.7 quart air fryer. You can use a smaller chicken but the cooking time would need to be reduced.
I removed all of the stuff from the cavity and combined all of the seasoning blend spices and oil in a small bowl.
Now it's time to put the chicken in the air fryer basket breast side down. After experimenting, I discovered that if I left the legs up then it was hard to get the basket to open and the chicken legs got way over cooked. Chicken breast Side down for the first 50 minutes of cook time keeps everything nice and moist.
I cooked the chicken at 360F for 50 minutes breast side down, then I flipped it and did 10 more minutes. It is important to make sure the internal temperature of the breast is 165F. Continue cooking until the temperature is reached.
I am telling you now, you will not believe how delicious and juicy this chicken is.
Is an air fryer big enough for a whole chicken?
It really depends on the size of your air fryer. Most chickens you buy in the store are around 5 to 6 pounds. If you have an air fryer that is smaller than 5 quarts, you may need to find a smaller chicken.
Some newer ovens now have air fry as a setting so you would be able to air fry any size whole chicken in it!
What to do with leftover chicken?
- Pull the chicken from the bone and make sandwiches, chicken salad, or enchiladas (save the carcass in a freezer bag to make chicken broth later)
- Use in Chicken Noodle soup or any soup that contains shredded chicken.
- Here is a good use for leftover shredded chicken (30+ Shredded Chicken Recipes)
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Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 5 pound Whole chicken, giblets removed
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil (Click here for my favorite brand on Amazon)
- 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika (I prefer smoked paprika)
- ½ teaspoon Dried basil
- ½ teaspoon Dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Dried thyme
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine all of the seasonings with the oil to make a paste and spread it all over the chicken.
- Place the chicken in the basket breast side down and cook at 360F for 50 minutes. Flip the chicken to breast side up and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Check to make sure the breast meat has an internal temperature of 165F. Carve and serve.
Jennifer's tips
- The nutrition information is for 4 ounces of air fried whole chicken
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition per serving
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy only. Please re-calculate on your own with the ingredients and amounts you used for the most accurate data.
Melissa k says
Do it! You won't regret it
Jeanie says
Juiciest chicken I’ve ever made!
Mike Rosko says
Making my 1st one tonight....Wish me luck!
Angie O. says
Just made today, SO awesome you can do this at home! Thanks for sharing !
Vonnie says
It turned out delicious with very little effort. We used it for two meals. Wil definitely use this recipe again
Sari says
Wonderful recipe!! I happened to have a abundance of lemons last time I made this recipe. I cut one in quarters and put in the cavity. Turned out delicious!!
Mary says
Oh my word! I don’t usually leave reviews but this chicken was amazing! I was cooking my whole chicken in a pressure cooker but that’s not going happen anymore. Thank you Jenn for sharing this with us!!!!
Lynda says
Yup plain n simple
It’s a winner
Just follow the recipe
Made it several times
Perfect❣️
Thanks so much
Debbie Schelfhout says
This is a no fail way to cook air fryer chicken, it turns out perfect every time it is the only way I cook it now. Thanks Jennifer for sharing, much appreciated. Both my daughters and my mother in law are also huge fans and this is also their go to way to cook it. I have a 6.5 pound chicken cooking right now in the air fryer.
Mel says
I'm trying this for dinner tonight.
Dotty says
I am making whole chicken tonight with your receipe i my air fryer 7 inch basket.Will let you know how it came out.Hope chicken fits.
Jamie says
This recipe has become a go-to for my family. We all love it! Thank you!
Kelley says
I’ve made several times now, it’s delicious and so easy! Thank you!
Arlette says
Going to make this today.looks delicious easy
Marisa Elle says
This was so good! I followed the recipe exactly as written except I reduced the salt to 1 teaspoon and it was perfect for us. I did loosen the skin and rubbed some of the seasoning between the skin and the meat which made it all the more delicious. I will use this seasoning recipe again and again for air fryer drumsticks, thighs, and wings. Thank you!
Terry Severson says
Best whole chicken recipe ever. Made this several times. Easy and delicious!
Kathryn Barker says
I’ve made this numerous times! Better than store bought by far
Karin says
This was soooooo juicy and delicious! And easy and sugar free too. Turned out great and my kitchen didn't get smoky. I put the air fryer next to the stovetop and turned on the exhaust.
Pamela says
Very juicy, and tasty! One recommendation: Cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer produces a lot of greasy chicken smelling smoke! Put your air fryer near an open window, or better yet, cook this outside! It must have to do with how full the air fryer is and how long it has to cook; I've not had this issue before, even with fish.
Genevieve Bantz says
Came out perfect!! Better than store brought and no additives💖
Michele says
Just made my 1st whole roasted chicken in the air fryer, with this recipe. AWESOME!
Bill says
Not nearly as juicy as I was hoping for, but one side took nearly 2o minutes to get to 165. 1/3 the cost of the rotisserie chicken at the same store, but more flavor und the skin.
Kylie says
Amazing taste and time was perfect! Even our fussy kids ate it.
Denise says
I absolutely LOVE this recipe - especially when using the air fryer. It is becoming a staple in our house hold!
J says
I'm not sure what I did wrong. My chicken has been thawing in the fridge since Saturday (it's now Monday). As far as I know, it was completely thawed. It's a little under 4 and half pounds so I decreased my time a little. I selected the roast function on my air fryer, flipped after 41 minutes and the breasts aren't done. I switched to air fry and it's been going another 15-20 minutes on air fry and the chicken breasts are only reading about 145 on the thermometer. Should I not have used the roast feature and just done air fry?
J says
Should say - flipped after 41, continued cooking for another 10 once flipped, before taking out and changing to air fry.
Cindy says
Air fry the whole time!
Julie says
I just bought an air fryer that fries and roasts. All the recipes said air fry on the whole chicken so that's what I did against my original idea of roasting. It came out perfect! Air fry all the way!
Jamie says
If you use the roast setting it does not blow the air as strong as the air fryer setting and you will have to increase the cooking time.
Leslie says
Completely delicious and so easy. Thank you!
Mary says
Best chicken ever. Better than any rotisserie you can buy!
Jennifer says
Thanks for this awesome recipe. I will never cook chicken any other way.
Maryam says
Very helpful and kind, Thanks
Theodora Morris says
This was quick, easy and tender chicken in no time! I thought I could not love my air frier anymore but this recipe proved me wrong!
diane says
Can this be made in the type of air fryer that is an air fryer/toast oven combo such as the Cuisinart? Would I use the same instructions?
jenniferbanz says
Yes, as long as it fits!
Jermaine says
Genuinely excellent recipe.
Followed instructions to the letter and it was PERFECTION.
Thank you for your brilliance. 😌👌
Carol says
I love this recipe and have made it in my air fryer many times. But I needed to make enough for a large group so decided to use the seasoning on my chicken quarters and cook it on the grill. WOW! I was not disappointed and neither were my guests. I just set Alexa to remind me to turn the chicken every 10-15 minutes. Once it reached the desired temperature, I removed it.
Now, I have a few thick cut pork chops in the suits vide. I am wondering if I can use this seasoning once they are almost at desired temperature and cook them on the grill?? I will let you know if it works. 😉
Anita says
This chicken is so moist and good, but the spices ate outstanding. This is my go to recipe for cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer.
Michelle says
I make this EVERY week, I'll never buy rotisserie from the store ever again! I play around with the spices but this recipe really never fails. It is the easiest and tastiest. Thank you so much!!
Kelley says
I’ve made this 1 time and am making again today. So good and SO easy!
Steph says
What a winner of a recipe! The family loved it, thank you!
Victoria Coss says
Absolutely delicious! Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside just as you said!
Colm says
Best chicken I've ever had
Kathryn Barker says
I’ve made this a few times..always delicious
Sarah Sen says
Excellent!! awesome quick fix for dinner. Simple rub,still the meat was tender n flavour. My family finished the whole chicken in one meal.
Brendan Williams says
I tried your whole chicken recipe and it was great
Gino says
WoW i cook everyday and have recently worked with an air fryer. This chicken was the best bi have made in the last 20 years
Good job…
PE Smith says
Excellent, crispy and juicy. Best recipe ever.
Sara says
I made this last night and it was sooooo good! My family loved it! The skin was perfectly crispy and the meat was so juicy! Way better than a rotisserie chicken I usually buy at the grocery store! Thank you!
Jeannie says
This was EXCELLENT!! Thank you! This will be my new go to for Chicken! Super easy and super super good!!
Daphne says
Will there be enough drippings to make a gravy?
jenniferbanz says
There usually is and if not, you could add a little chicken broth
Carrie says
Best rotisserie air fryer recipe...it's my go too! Easily 10 times now!
Bob says
Mine came out looking exactly like your picture. Juicy and delicious!
Madeleine says
Air fried chicken turned out perfectly. Definitely going to be saving this recipe!!! Thank you
Mare says
I was a bit skeptical that this chicken would come out tender and juicy, but it did! Absolutely delicious and far better (and juicer) than anything I’ve ever bought from the store deli. Unfortunately the skin wasn’t crispy and I would have preferred it that way, but perhaps I just needed to cook it longer? (I had a 5.5 lb and cooked it for 52 minutes and 12 minutes respectively.) But even without the crispy skin, this is still a keeper!
Tricia says
I have a NINJA air fryer that has a MAX CRISP feature. If the skin doesn't look crisp enough, I will cook it on MAS CRISP for 2-3 minutes.
Jamie Rogers says
This came out PERFECT!!
Dominique says
First time roasting a full chicken and it couldn’t be easier with an air fryer! Like some comments, I found the 1 TBSP to be too much salt but otherwise the chicken was perfect. My husband, my toddler and I devoured a 3.5 lb chicken (I did 40 and 10 mins) for dinner and I’m repeating this recipe tonight with a 5 lb chicken and a little less salt 🙂
Allan Walton says
Always a bit wary using new tech in the kitchen but your recipe for the roast chicken was vso simple and easy. Do you have or know a airfryer recipe book with illustrations for us beginners in UK?
Thank-you
Allan
Barbara says
Super simple and very moist. Will be my go too recipe to make delicious shredded chicken.
Annaliza says
Absolutely delicious 🤤 thank you so much for this recipe 🙂
Dana Mazerolle says
Beautiful chicken !! My goodness never will I cook it any different ever again. So tender and juicy and every one of my 4 family members loved it! Which is saying a lot considering I have a very picky eater on my hands ! Thank you
Kara says
Can you use olive oil or a different oil instead of avocado oil?
jenniferbanz says
yes
vanessa says
WHAT!!!!! I seasoned using Emeril southwest seasoning because I am shredding for tacos. It was so delicious I followed your cooking instructions using avocado oil with spices and rubbed it on. I put 55 min down and 11 up cus it was slightly bigger. this technique made it so good it doesn't matter what seasoning used.
Thanks for awesome recipe!!
SHARON says
This was great! I had a 5.5lb chicken so I cooked it 55 mins breast side down and then another 20 minutes or so flipped over (used my thermometer to get the inside temp to 165). I only used seasoned salt and pepper on my chicken and it was crispy and yummy and amazing!
Shari says
Do you cook the chicken on air fry or on roast
jenniferbanz says
Air fry
L Webster says
The absolute best chicken I’ve had in ages, the whole chicken was moist and favorable. I will definitely make again, can’t wait
Shari says
Hi I was wondering do I use the crisper tray to set chicken on or do I put it right in the basket?
jenniferbanz says
I would use the tray
Josie says
Did exactly what the recipe called for, and I will definitely always be cooking my chicken this way! 10/10 would recommend
Sue says
The juiciest meat and crispiest skin I’ve ever had on a roaster chicken. I don’t think I’ll cook a whole chicken any other way again.
Tari says
Ummmm, this is ridiculous. BEST, juiciest chicken EVER. So I air fried it face down as directed... (make sure you season the underside too!) and before I went to flip it over, I got to pick at the skin... omg it was so crispy and delicious. Finished cooking it right side up and then had a whole new layer of crispy skin. SO CRAZY GOOD!!
Giles says
Hello, great recipe, however I was a bit puzzled as to why your recipes are still in imperial measures.
I had to Google what a quart, a pound and fahrenheit was.
It is 50 years ago since the world went metric and I am 51 years old!
Elliott Pace says
She's probably in the States, We still use imperial.
Lamb says
Perhaps she's in America??
amanda says
we use imperial measurements in the US!
Audra says
The whole world didn't go metric....
Sue says
Really!?!! The US uses the Imperial system.
Kay says
I’m puzzled! I live in southern USA & we don’t use metric. I remember about we tried to go metric about 30 years ago, but nobody accepted it here and we didn’t ever make the switch. I’m 76.
David says
We're in the US!
Cindy says
Nope….the WORLD didn’t go metric! But you’re reading Americas measurements.
Trying this tonight, it looks great!
Jennifer says
How much grease/juice does it produce? I have the cuisinart air fryer and it has a tray not a deep basket and I'm worried that it will put out to much liquid and have over spill.
jenniferbanz says
You will probably want to have something below to catch the drippings
Kay says
I made this yesterday & it turned out great. There was about 3/8-1/2” mainly fat in the my outer air fryer dip pan from 5.53 lb chicken
Scott says
Dang good recipe, woke up this morning and had the left overs for breakfast. Well deserved 5 🌟
Chris says
Not even kidding, this is the best chicken I’ve ever made (and maybe even had). I’ve made it 3x since discovering it and its come out better each time. Highly recommend and if you don’t have an air fryer - buy one for this chicken!
nancy rice says
I have an air fryer called a " Think Kitchen " it's a combination 6 slice toaster / air fryer .Would it be suitable to cook a whole chicken in ?? It looks very much like a toaster oven but doesn't have the deeper basket like the one you use !!
jenniferbanz says
If it fits I don't see why not.
Cindy says
What brand of air fryer do you use for this roast chicken? I am currently researching air fryers and am not sure which one will accommodate a 5 pound chicken. Thank you.
jenniferbanz says
I use a 6 quart Nuwave Brio
Marie says
Make sure you get one with no chemicals in the plastics etc. We have a Cosori.
John says
Can i use rose mary instead of thyme.
jenniferbanz says
Yes
Wanda says
I had some fresh herbs from my little grow light garden so chopped them fine and mixed in with the other spices, some basil, sage and sweet marjoram. This chicken was so delicious! Crispy and then tender!
Margaret says
This is the perfect Roasted Chicken recipe for an air fryer. I spatchcock my bird (it's easy. just Google it) and lay it breast side down and turn over for about 10 min to get extra crispy skin on breast side. It doesn't take nearly as long by spatchcocking. As always, use your thermometer! Thank you Jennifer for another simple delicious dinner!
Melinda says
Still my favorite recipe! My chicken always takes a few more minutes but I have an electric pampered chef thermometer that I use when cooking my meats anyway. This is an easy go to! It is one of the only recipes I don’t have to change anything for…
Melinda says
Still my favorite recipe! My chicken always takes a few more minutes but I have an electric pampered chef thermometer that I use when cooking my meats anyway. This is an easy go to!
Robin says
Oh my gosh - this was so good and so very easy. I can’t believe chicken can be this good! No changes to the recipe, it is perfect as is. ENJOY
karla says
Which setting do you use for this roast, bake or air fryer? thank you 🙂
jenniferbanz says
Air Fry
Marleen says
Just tried this recipe tonight. It is very delicious. The only change will be to use 1 tsp of salt instead of 1 tbsp. Way to salty for us.
Leona says
Same. Way too salty! Otherwise, awesome!
Kim says
Did you use Kosher salt as the recipe called for? It’s less salty than table salt.
Cindy says
Love this recipe! Nice combination of spices, and the chicken cooked in the Air Fryer is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!
I will certainly use this recipe again. Thanks!
Ayesha says
Hi. Will the seasoning amount change for a smaller chicken, say about 2 lbs or so? Anything larger will not fit in my air fryer. Really want to try this recipe out!
jenniferbanz says
For that small of a chicken I would cut the seasonings in half
Sue says
Is there something you can use if you don’t have avocado oil?
jenniferbanz says
Any high heat cooking oil will work