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a whole chicken cooked until crispy
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4.97 from 397 votes

Juicy Air Fryer Whole Chicken with Crispy Skin

The best use of your air fryer is making this air fryer whole chicken. The meat is juicy and the skin is extra crispy, just like a rotisserie chicken...you are going to love how easy this roast chicken in the air fryer is!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fry whole chicken, air fryer rotisserie chicken, whole chicken in the air fryer, whole roast chicken
Servings: 6
Calories: 200

Ingredients

  • 5-6 lb Whole chicken, giblets removed
  • 2 Tablespoons avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil
  • 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

Instructions

  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine all of the seasonings with the oil to make a paste. Use a basting brush to spread half of the seasoning all over the breast side of the chicken. Pick the chicken up with the legs, and place it breast side down in the air fryer basket. (note: I removed my grate from my air fryer for this recipe. If yours allows, I would do the same. It will allow for a bigger chicken, and the breast meat will marinate in the released juices as it cooks.). Use the basting brush to coat the rest of the chicken with the rub.
  • Air fry at 360 degrees F (182C) for 50 minutes.  Flip the chicken to breast side up and cook for an additional 10 minutes. (Cook time will vary depending on your air fryer wattage, size, and the size of your chicken)
  • Check to make sure the internal temperature of your chicken breast meat has a temperature of 165F (74C) using an instant read thermometer.  Continue to cook until the temperature is reached. Remove from the air fryer basket to a cutting board and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Patting the chicken completely dry before seasoning helps the skin get extra crispy in the air fryer.
  • Cooking the chicken breast side down first helps keep the white meat juicy and prevents it from drying out.
  • Air fryer sizes vary, so cooking time may need to be adjusted slightly depending on the size of your chicken and your specific model.
  • For best results, use a meat thermometer and cook until the thickest part of the breast reaches 165F.
  • If your chicken is browning too quickly, lower the temperature slightly or loosely tent the top with foil near the end of cooking.
  • Leftover roast chicken is perfect for soups, salads, wraps, casseroles, and meal prep throughout the week.
  • Nutrition information is approximate and will vary depending on the exact size of the chicken and how much skin is eaten.
If you have chicken thighs or chicken legs you would like to cook in your air fryer:

Nutrition

Calories: 200 | Protein: 17g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g