An easy air fryer whole chicken recipe which produces succulent juicy chicken and crispy chicken skin in under one hour! The whole family are going to love this!
Learn tips and tricks to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer with these simple step-by-step instructions!
There's nothing more comforting than roast chicken, especially when you can cook it under one hour in your air fryer!
This easy air fryer roast chicken recipe is perfect with air fryer roast potatoes (cook the chicken first and let it rest, whilst you air fry your roasties!), carrot and swede mash, Tenderstem broccoli, and cauliflower cheese, for a delicious roast dinner!
👩🍳 Love air fryer chicken recipes? Try my easy air fryer chicken breasts (you can also air fry chicken thighs in the same way!).
Jump to:
✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
Here's why this is the best chicken recipe!
- Taste's just like rotisserie style chicken
- A 1.5kg whole chicken (3.5 lb chicken) cooks in under one hour
- Free's up oven space when you're cooking a roast dinner
- Healthier than oven roast chicken
- Low carb
- Flavour the chicken with pantry staples
🛒 Ingredients
- Whole Chicken - a 1.5kg free-range whole chicken will cook in an air fryer in under 1 hour! If you use a smaller chicken, reduce the cooking time accordingly. Make sure the chicken fits into your air fryer basket! A 1.5kg whole chicken comfortably fits into my 5.7 litre Ninja Foodi Health Grill and Air Fryer* (*denotes affiliate link)
- Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon is all you need.
- Flavourings - a combination of smoked paprika, garlic powder, and sea salt produces a wonderfully flavoured and golden chicken.
What is an air fryer?
Air fryers are small(ish) kitchen appliances that operate like a convection oven—except in a smaller, more concentrated space. My air fryer* has a large capacity (5.7 litres) so is relatively large compared to some of the smaller fryers you can buy.
The air is circulated at a high temperature and evenly around the food, which makes the food cook more quickly than in a conventional oven and helps give foods a crispy coating without the need for lots of oil and fat.
🔪 How to make air fryer whole chicken
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
Learn how to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer in 2 easy steps!
One: Mix the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and sea salt together in small bowl. Use a pastry brush to paste it onto the chicken. Do the breast side first, then place it in the air fryer breast side down and brush the rest of the rub over the bottom of the bird.
Two: Air fry at 180c (350F) for 30 minutes then flip over (using two forks or tongs) and cook for a further 20-25 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature has reached 76c (165F).
💭 Top tips
- Make sure your chicken is dry before applying the rub. Use paper towels to mop up any moisture but in the UK there is no need to wash the chicken before cooking it.
- Place the chicken, breast side down in the air fryer to start with. This will help the juices keep the drier breast part of the chicken juicier as it cooks.
- Let the chicken rest for 20 minutes before carving, to allow the juices to run back into the meat. I cover it in a layer of foil to keep as much heat in as possible.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve the rotisserie style air fryer whole chicken with roast potatoes, sausage meat stuffing, and vegetables for a classic roast dinner!
In the summer I like to serve it with parmentier potatoes and a beetroot and goats cheese salad!
Leftover chicken can be stirred into boursin pasta, cheesy pasta, or chicken fried rice for an easy weeknight dinner! Serve with a side of green vegetables such as green beans, air fryer broccoli or air fryer roasted asparagus.
You can also use leftover roast chicken to make my easy leftover chicken tacos!
📖 Variations
- Use Cajun or Italian seasoning for the rub. Onion Powder is also good!
- If you don't mind the calories, rub the chicken with garlic butter before air frying!
- Like things hot? Add a teaspoon of chilli powder to the rub.
- Swap the olive oil for avocado oil.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a nice colour contrast.
🥡 Storage
- To Store: The cooked meat can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: Place the cooked chicken in freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost fully in the fridge before using.
❓ FAQs
Cooking time varies between 45-60 mins depending on the size of the chicken. My 1.5kg (3.5lb) whole chicken took 50 minutes, but I recommend to start checking the internal temperature after 45 minutes.
The temperature recommendation for cooking the air fryer rotisserie chicken is 180c / 350F, but check your air fryer handbook for your manufacturers guidance. The internal temperature must have reached 76c/ 165F (use a meat thermeometer* to check).
Air fryers work by circulating hot air, which originates at the bottom of the fryer so lining it with foil can constrict the air flow resulting in undercooked food. Foil wont cause sparks though, like it does in a microwave!
😋 More easy air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Air Fryer Honey Glazed Salmon
- Air Fryer Breakfast Frittata
- Air Fryer Tuna Burgers
- Air Fryer Stuffing Balls
- Air Fryer French Toast
- Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Check out my easy air fryer recipes for more inspiration!
Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with what's cooking in the Effortless Foodie kitchen! You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too!
Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Whole Chicken
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer.
- Mix the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and sea salt together in small bowl. Use a pastry brush to paste it onto the chicken. Do the breast side first, then place it in the air fryer breast side down and brush the rest of the rub over the bottom of the bird.1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika, ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ½ teaspoon Sea Salt, 1.5 kg Whole Chicken
- Air fry at 180c (350F) for 30 minutes then flip over (using two forks or tongs) and cook for a further 20-25 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature has reached 76c (165F).
- Rest for 20 minutes before carving.
Notes
- Make sure your chicken is dry before applying the rub. Use paper towels to mop up any moisture but in the UK there is no need to wash the chicken before cooking it.
- Place the chicken, breast side down in the air fryer to start with. This will help the juices keep the drier breast part of the chicken juicier as it cooks.
- Let the chicken rest for 20 minutes before carving, to allow the juices to run back into the meat. I cover it in a layer of foil to keep as much heat in as possible.
- Use Cajun or Italian seasoning for the rub. Onion Powder is also good!
- If you don't mind the calories, rub the chicken with garlic butter before air frying!
- Like things hot? Add a teaspoon of chilli powder to the rub.
- Swap the olive oil for avocado oil.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a nice colour contrast.
- To Store: The cooked meat can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: Place the cooked chicken in freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost fully in the fridge before using.
Angela
I love this recipe. So simple but so much flavor. The air fryer is such a great tool to get dinner on the table quickly.
Jamie
I love how fast and simple this recipe is! The chicken came out perfectly cooked!
Emily Flint
This recipe was so easy and delicious, I may never turn my oven on again, LOL.
Beth
The chicken turns out so juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. This my new go-to way to cook chicken.