Best Juicy Air Fryer Whole Chicken (Easy Recipe)
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Air fryer whole chicken can be used in so many different ways! Make this recipe with butter, garlic, onion, and a delicious blend of spices. Chicken recipes don’t have to be hard – and this entire chicken is so simple to make! You’ll have a juicy chicken the first time you make it! It’s the perfect quick dinner with perfectly seasoned crispy skin.
I’m a big fan of super crispy skin with a juicy middle in cooked chicken. It’s a simple low carb recipe that proves that air frying is a breeze.
It’s my go-to recipe for having leftovers for easy lunches throughout the week and I love that there is just a few easy steps that I have to do to get it prepped.
With a quicker cooking time, you can cook a smaller or larger chicken in less time and with less mess.
I really think that this is the easiest way to cook a chicken – and it might be my favorite way, too. A lot of people don’t care for cooking a whole chicken, but this simple recipe is too good to pass up!
You’ll have juicy meat to pair with your favorite sides with a quick and simple cooking process!
Plus, this makes leftover chicken as well so that you can enjoy it again or with other dishes!
Table of Contents
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Now you can cook a whole chicken in the air fryer and keep your kitchen cool. Or, use that freed-up oven space for a tasty dessert instead!
Crispy cauliflower and rosemary potatoes are easy side dishes to make this a complete meal.
You can also slice up air fryer rotisserie chicken to use in salads, sandwiches, and even casseroles.
Low Carb Chicken Nuggets are a great alternative, keto-friendly chicken option! How about this easy air fryer cornbread?
Feeding a crowd? Whip up a big bowl of my Southern Style Potato Salad and some corn on the cob for an easy homemade feast.
Tips for Making Whole Chicken in Air Fryer
- Keep your workspace clean. It’s important to clean your hands and surfaces while working to prevent food poisoning.
For more information on chicken preparation and safety practices, visit here. - Want a juicy bird? Stuffing the cavity will keep moisture inside, as well as trying the legs closed with twine.
However, you can leave the legs untied if it helps to fit the whole chicken in the air fryer basket. - Make it extra crispy. Raise the temperature to 370° for the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Choose your nonstick spray carefully! Ones with a propellant can cause the inner basket to deteriorate over time.
You can also get an olive oil sprayer to fill with any oil that has a high smoke point.
How Big of a Chicken Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
I highly recommend you use a smaller chicken, even with larger capacity air fryers.
There’s a noticeable difference between organic, hormone-free birds and regular ones.
You’ll probably need to purchase the former to ensure that it fits inside the basket.
Either way, keep it under 4.5 pounds for best results and don’t let your air fryer rotisserie chicken touch the top of your machine.
How To Air Fry Whole Chicken
Prepare the bird the same way you would with any other cooking method:
- Remove the giblets and pat dry.
- Stuff the cavity with vegetables and fresh herbs.
- Rub seasoned butter under the skin.
- Add a dry rub all over the outside before tying the legs with twine.
Then, spray the basket with your favorite oil spray and place the poultry inside.
It takes about an hour to air fry whole chicken, and you will need to flip it halfway so it gets crispy on all sides.
Once it’s done, allow your air fryer roasted chicken to rest on a cutting board before carving.
This allows the juices to redistribute through the meat for perfectly moist bites.
Air Fryer Roasted Chicken FAQ
No, there’s no need to do so for this air fryer whole chicken recipe.
Yes! There are plenty of drippings in the bottom of the basket when you air fry whole chicken.
Carefully remove the bird, then the inner tray, before pouring the drippings into a saucepan.
If you don’t have a favorite recipe, I’ve got one that can be made in just 20 minutes.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
You can also place the cooled meat in a storage bag and freeze it for up to 4 months. Then, thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Everyone knows that white meat and dark meat go with just about anything! You can literally make new sides every single time you make this whole bird.
I’m a big fan of pairing the breast meat with sweet potatoes and green beans, but I also know that an option for an easy weeknight dinner could be french fries, too!
This classic roast chicken is versatile in that it can be turned into a full chicken dinner without a bunch of extra time. Don’t forget to squeeze some fresh juice from lemon halves and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs for a more fun flavor.
This is the best air fryer chicken recipe, so follow the simple steps on the printable recipe card below! Cooking chicken in the air fryer is much better and faster than cooking it in the regular oven!
Depending on the size of your chicken, you’ll likely have leftovers. You can chop up that delicious chicken meat to make chicken salad, or just reheat and eat this air fryer roast chicken recipe again.
I’ll pair some simple side dishes with the leftovers like rice or potatoes, and it’s like a whole new weeknight dinner without a ton of extra prep work! Weeknight dinners using leftovers are my favorite!
If you have a ton of flavorful roast chicken leftover, just add it to a freezer bag and save for later. This way, you have meal prep down and ready for another night and any upcoming chicken dinners in the future.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, about 4 ½ pounds
SEASONING RUB
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
FOR THE CAVITY
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme
GARLIC BUTTER
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- PREP CHICKEN: Remove all packaging from the chicken, including giblets from the cavity. Pat the chicken very dry with paper towels. Dry skin equals crispy skin.
- MIX SEASONING: In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Stir until it forms a paste.
- STUFF CAVITY: Place the quartered onion, crushed garlic, and fresh thyme sprigs inside the cavity.
- LOOSEN SKIN: Gently slide your hand under the breast skin to loosen it, starting near the legs. Be careful not to tear it.
- MAKE GARLIC BUTTER: In a small bowl, mix 4 tablespoons softened salted butter, 2 cloves minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper until smooth.
- SPREAD BUTTER: Spread the garlic butter evenly under the loosened skin directly onto the breast meat.
- SEASON OUTSIDE: Rub the seasoning mixture all over the outside of the chicken, coating both sides evenly.
- PREP AIR FRYER: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil spray that does not contain propellant. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine if desired.
- COOK: Place the chicken breast-side down in the basket. Air fry at 360°F for 30 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken breast-side up and cook for another 25 to 30 minutes, until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F.
- CRISP (OPTIONAL): For extra crispy skin, increase the temperature to 370°F for the last 5 minutes.
- REST: Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
- CARVE AND SERVE: Slice and serve warm.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published March 2021, updated and republished November 2025
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We’re Donna and Chad, the dream team behind The Slow Roasted Italian. Our focus is on taking complicated OUT of the kitchen. Life is busy enough, making meals should be fast and easy, to help make your life as simple as possible. Read More >>
Best chicken I have ever had! I love the air fryer I have the same one but I think it's bigger. I can cook a five to a five and a half pound chicken in mine and it comes out perfect every time. I'm going to try your seasonings because that sounds delicious!
Thank you! I love my cosori 5.8 qt. It fits everything. Thank you for commenting.
I made this in my Power XL today for dinner. It was wonderful and I will make it again for sure.
I will never not use an air fryer recipe if I can. They always come out perfect.