Best Juicy Air Fryer Whole Chicken (Easy Recipe)
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.
Ingredients
- 4.5 pound Whole Chicken (free-range, hormone free)
Seasoning Rub
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
For the cavity
- 1 yellow onion peeled and quartered
- 4 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
- 5 sprigs of fresh thyme
Garlic Butter
- 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Remove all packaging from the whole chicken, including any giblets inside the cavity. Place in a large bowl and pat to dry.
- In a small bowl, add all of the seasoning rub ingredients. Stir to combine and set aside.
- Add the yellow onion, crushed garlic cloves and fresh thyme into the cavity of the chicken.
- Starting at the end of the chicken near the legs, loosen the skin using a flat hand to get under the surface.
- In a small bowl, combine all garlic butter ingredients. Stir until well mixed.
- Spread the garlic butter mixture underneath the loosened chicken to coat the breast meat.
- With a basting brush, coat the entire outside of the chicken with the seasoning rub on both sides. Spray your air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Use kitchen twine to tie the legs together and place in the air fryer basket, breast side down.
- Set your air fryer to 360°F and cook for 60 minutes (or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F), carefully flipping the chicken halfway through.
- Transfer to a cutting board and allow the chicken to rest for 10-15 minutes. Carve with a sharp knife and serve.
Notes
This recipe was done in a Cosori air fryer with a 5.8 qt basket. I wouldn’t recommend using anything smaller than this, as the chicken size may not fit. All air fryers cook a little bit differently. If you are using a different brand than the one mentioned, just be sure to check on your chicken to make sure it is cooking properly.
Try to keep your chicken size under 4.5 pounds. I would say that is probably the maximum size that will fit in the Cosori air fryer. I recommend hormone-free, free-range, organic chickens when possible because they are typically smaller and work perfectly in the air fryer basket. If your chicken is sticking up just a bit out of the basket, you can press to make your chicken fit. Just make sure it does not touch the top of your machine.
It’s important to make sure you are cleaning your hands and surfaces while working with raw chicken to prevent food poisoning. For more information on chicken preparation and safety practices, visit here.
Adding onion, garlic, and thyme to the cavity will keep moisture inside and make the chicken nice and juicy. I love using this twine to hold all of that closed to further help with keeping the chicken from drying out. If your chicken does however seem too big for your basket, you can leave the legs untied so that it fits a little better.
Store cooked chicken leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You can also place cooked chicken in a freezer bag and store for 3-4 months.
It is important to use a cooking spray without a propellant, as most air fryer baskets will deteriorate over time using traditional cooking sprays. I highly recommend this one or you can also get an olive oil sprayer to use with your choice of oil.
If you like your chicken extra crispy, I recommend raising the temperature to 370°F for the last 5 minutes of cook time.
Ways to serve: sliced chicken over salad, in a sandwich, make chicken salad, chicken noodle casserole, serve with side of vegetables.
If your chicken is smaller than 4 pounds, you may need to decrease your cooking times. Pull your basket out to check the temperature to make sure it is cooked to the proper temperature at 165° F.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 476cal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 1436mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg