This air fryer whole chicken is a company-worthy dish that is surprisingly easy to make! With less than 10 minutes of hands-on prep time, you have a delicious main course that is substantial enough to feed a crowd. (But easy enough for a busy weeknight.) Make it once, and you will be hooked!
Why Make This Recipe
A simple roast chicken dinner is a family classic, but the air fryer takes the flavors to the next level. In this air fryer whole chicken recipe, we keep the chicken breast moist by adding a layer of butter between the meat and skin.
Then, we season the bird all over.
The air fryer works its magic and delivers perfectly crispy skin for a delicious meal that will make you look like a kitchen pro.
You get all of the flavors of a rotisserie chicken in a delicious meal you can make at home.
This air fryer chicken recipe is a keeper.
Ingredients for Making Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Seasonings: I like to use a blend of garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, rosemary, basil, thyme, and ground black pepper. Feel free to play with the seasonings - oregano, onion powder, and lemon pepper are fun ways to mix things up.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter to control the salt levels better. Olive oil could be used, but it is a lot messier to spread.
- Whole Chicken: You want a whole chicken with the neck and giblets removed that is between three and five pounds.
Tips & Tricks
- Make sure you adjust the cooking time to account for the size of chicken you are using. You will want to use an instant-read thermometer to ensure a perfect cook!
- Tying the legs is entirely optional, but if you decide to tie them, make sure you use kitchen twine intended for cooking.
- When planning to cook a whole chicken in the air fryer, keep your air fryer’s size in mind when choosing the size of your chicken.
- If you want to use the seasonings and not the butter in this recipe, I recommend spraying the outside of the chicken with cooking spray.
Serving Suggestions
This whole chicken air fryer recipe works well for so many different sides. Some great options include Cabbage Noodles, Loaded Cauliflower, Cheese Breadsticks, Greek Salad, Green Beans with Parmesan, and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when a whole chicken is done?
There are a few different ways to tell if a chicken is done cooking.
One is to use a meat thermometer. The ideal temperature for cooked chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit, so insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat to check. You want to pull the chicken from the heat when it reaches 160° F because the internal temperature will continue to rise as the chicken rests.
Another way to tell if the chicken is cooked is to cut into the meat. If the juices are clear, it's done. If they're still pink or red, it needs to cook longer.
Finally, a cooked chicken will be firm to the touch.
It depends on the size of your chicken. A 3 lb chicken will fit in a 4 or 5-quart air fryer, while a larger chicken will need a 6 to 10-quart air fryer.
What temp do you cook a whole chicken in an air fryer?
Most experts recommend cooking at a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that the chicken is cooked while still remaining juicy and moist.
Most experts recommend cooking at a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that the chicken is cooked while still remaining juicy and moist.
There are a few schools of thought when it comes to air frying chicken. Some people believe that tying the legs together helps to ensure even cooking, while others find that it makes the chicken more challenging to turn.
There is no right or wrong answer, and ultimately it comes down to personal preference. If you do choose to tie the legs together, be sure to use kitchen twine that is heat resistant.
Otherwise, you run the risk of the twine melting and becoming stuck to the chicken.
Another option is to tuck the wings under the chicken’s body. This helps to keep them from burning while also keeping the chicken stable in the air fryer. Experiment until you find a method that works best for you.
Tools Needed to Make Air Fryer Whole Chicken
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- Air Fryer
- Instant Read Thermometer
- Kitchen Twine
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can freeze cooked chicken for up to three months.
I like put the bones in the freezer and use them to make Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth when I need it.
I like to pull leftover chicken from the bone and use it to make chicken salads.
How to Make Air Fryer Whole Chicken
First, combine the garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, rosemary, basil, thyme, and black pepper in a bowl.
Place the softened butter in another small bowl and add half of the spice mixture. Stir to combine.
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
Rub the butter mixture underneath the skin of the chicken, and sprink the dry spice mixture on the outside of the chicken.
Tie the legs with kitchen twine.
Preheat the air fryer to 350° F.
Place the chicken in your air fryer basket chicken breast side down.
Cook for 40 minutes.
Flip the chicken, and cook for an additional 10 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature is 160° F. (For a total cooking time of 50 to 60 minutes.)
Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before carving and serving. (The internal temperature will continue to rise as the chicken rests and reaches 165° F.)
Taste, and season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- When you need an easy air fryer meal that is sure to impress, this air fryer filet mignon is perfect!
- Cooking keto chicken nuggets in the air fryer ensures they are perfectly crispy every time!
- Air fryer short ribs are juicy and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- Keto coconut chicken is a fun way to mix up your meal plans!
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¼ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 3 to 5-pound whole chicken, neck and giblets removed
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, rosemary, basil, thyme, and black pepper.
- Place the butter in another small bowl and add half of the spice mixture.
- Stir until all the ingredients are incorporated.
- Rub the butter mixture underneath the skin and dry spices on the outside of the chicken.
- Tie the legs with kitchen twine if you want.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350° F.
- Place the chicken in the basket breast side down.
- Cook for 40 minutes.
- Flip and cook for an additional 10 to 20 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken), until the internal temperature is 160° F.
- Allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before carving and serving.
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