This air fryer whole chicken has become one of my favorite ways to prep chicken for the week. It’s really simple, foolproof, and serves up juicy results every time!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Chicken
The air fryer really is a great kitchen tool for getting dinner on the table fast. You’ve seen me make air fryer chicken breasts and air fryer salmon for easy protein options served up alongside a variety of vegetables. But you may not know that you can cooking a whole chicken (rotisserie style) too! This is great for when you want to enjoy both light and dark meat. And if you’re just one or two people, you can store any leftovers in a large container to add protein to your meals throughout the week—super easy! So in addition to this being a great family dinner and meal prep option, I also love that:
- It cooks quickly. Unlike other methods, like roast chicken or slow cooker whole chicken, cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer takes only about 45 to 50 minutes!
- It’s tender and flavorful. I can always depend on this air fryer recipe for perfectly cooked chicken that actually tastes good.
- You can easily cook veggies after. Once your chicken is done, you can whip up some air fryer broccoli, air fryer cauliflower, air fryer asparagus or more!
Air Fryer Whole Chicken Ingredients
- A whole chicken: Choose a chicken that’s suitable for your air fryer size. In my case, a 4-pound chicken will fit best in my Ninja Max air fryer.
- Seasoning: I’m keeping it simple with my favorite combo of garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. But feel free to play with different seasonings!
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Cook A Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer
Step one: In a small bowl, stir together the salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper to make the seasoning.
Step two: Take out any giblets from inside the chicken, then pat it dry with paper towels (this helps the skin crisp up). Drizzle the chicken with oil and rub it in really well. Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over the breast side, making sure to coat the legs and wings as well. And in my opinion, there’s no need to fuss with the back as it won’t add much flavor there.
Step three: Place the chicken breast-side down in your air fryer basket and cook at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes. Then, carefully flip it over with tongs and cook for another 15 to 25 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh. Once it’s done, transfer the chicken to a plate or cutting board and let it rest for about 5 minutes before carving.
Quick tip: Always flip your chicken in the air fryer! The confined space and heating of the air fryer will burn the top of the chicken if it’s not flipped.
Ways To Serve
- The classic protein and veggie plate. Depending on what vegetables are in season, I’ll prep those in the oven or on the stovetop, along with rice or roasted potatoes. I love sauteed cabbage or roasted Brussels sprouts in the winter, and roasted asparagus in the summer!
- Make a high-protein salad. You can basically add this to any of your favorite salads for a protein boost, like a Caesar salad or chicken bacon ranch chopped salad.
- Add it to a soup. You can use the shredded pieces to toss into a chicken soup or white chicken chili.
Storage Tips
If you’ve got leftover air fryer chicken, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. I like to pick or carve the meat off the bones first. It makes reheating and meal prepping so much easier.
And if you want to save some for later, the chicken also freezes well. Just portion the meat into freezer-safe bags or containers (removing as much air as possible), and it’ll last for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Baked Potato: Yes you can cook whole potatoes in your air fryer!
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings: With the best lemon pepper sauce.
- Air Fryer Carrots: So quick and easy.
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts: Perfect for winter dinners.
- Or try these other air fryer recipes!
If you make this air fryer whole chicken recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Video
Equipment
- Ninja Air Fryer My favorite air fryer!
Ingredients
- 1 (4-pound) whole chicken
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix the seasonings. In a small bowl, stir together the salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
- Season the chicken. Remove any giblets from inside the chicken, then pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Drizzle the oil all over the bird and rub it in. Sprinkle the seasoning all over the breast side of the chicken, including the legs and wings (no need to season the back).
- Air fry the chicken. Place the chicken in the air fryer breast-side down and cook on the "air fry" setting at 350°F for 30 minutes. Use tongs to flip the chicken over, then cook for an additional 15 to 25 minutes, until an instant read thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) placed in the thickest part of the thigh.
- Serve. Remove the chicken to a plate or cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Lisa’s Tips
- Make sure your chicken can fit in your air fryer. With the Ninja Max model I use, I can fit up to a 4-pound chicken, but anything bigger doesn’t really fit.Â
- You DO need to flip the chicken halfway. Unlike oven-roasted chicken, which doesn’t require flipping, the confined space and high heat of the air fryer can burn the top of the chicken if it’s not flipped.
- Storage tips: Store leftovers in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
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