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    You are here: Home » Air Fryer Recipes » Best Damn Air Fryer Whole Chicken

    Best Damn Air Fryer Whole Chicken

    Last Modified: December 15, 2022

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 23 reviews

    This air fryer whole chicken is so unbelievably tender and juicy with a perfectly seasoned crispy skin. It’s one of the easiest recipes you can make in your air fryer and it cooks to perfection in about 1 hour. This recipe rivals any store bought rotisserie chicken and is an excellent family meal.

    Recipe for air fryer whole chicken

    Making Air Fryer Whole Chicken

    There’s nothing quite as satisfying as taking a bite of food that you’ve made from scratch, and you have instant gratification – that immediate “OMG this is SO good!” moment. That’s how we feel when me make this air fryer whole chicken. Our air fryer has been responsible for so many amazing meals and the hits just keep coming. In fact, this one might move to the top of that hit list.

    While we’re using an appliance called an air fryer, we’re not exactly “frying” the chicken. What we’re really making is a roast chicken. But with the air fryer capabilities, we get a chicken that’s super juicy on the inside with a nice, crispy skin on the outside. That’s the beauty of using this method instead of roasting in the oven.

    We make the simplest rub from ordinary pantry spices and the chicken gets air fried for about 1 hour (depending on size). That’s it! And then get ready for that first bite. The only way to describe it is… wow!

    Pickin’ a Chicken

    The ideal chicken for a standard 6qt air fryer will be a 3.5lb – 4lb whole chicken. Please keep in mind that there are many varieties of air fryers out there. If you have a larger air fryer appliance, you may be able to use a larger chicken.

    Ingredients

    Chicken can be seasoned any number of ways. For this recipe, we go with some classic chicken seasonings, in just the perfect amounts to achieve the most savory results. All the flavors blend together wonderfully.

    You’ll love that you probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry. The rub consists of all dried ingredients including: rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, basil, salt, pepper.

    Seasonings for air fryer whole chicken

    Easy Preparation

    Once we’ve unpackaged our chicken, remove any gizzards that are packed into the cavity. Then pat the whole bird dry with paper towels. This step is important. Next, use some olive oil and gently coat the entire chicken. Now it’s time to apply our seasoning rub. You will have the perfect amount of seasoning for the whole chicken. You can also use your fingers and run them under the skin of the breast meat and apply some seasoning directly to the meat.

    Recipe for air fryer whole chicken

    Air Fry at 350°(F) for 1 Hour

    Our chicken will cook on the air fry setting for about 1 hour. If the chicken is over 4 lbs, you’ll want to add maybe 5-10 minutes. The chicken will go into the air fryer breast side down for the first 40 minutes. This is important. Then we flip the chicken to breast side up for the remaining 20+ minutes. This assures that the breast side will have crispy skin when done. Your chicken is cooked to perfection when an instant read thermometer indicates an internal temperature of 165°(F).

    Recipe for air fryer whole chicken

    Let Rest for 5-10 Minutes

    After the cooking time is complete, remove the chicken from the air fryer to a large plate or platter and let rest for 5-10 minutes. I like to cover it with a piece of aluminum foil. This resting time is important. Then, you’re ready to dig in!

    Recipe for air fryer whole chicken

    Time to Serve!

    Now that our whole chicken has had an opportunity to rest after cooking, it’s time to dig in. Just like a store-bought rotisserie chicken, dig right in any enjoy the pieces you love the most. Make sure to use a sharp knife. It will make carving and cutting SO much easier.

    The sky is really the limit with side-dish possibilities. Naturally, mashed potatoes are excellent with any kind of roasted poultry. Check out our Best Damn Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.

    If you want to stay on a healthy route, make a batch of Instant Pot Brown Rice. The flavor is amazing and it pairs excellent with chicken.

    Fresh veggies can easily accompany any meal. Our Air Fryer Roasted Zucchini and Peppers is quick, easy, and can me made 10 minutes!

    Print

    Recipe

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    Recipe for air fryer whole chicken

    Best Damn Air Fryer Whole Chicken


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 23 reviews

    • Author: RecipeTeacher
    • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Cooked to absolute perfection, this air fryer whole chicken has the most savory seasoning, is tender and juicy on the inside, with a golden crispy skin on the outside.


    Ingredients

    • 1 Whole chicken, 3.5 – 4lbs.
    • 1 tsp rosemary
    • 1 tsp oregano
    • 1 tsp pepper
    • ½ tsp thyme
    • ½ tsp sage
    • ½ tsp ground mustard
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp onion powder
    • ¼ tsp basil
    • 1.5 tsp kosher salt
    • 1 tbs olive oil

    Instructions

    1. Preheat air fryer at 350°(F) for 5 minutes. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Mix all seasonings in a small bowl.
    2. Coat chicken with olive oil and rub seasoning mix all over chicken.
    3. Place chicken in air fryer breast side down, use air fry setting at 350°(F) for 40 minutes.  Turn chicken breast side up and continue to air fry at 350°(F) for an additional 20 minutes. Internal temp should be 165°(F) with an instant read thermometer.
    4. Let chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 1 hour
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Air Fryer
    • Cuisine: American

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    Recipe for air fryer whole chicken
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    1. dawn says

      April 25, 2025 at 8:53 am

      Thisis absolutely the best whole chicken i have ever had! And it’s beautiful!! I wish there was a place to post the picture!

      Reply
    2. Shirleen says

      February 18, 2025 at 7:14 pm

      Thank you for this receipt it was fabulous. Please advise the best way to reheat

      Reply
    3. Gary says

      February 15, 2025 at 5:30 pm

      What a treat!!!. This is the 2nd chicken in my Ninja Dual zone air fryer. The first one I was learning and had it too hi and forgot to put some water in the basket. 5 alarm fire!!.
      Well lots of smoke anyway and had to finish it in the oven. what a disappointment.
      However….. This was excellent as it turned out nice and crisp, and moist inside. Wife loved it. Thanks so much Teach!! Only problem is now guess who the main house cook is……..

      Reply
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    Jason of Recipeteacher.com

    Hi, I’m Jason and i’m here to help you make easy, delicious homemade recipes. My approach is to provide the easy-to-understand instructions, use simple ingredients, and have you make the best meals possible.

    More about me →

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    Recipe for air fryer whole chicken