Air Fryer Whole Chicken Incredibly Juicy Easy Chicken Dinner

This air fryer whole chicken is an easy and flavorful, go-to chicken dinner that the whole family will love! It’s practically effortless to quickly season this bird and have it fully cooked to tender, juicy perfection and on the table in about an hour! In fact, it’s so delicious and simple that it will easily be added to your weekly dinner rotation!

Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe

Growing up, every Sunday my mom made a whole chicken with all of the trimmings for dinner. The whole house smelled like juicy and delicious chicken and my favorite part was the crispy, melt-in-your-mouth skin.

It’s a meal that I love to create for my family, but I don’t have all day on Sundays to spend in the kitchen. And this is reason number 101 I love my air fryer!

Whole chicken roasted in the air fryer cooks in half the time and is equally as succulent and moist with that golden and crispy skin! All you need is a little seasoning for a perfect chicken dinner and this recipe is almost effortless.

You don’t have to have this air fryer chicken once a week as my family did – but I’ll bet no one will complain if you do! This super easy, moist, tender, and scrumptious whole chicken recipe gives new meaning to the phrase, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner!”.

🥘 Air Fryer Whole Chicken Ingredients

In addition to your air fryer, there are only a few things that you’ll need for this perfectly tasty air-fried chicken! Aside from the chicken itself, you might already have everything else at home!

Whole Chicken – One 3½-pound whole chicken. Try to find one that is at around 3.5 lbs but that will still fit into your air fryer basket.Olive Oil – 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil has the best flavor, but you can use your preferred cooking oil.Salt & Pepper – ½ teaspoon of both salt and pepper to taste. These base spices add so much flavor!Garlic Powder – ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. The flavor is a bit more intense than fresh garlic and rubbing it into the chicken skin really infuses the flavor throughout your chicken.Onion Powder - ¼ teaspoon of onion powder. Dried onion flakes can also be substituted.Paprika – ⅛ teaspoon of paprika. This spice is a great visual garnish for the chicken but also gives a wonderful peppery flavor.

Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!

🔪 How To Cook A Whole Chicken In The Air Fryer

This air fryer chicken is beyond easy to make! Use pantry-staple spices to coat the whole chicken then plop it into your air fryer basket and set the timer and get a perfect roast chicken!

Depending on the size of your chicken, you will have about 4 servings of meat.

Prepare the chicken. If the chicken has been frozen, be sure to thaw completely in the refrigerator (about 12 hours). If the giblets and the neck are in the body cavity, remove them and then trim any fat from the body. Pat the chicken until dry with paper towels.Season. Rub the 3½-pound whole chicken with olive oil, followed by the mixture of ½ teaspoon of both salt and pepper, ¼ teaspoon of onion and garlic powder, and ⅛ teaspoon of paprika. Rub the seasonings in until every inch is covered.Cook. Place the chicken in the basket of the air fryer with the breast side facing downward. Set the fryer at 350°F (175°C) and cook for 30 minutes. This method of cooking creates the best presentation on the table, but you can also start with the breast side up and this makes the breast meat incredibly tender and extra juicy.Flip. Next, remove the basket and flip the chicken over. Replace the chicken and basket and cook for about 25-30 minutes more.Check. Check the internal temperature using a digital meat thermometer and once the chicken is 165°F (74°C), it’s done. * I prefer to cook any bone-in chicken to 180°F (82°C).Rest. Remove the basket from the air fryer and let the chicken rest in it, or on a clean surface for 10 minutes. FYI – there will be a lot of juice running off the chicken while it rests, so it’s best to put it on a curved cutting board or leave it in the basket. Carve and serve!

At my house, we almost always serve whole roasted chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and roasted veggies. The drippings and the juice from the bird can also be used to make an aromatic and tasty gravy! Enjoy!

💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes

You can also use the extra meat to make a killer chef salad for lunches! Or use the leftover chicken in my chicken spaghetti with rotel or chicken noodle soup!There will be a lot of juices coming from the chicken while it is resting, so I prefer to keep it in the air fryer basket for easier cleanup. A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked. Take a look at my guide to internal chicken temperatures to learn more.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

If there are leftovers, store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If stored properly, the frozen chicken will last up to 6 months but is best used within the first 4 months.

Reheating Air Fryer Chicken

To reheat, the best method is to microwave or return to the air fryer until warm.

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What Size Air Fryer Can Fit A Whole Chicken? For air frying a whole chicken, you will want to use an air fryer that falls into the 6-10 quart range. Of course, it also depends on how large your chicken is! Can Whole Chickens Be Cooked In An Air Fryer? Absolutely! Just make sure that you have an air fryer basket that will fit the chicken. This method of cooking is effortless, easy, and will yield a tender and flavorful chicken every time! How Long Should You Cook Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer? At 350°F (175°C), your whole chicken will take about an hour to cook in total. This includes flipping the bird over halfway through cooking. If your chicken is larger or smaller, you will need to adjust the time accordingly.

🍗 More Awesome Chicken Recipes

Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken - Check out this recipe to learn how to make some frozen popcorn chicken in your air fryer!Crockpot Chicken Recipes - This is a collection of all of my favorite slow cooker chicken dishes!Bacon Wrapped Baked Chicken Drumsticks - Seasoned drumsticks are wrapped in bacon and popped in the oven for an effortless dish!Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings - These crispy and flavorful wings are the perfect appetizer or snack for game day!Instant Pot Shredded Chicken - Use your Instant Pot to make some quick shredded chicken that can be used in any recipe!Doritos Chicken Casserole with Cream Cheese - Crunchy nacho cheese Doritos and a creamy and rich sauce are the stars of this chicken casserole!

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📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 12 reviews

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Author | Angela

Servings: 4 servings Calories: 442kcal Prep 5 minutes Cooking 55 minutes Resting Time 10 minutes Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 3 ½ lb whole chicken (thawed, if frozen)▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)▢ ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder▢ ¼ teaspoon onion powder▢ ⅛ teaspoon paprika

InstructionsMake sure that your chicken is completely thawed if using a frozen chicken. Remove the neck and giblets from the body cavity if they are present. Remove the tail and trim any fat or excess skin if desired. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.Rub the entire chicken with the olive oil, then sprinkle the chicken with seasoning and rub that in as well.3 ½ lb whole chicken, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon paprikaPlace the chicken into your air fryer basket with the breast facing downward. Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes.Remove the basket and flip the chicken so that the breast is facing upward. Return the basket and chicken to your air fryer and continue cooking for 25-30 minutes. The chicken is done when it has an internal temperature of 165°F (75 °C).Remove the cooked chicken from your air fryer and allow it to rest in the basket, on a serving tray, or on the cutting board for 10 minutes before carving and serving. Equipment You May NeedAir Fryer (basket style)Air Fryer (convection style)Cutting Board Notes You can also use the extra meat to make a killer chef salad for lunches! Or use the leftover chicken in my chicken spaghetti with rotel or chicken noodle soup! There will be a lot of juices coming from the chicken while it is resting, so I prefer to keep it in the air fryer basket for easier cleanup. A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked. Take a look at my guide to internal chicken temperatures to learn more.

For air frying a whole chicken, you will want to use an air fryer that falls into the 6-10 quart range. Of course, it also depends on how large your chicken is!

Can Whole Chickens Be Cooked In An Air Fryer? Absolutely! Just make sure that you have an air fryer basket that will fit the chicken. This method of cooking is effortless, easy, and will yield a tender and flavorful chicken every time!

How Long Should You Cook Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer? At 350°F (175°C), your whole chicken will take about an hour to cook in total. This includes flipping the bird over halfway through cooking. If your chicken is larger or smaller, you will need to adjust the time accordingly.

Absolutely! Just make sure that you have an air fryer basket that will fit the chicken. This method of cooking is effortless, easy, and will yield a tender and flavorful chicken every time!

At 350°F (175°C), your whole chicken will take about an hour to cook in total. This includes flipping the bird over halfway through cooking. If your chicken is larger or smaller, you will need to adjust the time accordingly.

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 12 reviews

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Author | Angela

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 442kcal

Prep 5 minutes

Cooking 55 minutes

Resting Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 3 ½ lb whole chicken (thawed, if frozen)▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)▢ ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder▢ ¼ teaspoon onion powder▢ ⅛ teaspoon paprika

Equipment You May NeedAir Fryer (basket style)Air Fryer (convection style)Cutting Board

Notes You can also use the extra meat to make a killer chef salad for lunches! Or use the leftover chicken in my chicken spaghetti with rotel or chicken noodle soup! There will be a lot of juices coming from the chicken while it is resting, so I prefer to keep it in the air fryer basket for easier cleanup. A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked. Take a look at my guide to internal chicken temperatures to learn more.

Nutrition

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Course Air Fryer, Chicken Dishes, Dinner RecipesCuisine American

US CustomaryMetric

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe#

🥘 Air Fryer Whole Chicken Ingredients#

🔪 How To Cook A Whole Chicken In The Air Fryer#

💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes#

🥡 Storing & Reheating#

Reheating Air Fryer Chicken#

🍗 More Awesome Chicken Recipes#

📋 Recipe#

Air Fryer Whole Chicken#

Nutrition#

Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe

🥘 Air Fryer Whole Chicken Ingredients

🔪 How To Cook A Whole Chicken In The Air Fryer

💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Reheating Air Fryer Chicken

🍗 More Awesome Chicken Recipes

📋 Recipe

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Nutrition