Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

Air fryer rotisserie chicken is juicy and tender with seasoned, crispy skin, and the best part is the air fryer does all of the work. This air fryer whole chicken recipe is the easiest way to get a rotisserie-style chicken in only an hour, with no rotisserie spit required!

This air fryer whole chicken recipe is good, right up there with my simple whole roast chicken.

It's just as no-fuss, but with bolder flavors from the seasoning blend.

And with juicy meat and a crispy, savory skin, this air fryer whole chicken will be one of your new favorite ways to cook a whole chicken with ease.

My air fryer has become a mainstay in my weekly dinner routine and I especially love it for chicken.

A few of my favorite low-carb air fryer recipes are these air fryer zucchini tots, chipotle air fryer chicken thighs and chicken wings.

And I have to say, whole chicken in the air fryer is just as surprisingly easy and delish.

why you'll love it

Air fryer roasted chicken is:

• juicy and flavorful
• simple to make with only 10 ingredients and five minutes to prep
• an easy, no-fuss main dish
• gluten-free, paleo, low carb and keto-friendly

Plus, you can use the bones from the leftover rotisserie chicken to make your own homemade chicken bone broth!

A quick note about this easy air fryer recipe: it works best with air fryers that are on the larger side. I have a six-quart air fryer which can comfortably fit a 4-5 pound chicken in the air fryer basket. If your air fryer is a bit smaller, select a smaller chicken at the grocery store.

the ingredients

One thing I love about this air fryer whole chicken recipe is you can use the air frying method with just about any sort of seasoning blend.

Whether you'd like to use your own dry rub mix or go with a basic salt-and-chicken combination similar to my simple whole roasted chicken recipe, you'll get great results.

For a whole rotisserie chicken, you'll need the following ingredients:

• whole chicken, about 4-5 pounds (pasture-raised when possible)
• avocado oil (or olive oil)
• celery salt
• salt
• ground black pepper
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• smoked paprika
• dried thyme
• dried oregano

I love this seasoning blend. The celery salt adds an extra savory flavor that I prefer, but if you don't have it, feel free to substitute salt.

air fryer rotisserie chicken recipe

Cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer is quite easy and the perfect way to prepare a whole bird with minimal effort.

The prep work takes just a few minutes. A great way to speed up the process even more is to mix the seasoning ahead of time. (It's also a delicious, multi-purpose seasoning to have on-hand).

See the step-by-step process below but be sure to check out the printable recipe card for all of the details and ingredient amounts. If it's your first time making a whole chicken in the air fryer, read through the recipe notes as well.

1. Rinse and pat dry the chicken with paper towels. Trim off any excess fat and make sure to dry the chicken really well. Chicken releases moisture when it cooks so the goal here is to eliminate as much water as possible (this will allow the skin to crisp better, too).
2. Mix the seasoning blend and season the chicken. Combine all of the spices and seasonings in a small bowl. Rub the chicken with avocado or olive oil, then sprinkle the top (breast side) with 1 teaspoon of the seasoning.
3. Air fry the chicken. Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer basket. Season the top side, using all but ½ teaspoon of the seasoning (set the rest aside). Place the basket into the air fryer oven and cook for 20 minutes. Flip the chicken over, sprinkle the breast side with the remaining seasoning, then air fry the rotisserie style chicken for an additional 40 minutes or until the chicken is done.

tips for the best air fryer whole chicken

• If you are a somewhat sensitive to salt, I recommend omitting the extra ¼ teaspoon of salt and cutting the amount of celery salt by half since both the celery salt and the smoked paprika add saltiness.

• I have tested a few different methods for cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer and I've found that this amount of cooking time per side will give you the crispiest skin on the breast side.

• The easiest way to flip the chicken is by using tongs and/or a couple of large forks.

• Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes after it is done.

• The air fried whole chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The best way to test this is to use a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thicken thigh.

• If you'd like, you can use kitchen twine or butcher’s twine to tie the chicken legs together.

• Store leftover chicken in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to seven days.

• Save the chicken bones/carcass and make homemade chicken bone broth!

frequently asked questions

Air fryer rotisserie chicken is easy, quick to prepare, and results in a perfectly-seasoned, juicy chicken with extra crispy skin.

Cue up your favorite sides and enjoy!

If you try this air fryer whole chicken recipe and love it as much as I do, please consider giving it a five-star rating below or leaving a comment. I LOVE seeing what you're making so feel free to share with me on Instagram, too!

you might also love...

• Easy keto chicken thigh recipes. A roundup of tasty and quick, low-carb chicken dinners.
• Sticky sesame air fryer chicken wings are sweet and saucy with a touch of heat! The glaze is low-carb and sugar-free and frankly quite good on any protein!
• Keto pot roast with gravy is a family favorite and the perfect Sunday dinner. Tender braised chuck, low-carb veggies and a rich pot roast gravy is fantastic on top of mashed cauliflower.
• Air fryer chicken meatballs with tzatziki sauce! Simple and full of flavor, this is a quick and easy recipe that the whole family will enjoy.

Continue to Content

Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer

Yield: 6-8 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Air fryer whole chicken is tender and juicy with a crispy chicken skin seasoned with a savory blend of spices. A whole chicken in the air fryer is one of the easiest methods for getting the perfect rotisserie-style chicken with minimal prep required!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken, 4-5 pounds
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon celery salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. (You will not need the air fryer rack).
2. Remove any chicken giblets, trim off excess skin, and rinse the whole chicken. Pat it dry very well (inside and out) with paper towels. Place it on a dry, clean plate or cutting board.
3. Rub the chicken all over with the avocado oil and place it breast-side up.
4. In a small dish, mix the seasonings. Sprinkle the top of the chicken (breast side) with 1 teaspoon of the seasoning blend.
5. Place the chicken into the air fryer basket, breast side down (seasoning side down). Season the top side generously, using all but ½ teaspoon of the seasoning mix. Reserve the remaining ½ teaspoon for later.
6. Air fry the chicken at 360°F for 20 minutes. Flip the chicken over (now breast side up) and sprinkle the remaining ½ teaspoon of seasoning on top.
7. Return to the air fryer and air fry an additional 40 minutes or until the chicken is done.
8. Remove the air fryer basket and let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

1. Make sure to dry the chicken really well. This helps the skin to crisp.
2. If you are a somewhat sensitive to salt, I omit the extra ¼ teaspoon of salt and cut the amount of celery salt by half since both the celery salt and the smoked paprika add saltiness.
3. The easiest way to flip the chicken is by using tongs and/or a couple of large forks.
4. The air fried whole chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The best way to test this is to use a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thicken thigh.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 212Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 205mgCarbohydrates: 1gNet Carbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 21g

This nutritional information is approximate and is provided for convenience as a courtesy.