Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer

This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you purchase using one of those links. I only recommend products I use and love. Thanks for supporting Stem and Spoon.

Jump to Recipe

Preparing a whole chicken in the air fryer is one of the easiest ways to get a rotisserie-style chicken in only an hour! The chicken turns out juicy, with crispy, seasoned skin, and the best part is the air fryer does all of the work.

air fryer whole chicken with lemon and water glasses

I was at first very resistant to the air fryer, mainly because it does take up some prime kitchen counter real estate. However, after using it for some time now, I'm amazed at how often I turn to it. Especially when my dinner motivation is lacking and I need something with minimal effort.

A few of my favorite low-carb air fryer recipes are these air fryer zucchini tots, chipotle air fryer chicken thighs, and air fryer Brussels sprouts with miso glaze.

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

why you'll love it

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

Whole chicken in air fryer is:

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

Plus, you can use any chicken carcass leftovers to make your own homemade chicken bone broth!

A quick note about this recipe: it works best with air fryers that are on the larger side, at least six quarts. A 4-5 pound chicken should fit comfortably inside of the air fryer basket, without being too crowded.

air fryer whole chicken on a plate with lemon garnish

the ingredients

One thing I love about this air fried 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 chicken seasoned rotisserie-style, I use the following ingredients:

whole chicken, about 4-5 pounds (pasture-raised when possible)
avocado 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.

how to make whole chicken in air fryer

If you want to make the process even easier, you can mix the seasoning ahead of time (it's also a good, multi-purpose seasoning to have on-hand).

Cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer requires three simple steps:

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).
Mix the seasoning blend and season the chicken. Combine all of the spices and seasonings in a small dish. Rub the chicken with avocado oil, then sprinkle the top (breast side) with 1 teaspoon of the seasoning.
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). Air fry for 20 minutes. Flip the chicken over, sprinkle the breast side with the remaining seasoning, then air fry an additional 40 minutes or until the chicken is done.

whole chicken in air fryer that is cooked

pro tips for 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 air frying 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.

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.

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

frequently asked questions

How long to cook whole chicken in air fryer?

For a 4-5 pound chicken, you will need about 1 hour total, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (tested in the meatiest part of the chicken thigh). The chicken skin turns out the crispiest on the breast side when the chicken is air fried breast-side down first for 20 minutes, then flipping it over and air frying it 40 minutes.

What size air fryer can cook a whole chicken?

For a chicken 4-5 pounds in size, an air fryer that is at least six quarts is best. The chicken should be able to fit in the air fryer without being crowded.

pieces of air fryer whole chicken on a plate

This air fryer whole chicken recipe is easy, quick to prepare, and results in the juiciest, seasoned air fried chicken with perfectly crisp skin.

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