Air Fryer Whole Chicken

As a busy mom of 8, I love making whole chicken to meal prep for the week. We have made Crockpot Whole Chicken, Roast Chicken and Instant Pot Whole Chicken to use in soup recipes and Easy Casserole Recipes to make dinnertime a breeze.

Cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer gives it that golden brown texture while maintaining a juicy center. But the best part is that it is ready in about an hour with minimal prep and maximum flavors!

Why This Recipe Works

• Crispy Skin – I love how crisp the skin gets without having to deep fry it!
• Cooks Evenly – Because the air fryer circulates hot air the chicken turns out juicy everytime
• Minimum Prep – No basting required when cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer.
• Faster – Cooking whole chicken in the air fryer is faster than cooking in the oven or crockpot.

Ingredients

• Whole Chicken – Approximately 3 ½ – 4 pounds
• Olive Oil – Use oil of your choice
• Seasoning Mixture – Kosher Salt, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Italian seasoning gives the chicken the best flavor. But you can use your favorite seasoning blend such as oregano, basil, onion powder and more.

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

How to Make Air Fryer Whole Chicken

• Step 1 – Make sure your chicken can fit in your air fryer (untie the legs and flatten the chicken out if needed to make it fit).  Clean the chicken inside and remove all the giblets from the cavity before cooking. 

Step 2 – Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. 

Step 3 – Rub the olive oil onto all sides of the chicken with your hands or a basting brush.  

Step 4 – Mix the seasonings together in a small bowl.  Rub the seasoning mixture onto the chicken with a basting brush.  

Step 5 – Place the chicken in your air fryer breast side down and air fry at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. 

• Step 6 – Flip the chicken over in the air fryer and cook for 30-35 more minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.  Start checking the chicken after 30 minutes and continue to check it every minute afterwards to ensure that the chicken does not get over cooked.  
• Step 7 – Remove the chicken from the air fryer. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes and then it’s ready to cut, serve and enjoy!  

Recipe Tips

• Meat Thermometer – I use an instant read meat thermometer to make sure that the chicken is cooked to a safe temperature before removing it from the air fryer. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees when the chicken is fully cooked.
• Prepare Chicken – Before seasoning chicken, make sure it fits in the air fryer basket. You may need to untie the chicken to make it fit. Make sure to clean the chicken and remove any giblets from the cavity before seasoning.
• Rest Chicken – Before slicing chicken make sure to allow the chicken to rest. This allows for the chicken to lock in the juices for the best flavor.

How Long do you Cook a Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer?

Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken. But we cook our whole chicken at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Then flipped the chicken and cooked for additional 30 minutes.

Total cooking time is about 1 hour and the chicken is fully cooked.

Variations Ideas

• Spicy – For a spicy flavor, add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
• Fresh Herbs – Feel free to use fresh herbs for even more flavor. We suggest adding ½ tablespoon of Rosemary, Thyme, or Sage
• Lemon Pepper Chicken – Substitute the paprika with lemon zest for a hint of citrus flavor.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Whole Chicken?

Air Fryer Whole Chicken makes the best meal idea. Try these easy side dishes to complete your meal.

• Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
• Sautéed Green Beans
• Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
• Coleslaw Recipe
• Homemade Crescent Rolls
• Microwave Sweet Potatoes
• Crockpot Glazed Carrots