Air Fryer Chicken - Deliciously moist chicken that's flavorful and crispy on the outside! So easy to make in your air fryer in no time at all!
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How has it taken me this long to tell you about one of my favorite Christmas gifts I received? It's my air fryer. How much do I love thee? Well, let me count the ways.
I've made so much in the air fryer already. Baked potatoes, pork chops, chicken, steak, fish, shrimp, corn on the cob and the list goes on.
Today, however, we're roasting a whole chicken, and let me tell you what. . .it's completely delicious.
Can I make a confession? I never roasted a whole chicken EVER before I got my air fryer. Josh has always been the one to make them in our Big Easy oil-less deep fryer. And when we use that, we're usually cooking two chickens at a time and serving a crowd.
I love that it's so easy to make a small chicken in the air fryer.
I used a 4.25 pound bird and it was the perfect size for our family of four. If you're cooking for less, just get creative with the leftovers and make something like this Chicken & Potato Chip Casserole.
For seasoning, I use my favorite dry rub recipe.
For an air fryer, dry rubs, breadcrumbs and Panko work best. Liquid marinades can be used but they're more messy and have the potential for causing some smoke in the house when they drip through to the bottom of the fryer.
My air fryer is a 5.3 quart and big enough to feed a family of four. This particular brand also makes a 3.4 quart model but I wasn't sure the basket was going to be big enough for us. I have to say, I'm really happy I went with the larger size.
HOWEVER, right now it has a permanent home in our basement closet. I'm carrying it up and down the stairs multiple times each week. It's just another sign that I need a bigger kitchen, right? 😉
I normally flip the chicken about 30 minutes into cooking and then roast for another 20 or until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
I love surrounding the air fryer chicken with these honey roasted carrots. It's the perfect weekend or even weekday meal.
If you have an air fryer and haven't used it much yet, I encourage you to get it out! It's not just for heating frozen food like chicken nuggets and french fries.
You can make REAL food in this gadget. I promise. One of my other favorite recipes in the air fryer is this
5-ingredient lemon chicken. It's quick and it's delicious.
If you've been thinking about purchasing an air fryer but were on the fence before, I hope this post today inspires you to go out and pick one up. . . or order it online. They are wonderful, and all of the food comes out crispy and flavorful.
Do you already have an air fryer? If so, let us know how you're enjoying yours and what you've made so far!
Ready for More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes?
Air Fryer Roast Chicken
Ingredients
- 4.25 pound whole chicken
- Ingredients for dry rub recipe or your own seasonings
Instructions
- Clean chicken and pat dry.
- Sprinkle generously with dry rub or own seasonings.
- Spray fry basket with cooking spray and place chicken into the basket with the legs facing down.
- Roast chicken for 330 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
- Flip chicken.
- Roast for 20 more minutes at 330 degrees Fahrenheit or until internal temperature of chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Notes
- Ensure Even Coating: For optimal flavor and seasoning, ensure the dry rub or seasonings are evenly distributed over the entire surface of the chicken. Rub the seasoning mixture both on the outside and inside cavities of the chicken, ensuring every part is well seasoned.
- Check for Doneness: While the recommended cooking time and temperature provide a good guideline, it's essential to check the internal temperature of the chicken using a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the meat. This guarantees that the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Let it Rest: After removing the chicken from the air fryer, allow it to rest for 5–10 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a juicier and more flavorful roast chicken.
Geri Strong
What is recipe for "dry rub.?
Sara
The link in the recipe will take you to the dry rub recipe.
Margaret Carmen
I had not considered roasting a whole chicken in the air fryer until I saw your recipe. Looks amazing! I agree, a dry rub is the way to go in the air fryer. Thank you for sharing this recipe! I will give this one a try.
Sara
Yes, it's delicious! Let me know if you try it!
Susan
I normally cook chicken in the oven - layer onion and garlic on the bottom and add wine. Can I still do this in an airfryer? I'm guessing not the wine.
Sara
Hi Susan, Nope, I wouldn't use the wine in the air fryer. Now, you could maybe "marinate" the chicken with the wine beforehand. Same deal with the onion and garlic. Maybe opt for onion and garlic-flavored seasonings rather than the "real" thing. Let me know how your first chicken goes in the air fryer!
Lisa
I used my air fryer for the first time today using your recipe for whole chicken and OMG! AMAZING! Thank you! I would've posted a pic, but wasn't an option.
Sara
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Jo
do you have a cook time for a half chicken (split)?
Anonymous
Just made this and it came out great! I did have to add 10 minutes total extra time after the flip (3.92 pound organic chicken). It is really good!
Jamie
I made this tonight - so good! Thanks for the idea! My daughter is devouring it as we speak and said that I make “the best chicken in the world”. Pretty high praise from my picky 5 year old. ?
Sara
Well, that's a pretty high honor given to you by your 5-year-old! So glad she enjoyed the chicken!
Traci
I tried the whole roasted chicken today for the first time. My family loved it! Between my husband and our 18 year old son (who eats everything in sight!), consumed an almost 6 pound chicken! I only eat meat occasionally because of health problems. This being a Sunday, when I usually eat a little meat, I was able to have some of the chicken too, about 2 ounces. It was good! The guys enjoyed it and I enjoyed not having all the cleanup involved with roasting a chicken. One question though...would you recommend stuffing the bird or no? I was a little nervous to do it, I just pretended I forgot to make it, lol!
Sara
Hi Traci! I've never stuffed the bird in the air fryer. If you do end up stuffing the chicken, add 10 minutes to each side while cooking.