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by Diane
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Oh you’re in for a treat if you try this Air Fryer Whole Roast Chicken Recipe! Everyone on our team loves this recipe and we’ve always been advocates of cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Whole Roast Chicken Recipe
There’s so many delicious reasons to make this homemade from scratch, rather than going to the market deli department to buy it already cooked. This homemade recipe rivals any restaurant or store bought version and once you make it, you’ll be hooked. Once you’ve made this in the air fryer, you’ll realize how simple it is and so much better than cooking in the regular conventional oven.
Can You Cook Whole Chicken in Air Fryer?
Yes you can, but with a few exceptions and certain factors to consider. We discuss it here along with more reasons on why you should be making this at home instead of buying it.
- Make sure you have a air fryer large enough to cook a whole chicken. Most chickens average 3-5 pounds, with 5 pounds being the max.
- Buy the right size chicken that fits your air fryer. Don’t choose one that rests too high above your basket or too close to the heating element. If your chicken is too large and close to the heating element, it will burn on the outside and not cook completely in the center.
- What are best air fryers for whole chickens? We detail this information below.
- Another option is to spatchco*ck your chicken for quicker cooking, especially if you have a small air fryer. You can cook it in two batches.
- You can use all the extra leftovers for sandwiches, salads and soups.
- Make homemade chicken stock, broth or soup from leftover bones.
- It’s much more budget friendly to air fry whole chicken than buying it from the store. Best of all, it’s super fresh.
- Time, temp and all recipe details are in the recipe box below.
Video: How to Cook Air Fryer Roast Chicken
Watch the video to learn the step by step process of making this juicy and flavorful chicken. You can also access the images and recipe details in the recipe box below.
What Air Fryer Did we cook Whole Chickens in?
We tested this recipe with 4-5 pound chickens using several different air fryers and they all worked great. The only difference is that the size of the chicken and distance it’s from the heating element will make a tremendous difference on cooking time and how crispy or burnt the skin will be. Also, buy a thermometer to test the inside temperature of the chicken. This valuable thermometer tool is amazing.
Whole Chicken in Oven Style Models
Oven style or Toaster Oven Style air fryers to cook great. They’re usually larger in size which will most likely accommodate up to 5 pound chickens. Lay the drip/oil pan at the very bottom, then the chicken on the tray above that. Try to keep the chicken the furthest away from the heating element to that it cooks through all the way without burning.
5-6 Qt Basket Style Air Fryers for Whole Chicken
Yes, these basket style models are great too! But your size air fryer will determine the size of your chicken to cook. We recommend 4-5 pound chickens to be cooked in larger 5-6 quart air fryers. Smaller 4 quart air fryers can cook a 3 pound or MAYBE 4 pound chicken. If it’s your first time, we suggest cooking a smaller chicken so you can get an idea of how big of a chicken you can cook for future dinners.
Air Fryer Crispy-Skin Whole Chicken with Herbs and Lemon Pepper
Yield: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Resting Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Read the write up for more helpful info. Make sure you have a air fryer large enough to cook a whole chicken. Most chickens average 3-5 pounds, with 5 pounds being the max.Don't buy a chicken that rests too high above your basket or too close to the heating element. If your chicken is too large and close to the heating element, it will burn on the outside and not cook completely in the center
5 from 6 votes
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Ingredients
- 4-5 pound chicken
- 1-2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons salt , or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper , optional
- 1 Tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried herbs (dried basil, rosemary, parsley, thyme, oregano or any combination of them)
- oil spray , to coat basket
Equipment
Instructions
Rinse and thoroughly pat the chicken dry. Set aside.
In small bowl combine salt, pepper, lemon pepper, paprika, dried herbs.
Rub oil over the chicken. Rub herb mixture all over chicken. Spray the air fryer basket or rack with cooking spray.
Lay chicken breast side down in the basket or rack.
Air Fry at 360°F for 45-50 minutes, then carefully flip the chicken to breast side up. Cook for additional 10-15 minutes or until internal breast meat temperature is 165°F. Let rest for 10 minutes. Carve and serve.
Notes
Chickens range so much in size, so adjust cooking times depending on your chicken size. If your chicken fits tight in the basket, then it’s too large.
Chicken will burn if it’s too large and very close to the cooking element on top. Use less dried herbs so that they don’t burn while cooking.
If your air fryer is preheated or if you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce timing by a few minutes (unless preheating is called for in the recipe).
Video
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories: 312kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 42g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 126mg, Sodium: 1278mg, Potassium: 449mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 457IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 3mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 312
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- Enjoy More of our Air fryer chicken recipes here.
- this recipe was originally published in 2022.
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posted in: Air Fryer, Chicken Recipes, Entrees, Gluten Free, Healthy, Keto, Kids Menu, Low Carb, Paleo 6 comments
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Leave a Reply
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Virginia krupp — Reply
I’m looking forward to learning all I can about air frying
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megan — Reply
I’m really happy that my chicken came out juicy and the skin nice and crispy. Awesome recipe. Thanks a bunch.
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Everley — Reply
I don’t think I can ever go back to going to the store for whole roast chicken. This recipe in the air fryer was the best.
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Jean — Reply
This is one of the best chickens I’ve ever made. My air fryer is small so I used a 21/2 pound chicken with half the seasonings, substituted onion powder for the garlic powder and added little salt to the cavity. Made gravy for our mashed potatoes from the drippings. Yummy!
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Diane — Reply
All this sounds YUM! thanks for sharing Jean and so glad you enjoyed the air fryer roast chicken .
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Willa — Reply
I’m so glad to find this recipe just in time for Thanksgiving. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to cook an entire chicken in the air fryer. It’s just perfect.
