This recipe for air fryer whole chicken is simply delicious!

It comes out juicy with extra crisp skin and is infused with savory seasonings!

Making a whole chicken in the air fryer has never been easier!

Air Fryer whole chicken on a plate

Easy Air Fryer Whole Chicken

  • Whole chicken comes out so flavorful, tender, and juicy and the meat just falls off the bone!
  • This air fryer recipe roasts chicken quicker, and cleanup is a cinch!
  • Great for dinner or for meal prep. Cook an extra chicken to have ready for sandwiches, soups, or salads.
Raw whole chicken on a plate with seasoning

Ingredients and Variations

Chicken – Make Air Fryer chicken from fresh or frozen in less time than it takes to heat up the oven! Choose a whole chicken about 2-4 lbs in size with intact skin.

Seasonings – Paprika, garlic powder, and parsley are all you need for a tasty chicken. But feel free to use onion powder, oregano, dried basil, lemon zest, or rosemary. A packaged blend like taco seasoning is great for prepping chicken salads and tacos all week!

Variations – This recipe also works for thighs, wings, or leg quarters (thigh and drumstick combined).

raw whole chicken with seasoning in an air fryer basket

How to Air Fry a Whole Chicken

  1. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, rub it with oil, and season.
  2. Place chicken breast side down (tuck the wings under the back) and cook (per recipe below), flipping over halfway through.

An instant-read thermometer should read 165°F at the thickest part (away from the bone).

To Make Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer

For frozen chicken, add minutes to the cooking time and check the internal temperature before flipping it over.

For a Rotisserie Style Air Fryer:

Whether you have a Ninja, Vortex, or Corsori, check the user guide to ensure your chicken isn’t too heavy for the rotisserie spit.

  1. Place chicken on the spit and set the power to 370°F.
  2. Cook until a meat thermometer reads 165°F (longer for larger birds).
Cooked whole chicken in an air fryer basket

Tips for Air Fryer Whole Chicken

  • For either method, let the chicken rest once removed from the air fryer for about 10 minutes so the juices can resettle back into the meat, keeping it extra juicy.
  • Keep drippings to drizzle over garlic-roasted potatoes, or broccoli and cauliflower.

Storing Leftover Chicken

Keep leftover air fryer whole chicken in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Remove the meat from the carcass first (save bones for future soups.) Freeze portions in zippered bags for up to 3 months. To reheat, pop it in the microwave and use as desired.

More Chicken Recipes

Air Fryer whole chicken on a plate
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Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Cook the perfect roast chicken without even turning the oven on!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

Ingredients  

  • 1 whole chicken 2-4 lbs* see note for larger chickens
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
  • Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
  • Rub the oil evenly across the chicken then sprinkle with seasoning.
  • Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, breast side down *see note for rotisserie.
  • Cook for 50-60 minutes, flipping the chicken over half way through. Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before serving. *see note

Notes

Air Fryer with Rotisserie
If your chicken is 4 lbs or less, you can use the rotisserie if your air fryer has one (like the Vortex 10-QT Air Fryer Oven). A chicken larger than 4 lbs may be too heavy for the air fryer rotisserie and damage the machine, consult the manual of your specific air fryer as brands can vary.
To cook a chicken on the rotisserie, prepare as directed above. Place the chicken on the rotisserie spit as directed in the instruction manual. Select rotate/rotisserie and set the temperature to 370°F for 50-60 minutes for a 4lb chicken. Larger chickens will need more time. Check the temperature and ensure that the chicken has reached 165°F. 
Larger than 4lbs
If your chicken is larger than 4lbs and it fits in your air fryer (a larger oven or toaster oven style air fryer can hold much larger chickens), you can cook it by placing it on the rack of the air fryer and not on the rotisserie.
*Cooking times will vary based on the size of the chicken, use an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 165°F.
A 3lb chicken will take about 45-50 minutes while a 4lb chicken will need about 60 minutes. 
4.74 from 30 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g | Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 283mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 261IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American

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Top image - a whole chicken cooked in the air fryer. Bottom image - raw whole chicken seasoned with text

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About the author

Holly is a mom of 4 with a love for all things air fryer! Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Comments

    1. Hi Cindy, we recommend defrosting your chicken before cooking it in the air fryer. You can thaw it in the fridge or by submerging it in cold water. We hope that helps!

      1. Thank you. I went with my gut and decided not to try it that attachment. I will try it on the grilling tray next time.

    1. We find the air fry function gives it a nice crisp skin. You could probably roast the chicken with similar results but we have not tested this recipe on that setting. We would love to hear how it turns out for you Jay.

  1. Question, in the paragraph the recipe, you say the recipe is for a 5 lb chicken, yet the recipe says 2-4 lb chicken. Just a bit confused. Don’t want to mess up my air fryer or my chicken.

    1. For the rotisserie function, you can only make a chicken up to 4lbs. But with the air fry function, you can cook a larger chicken. Hope that helps!

          1. I find the breast juicier starting it breast side down then turning it breast side up.