This Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe is the quickest, easiest way to cook the whole bird! I can always count on this foolproof method to create the crispiest skin and most tender, juicy chicken meat every single time. It also only takes 5 minutes to prep – yes, really!
I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’ve all ruined a whole chicken at some point in our lives! That’s why I can’t recommend using the air fryer enough. This air fryer whole chicken recipe is hands down the easiest way I’ve ever cooked a whole bird! It’s quick, easy, and tried and true. My family loves when I cook a whole chicken for dinner, because everyone gets their favorite piece – wings, drumsticks, breasts, etc. This air fryer method makes it easy for me to fulfill the request for a whole chicken with just 5 minutes of prep work!
What’s in air fryer whole chicken?
You’re going to love how budget friendly it is to cook a whole chicken!
- Whole Chicken: This recipe works for a 5 lb chicken. If yours is bigger, you’ll need to adjust the cook time.
- Avocado Oil: Olive oil also works well if preferred.
- Seasonings/Herbs: A combination of kosher salt, cracked black pepper, poultry seasoning, Italian seasoning, thyme and oregano (both fresh) give the chicken the BEST flavor.
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How to Store and Reheat
Store any leftover cooked chicken you have in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Feel free to reheat in the microwave or back in the air fryer. Try not to overheat it – you don’t want to dry it out.
How to Freeze
You can freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Just make sure it’s fully cooled to room temperature prior to storing in an airtight container.
Notes and Tips
- To add some truly mouthwatering zest, squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto the chicken before cooking.
- If you can’t find any avocado oil, any other neutral flavored cooking oil will work just fine. Vegetable or olive oil will get the job done!
- Be picky when selecting a whole chicken. Sadly, they’re not all created equal! Ask your local butcher for the best or the best – that’s what I do.
- Making this for a holiday meal? Try it paired with this classic Green Bean Casserole.
Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe (Rotisserie Chicken)
Ingredients
- 5 pound whole chicken fresh
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon kosher sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Fresh thyme
- Fresh oregano
Additional Items:
- cooking spray
- cooking twine
Instructions
- Spray Air Fryer basket with cooking spray.cooking spray
- Remove any extra items from the cavity of the chicken.5 pound whole chicken
- In a small bowl, combine avocado oil, poultry seasoning and Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.3 tablespoons avocado oil, 1 tablespoon kosher sea salt, ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Brush seasoning mixture onto whole chicken.
- Stuff whole chicken with sprigs of fresh thyme and oregano. Then tie the legs together with cooking twine.Fresh thyme, Fresh oregano, cooking twine
- Place chicken into Air Fryer, breast side down. Set fryer to 350℉. Cook for 1 hour.
- When cook time is complete, carefully flip the chicken, breast side up, and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
- Make sure internal temperature has reached 165℉ to serve.
Notes
- I used a 5.8qt air fryer with a 5-pound chicken.
- You can use olive oil instead of avocado oil.
- Cooking breast side down first will keep the breast meat juicy.
- Make sure your chicken doesn’t contact the heating element while cooking, it will burn.
How to Make Air Fryer Whole Chicken Step by Step
Make the oil mixture: In a small bowl, combine 3 tbsp avocado oil, 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt and pepper.
Season: Brush the seasoned oil all over the raw chicken.
Stuff and tie the chicken: Stuff whole chicken with sprigs of fresh thyme and oregano. Then tie the legs together with cooking twine.
Cook the chicken: Place chicken into air fryer, breast side down. Set fryer to 350℉. Cook for 1 hour.
Flip it: When cook time is complete, carefully flip the chicken, breast side up, and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Make sure internal temperature has reached 165℉ to serve.
This is not a Rotisserie Chicken recipe because of the method of cooking the bird is not rotisserie. It’s a good air fryer recipe.
If you are going to teach people to cook teach the correct labels for the different methods of cooking.