Air fryer half chicken – tender and flavorful and ready in no time at all! Team it with vegetables or a salad for a perfect mid-week dinner.
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How to Cook a Half Chicken in an Air Fryer
Air frying a half chicken is a great option if you are only cooking for two (or one), and want a super quick roast chicken.
This recipe for cooking a half chicken in an air fryer is based on my recipe for roasting a whole chicken in an air fryer, but takes way less time.
I love a quick and easy air fryer roast, some other great roast meat recipes you should try are this succulent rack of lamb air fryer recipe, or this tender air fryer pork roast.
Scroll down for the printable card for this air fryer half chicken recipe, or read on for all the details.
Directions
How to prepare a half chicken for air frying
Not much prep is needed if the chicken has been split for you already. My local butcher will cut a whole chicken into two portions on request, so I usually have one to cook, and one to freeze.
If you have a whole chicken and want to portion it yourself then you will need a large butchers knife or sturdy pair of kitchen shears. Follow the instructions in this video: How to halve a whole chicken.
It is much easier to split a chicken if you start with a spatchcock/butterflied chicken as half the job has been done for you.
Once you have your half chicken, pat it dry, and you are ready to season it.
How to season your half chicken
You should add some seasoning to the chicken half before air frying it. You can keep things simple, and just use salt and pepper, or spice things up as much as you like.
Here are some seasonings that we like to use :
- Simple salt and pepper
- Cajun
- Traditional herbs – rosemary and thyme
- Lemon pepper
- Garlic and rosemary
Just add a little oil first, then rub the seasoning on with a little salt.
Pro tip: If I’m cooking in a rush (almost always) I often spritz the chicken with oil once it is in the air fryer basket then sprinkle the seasoning and salt on. Press it in a little with the back of a spoon and you are good to go.
What to serve with this air fried chicken
A great thing about cooking a half chicken in an air fryer is that it leaves plenty of space for also cooking the vegetables in there with the chicken.
If I’m cooking a whole full sized chicken then my air fryer is close to capacity and I can’t also air fry vegetables at the same time, so I have to cook them in batches.
Anyway, with a half chicken there is lots of room, and it is so great to be able to cook a whole meal in the air fryer.
I usually toss in some vegetables to roast up once there is around ten minutes of cooking time remaining. You can remove the chicken to rest when it has finished cooking, and pop the veg back in to the air fryer to crisp up while the chicken rests.
Any of these will air fry well with a half chicken:
- Air fryer roast potatoes
- Air fryer roast carrots
- Air fried cauliflower
- Air fryer sweet potato fries
- Air fryer potato wedges
For an easy gravy recipe to go with this half chicken, try this gravy made from stock, alternatively, try topping it with this homemade tarragon butter.
Air Fryer Half Chicken Recipe Card
Air Fryer Half Chicken
How to roast a half chicken in an air fryer.
Ingredients
- Half chicken (1.5 lb)
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F (195°C).
- Pat chicken half dry. Rub with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil to help prevent the chicken sticking. Cook chicken in air fryer for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and cook in air fryer for another 10-15 minutes.
- The chicken is cooked if the juices run clear when you stick a knife in the thickest part. If you are unsure check with a meat thermometer - internal temperature should be 165°F (75°C). Air fry for additional 3-4 minute intervals if required.
- Cover the chicken with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 265Total Fat: 13.5gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 275mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 37g
You may also like:
- Air fryer whole chicken
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Air fryer chicken breast
- Air fryer chicken thighs
- Air fryer Cornish hen
- Air fryer chicken recipes
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About Eliza
Welcome to Love Food Not Cooking!
I’m Eliza, busy mom, home cook, and blogger. My goal is to help everyone cook good food. Whether you are short on time, skills or motivation, there is something here for you! We have dozens of quick and easy recipes for dinner, lunch, side dishes, and more. Our recipes use everyday ingredients, for quick delicious meals your family will love! Read more…
