Crispy skin, juicy meat, and loaded with flavor – this air fryer roast chicken recipe is a game changer for your dinner routine. With simple prep and quick cooking time, this supremely moist, unbelievably crispy roast chicken is a recipe you’ll make again and again!
Why air frying is the only way to roast chicken
I’ve fallen head over heels for this air fryer roast chicken recipe. With its irresistibly crispy skin, juicy meat, and quick cooking compared to oven roasting, this recipe is on regular rotation at my house.
Another great thing about this recipe is how perfect it is for meal prep. Air frying a whole chicken means dinner one night, then loads of leftovers to use during the week, for things like tacos, salads, sandwiches, and more!
Scroll down for the printable card for this air fryer whole chicken recipe, or read on for all the details.
What do you need?
Whole chicken
The key to selecting a chicken for air frying is to make sure you get the one that is the right size for your air fryer.
A small or medium whole chicken, size 13-16 (1.3-1.6 kg/ 3-3½ lb), is the perfect size for my air fryer, but check the capacity of your air fryer and how deep the basket is to be sure that it will fit.
Note: The cooking times are dependent on the size of the chicken you use, the smaller the bird, the quicker it will roast. See below for more on cooking times.
Oil
A little oil is needed for roasting, especially if you want to get really crispy chicken skin. I like to use light olive oil, but any liquid cooking oil with a high smoke point will work (e.g. avocado oil, vegetable oil).
Seasoning
My go-to seasoning for roast chicken is rosemary, salt, and pepper. However, you can use standard chicken seasoning, or any spice rub or seasoning blend that you like with chicken.
For some other seasoning options try:
- Rosemary, thyme, and lemon (add lemon halves to the cavity)
- Garlic and rosemary (use garlic powder or crushed garlic cloves)
- Rubbed sage and onion powder
- Cajun seasoning
- Smoked paprika and garlic powder
- Lemon pepper dry rub
Let’s cook this roast chicken in the air fryer!
1
Preheat.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C while you prepare the chicken.
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, just set it to air fry for 3-4 minutes.
2
Prepare the chicken.
Pat the raw chicken dry with a paper towel. Remember to remove any packets or off-cuts from inside the chicken.
Drizzle chicken with oil, sprinkle with chopped rosemary, and season well with salt and pepper. Rub the seasoning and oil evenly over the whole chicken, including inside the cavity.
3
Pop the whole chicken in the air fryer.
Place the chicken in the air fryer breast side down. If your air fryer is prone to sticking it is a good idea to pop it on a small square of parchment or baking paper for the first cooking period. Note: some air fryers do not recommend using parchment, so check your manual first.
4
Sear then flip.
Now we are going to air fry the roast chicken at 400°F/ 200°C for 15 minutes. This sears the outside and helps to get crispy skin.
When the first cooking time is up, carefully flip the chicken over. This is the key to getting it to cook evenly, and stay perfectly juicy during cooking (similar to the same way rotisserie chicken does).
5
Finish roasting chicken.
Lower the temperature to 360°F/ 180°C, the air fry the roast chicken until it is golden brown and has reached at least 165°F/ 74°C in the center of the thickest part. Times depend on size of chicken used, see section below for more.
Check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer in a few places to ensure it is cooked the whole way through.
6
Rest.
Remove the chicken, place it on a board or plate, and cover it loosely with foil. Allow it to rest for at least ten minutes before carving.
A note on cooking times: how long to cook a whole chicken in the air fryer?
The cooking times will vary based on the size of the chicken, and how powerful your air fryer is.
Chicken is cooked correctly when the internal temperature reads at least 165°F/ 74°C in the center of the thickest part. Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature in the center of the thickest part. Check the temperature in a few places to ensure it is evenly cooked.
To estimate how long to roast it, I use the rule of approximately 30 minutes per kg/ 14 minutes per lb, plus another 15 minutes.
You can use the table below to estimate cooking times:
Size | Sear @ 200°C | Roast @ 180°C | Total |
---|---|---|---|
1kg-1.2kg | 15 mins | 30-35 mins | 45-50 mins |
1.3kg-1.5kg | 15 mins | 40-45 mins | 55-60 mins |
1.6kg-1.7kg | 15 mins | 50-55 mins | 65-70 mins |
1.8kg-2kg | 15 mins | 55-60 mins | 70-75 mins |
2.1-2.3kg | 15 mins | 64-70 mins | 79-85 mins |
Size | Sear @ 400°F* | Roast @ 360°F* | Total* |
---|---|---|---|
2lb-2.5lb | 15 mins | 30-35 mins | 45-50 mins |
2.5lb-3lb | 15 mins | 35-45 mins | 50-60 mins |
3lb-3.5lb | 15 mins | 45-50 mins | 60-70 mins |
3.5lb-4lb | 15 mins | 50-60 mins | 70-80 mins |
4lb-5lb | 15 mins | 60-70 mins | 80-85 mins |
Storing and reheating
Store any leftover roast chicken in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, and use it within 3 days.
You can reheat the chicken in the air fryer. Air fry for 5-10 minutes until 165°F/ 74°C in the center.
Air Fryer Roast Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 lb / 1.5 kg whole chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
Directions
- Preheat air fryer to 200°C/ 400°F.
- Finely chop half the rosemary.
- Pat chicken dry, then drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with the chopped rosemary, and season well with salt and pepper.
- Rub seasoning into the chicken. Place the remaining rosemary sprigs inside the cavity.
- Place prepared roast chicken in air fryer basket, breast side down [Note 1].
- Roast chicken in the air fryer at 200°C/ 400°F for 15 minutes. Then carefully flip it over.
- Lower temperature to 180°C/ 360°F, then air fry roast chicken for another 40-50 minutes until it is golden brown and at least 74°C/ 165°F in the center of the thickest part [Note 2].
- Remove chicken from the air fryer, cover with foil and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving and serving.
Notes
- If food tends to stick to your air fryer, you can place the chicken on a small square of parchment (if recommended for your air fryer).
- Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature is at least 74°C/ 165°F in the center of the thickest part of the chicken.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
Pam
Friday 15th of March 2024
Who knew cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer would be so easy! Thanks for this recipe, we had it hot the first night, and shredded the leftovers for sandwiches the next day.