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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Chicken Recipes » Air Fryer Whole Chicken

    Published: March 16, 2020 / Updated: December 30, 2020 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Air Fryer Whole Chicken

    669 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
    Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

    Have you ever made a whole roast chicken in your air fryer? Air Fryer Whole Chicken is juicy and tender inside with yummy crispy skin on the outside!

    Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

    Roast chicken is a classic dish that will always be one of my favorites. It's so simple and easy to make, yet so versatile. You can make SO many different dishes using a rotisserie chicken!

    Now that we're going on Month 3 of living without a kitchen during our full kitchen remodel, the air fryer has become one of my family's greatest no-kitchen-required small appliances. We literally use it almost every single day now. So be prepared for plenty of new air fryer recipes coming your way!

    What makes air fryer chicken so good?

    Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

    Air frying a whole chicken is even easier than in an oven, if you can believe it. It's so fast! And I love that it frees up the oven in case you DO have other items you want to cook or bake in it at the same time.

    When you air fry a whole chicken, the skin is incredibly crispy (my favorite part!!). The herbs are beautifully incorporated into both the skin and the meat. The meat, meanwhile, turns out beautifully tender and juicy.

    I really LOVE air fryer chicken, and think you will, too!

    What size air fryer do you need to cook a whole chicken?

    just air fried Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

    You really need one of the larger air fryers to make a whole rotisserie-style chicken. I have a 5.8 Quart GoWise Air Fryer. It's the basket style, versus the open door style air fryer. It's the perfect size for a 4 to 5.5 pound whole chicken.

    If you have a 5.3 quart air fryer, go for a 3-4 pound chicken. 

    I would not recommend trying to cook a whole chicken in a smaller air fryer. If you have an actual rotisserie option with skewers in your air fryer, be sure to read the manufacturer instructions before cooking.

    What do you need to make air fryer whole roast chicken?

    ingredients for Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

    Many air fryer recipes for whole roast chicken don't call for oil or butter. Here's the thing: you can go without, but you'll probably end up with chicken that sticks to the air fryer basket. And, the skin just won't get as crispy while keeping the meat juicy without any oil or butter.

    So while air fryer rotisserie chicken IS slightly healthier because you do use LESS oil and butter than traditional roast chicken, don't leave it out completely.

    For this recipe, you'll need:

    • a whole chicken - between 4-5.5 pounds if you have an XL air fryer like I do; smaller air fryers will usually accommodate around a 3-4 pound chicken.
    • butter (or vegan butter to keep this dairy-free)
    • garlic
    • lemon
    • thyme
    • sage
    • salt
    • pepper

    How do you cook a whole chicken in an air fryer?

    raw Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken ready to cook

    Making a whole air fryer chicken really couldn't be any easier. It takes just 5-10 minutes max of active, hands-on time. The rest of the time, the chicken is cooking up without muss or fuss in the air fryer!

    Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Mix together the herbs and butter (or just the herbs if you prefer to omit the butter). Season the entire chicken. Air fry breast side down at 370°F for 30 minutes. Open the basket and turn the chicken over. Air fry for another 20 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

    What to serve with air fryer whole rotisserie-style chicken

    landscape of Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

    This crispy whole chicken goes with so many delicious side dishes!

    Try serving rotisserie chicken with:

    • Creamy Confetti Corn
    • Fiesta Potato Smashers
    • Quinoa Caprese Salad

    What wine pairs best with roast chicken?

    wine pairing for Roast Chicken

    Roast chicken pairs well with medium-bodied white wines. Try an oaked Chardonnay or Viognier. It also pairs beautifully with Champagne or other sparkling wines.

    If you're in the mood for a red wine, try a lighter bodied red with low tannins. I've enjoyed many Oregon Pinot Noirs with roast chicken. You can also enjoy a bright Gamay with this air fryer rotisserie chicken.

    Some wines to pair with air fryer roast chicken:

    • 2016 Roserock by Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir ($35)
    • Domaine Perraud 2017 Macon-Villages Vieilles Vignes
    • 2018 Penner Ash Viognier ($36)
    • Graham Beck Bliss Demi Sec ($18)

    Recipes you can make with this air fryer whole rotisserie-style chicken

    • Easy Homemade Ramen
    • big bowl of Thai chicken salad with lime slices Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing (CPK Copycat Recipe)
    • CPK Thai Chicken Pizza square image. CPK Thai Chicken Pizza (Copycat Recipe)
    • Blue Diamond Honey Dijon Curry Chicken Salad Curry Chicken Salad with Honey Dijon Almonds
    Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

    Air Fryer Whole Chicken

    5 from 14 votes
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 50 mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    Air Fryer Whole Chicken has crispy skin and juicy, tender meat!
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 465kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1 small to medium whole chicken
    • 2-4 tablespoons butter, softened
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 2 teaspoons thyme leaves
    • 1 teaspoon sage leaves
    • about ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • salt
    • pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes
    • Remove chicken from packaging and pat dry with paper towels.
    • Meanwhile, mix softened butter, garlic, thyme, sage, and lemon juice together. Slather over all sides of the chicken evenly. Season with salt and pepper (just enough to lightly season the bird. Don't go overboard with salt and pepper).
      ingredients for Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
    • Cook chicken, breast side down, at 370°F for 30 minutes
    • Open the basket and gently turn the chicken over.
    • Cook at 370°F for another 20 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F.
      just air fried Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
    • Let cool for 10 minutes before carving.

    Notes

    DAIRY-FREE OPTION: use a vegan butter instead of regular butter.
    If you want to omit the butter completely, you can. I just like the extra crispy skin you get from using butter. Just make sure you at least spray the pan and the chicken with some olive oil before air frying. 
    You can truss the chicken (tie the legs together) if you want; I don't when I make it in an air fryer, but I do when I make rotisserie chicken in the oven.
    Use an instant read meat thermometer to accurately tell when the chicken is done. The thermometer will read 165 °F when the chicken is thoroughly cooked. 
    You really need one of the larger air fryers to make a whole rotisserie chicken. I use a 5.8 Quart GoWise XL basket air fryer which is perfect for a 4-5.5 pound chicken. If you have a 5.3 quart air fryer, go for a 3-4 pound chicken. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 379mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 489IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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    Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Victoria Sheehy says

        July 15, 2020 at 7:57 am

        Hi! Recipe looks wonderful! I see you also mentioned classic rôtisserie chicken. I am hesitating between an air fryer and a rotisserie oven. Which does the best chicken skin? Thank you.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          July 17, 2020 at 11:27 am

          The Instant Pot Vortex has both settings - air fryer and rotisserie - among others. It comes with a rotisserie spit to place inside when you want to do rotisserie chicken. In my experience, the best chicken skin depends on a lot of factors other than the cooking method - starting with the quality of the chicken itself. I love the air fryer chicken just as much, if not more, than classic rotisserie!

      2. Kim says

        May 25, 2020 at 2:32 pm

        The recipe looks great. I see that lemon juice is listed as an ingredient, but it is not listed in the instructions. Can you please let me know how to utilize it? Thanks, so much!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          May 25, 2020 at 7:07 pm

          5 stars
          Thanks for letting me know, Kim -- I just fixed it! You add the lemon juice to the softened butter and herb mixture before spreading on the chicken. I updated the recipe. Thanks!

      3. Sundeep says

        March 20, 2020 at 5:56 am

        5 stars
        It really looks so tempting and now I am feeling hungry. I have air fryer but not this much big. But whenever I am going to buy another one I will try to buy bigger one and try this mouth watering recipe for sure

        Reply
      4. Bindu Thomas says

        March 20, 2020 at 3:51 am

        Looks so delicious. Making my mouth full of water :)

        Reply
      5. Maysz says

        March 19, 2020 at 9:11 pm

        5 stars
        I love chicken recipes and this air fryer whole chicken looks yum and it makes me feel hungry Lol!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          March 20, 2020 at 12:40 am

          Thanks, Maysz!

      6. Garf says

        March 19, 2020 at 12:55 pm

        This is making me hungry. I like chicken. I had some last night and want more chicken today on my menu...hahaha

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          March 20, 2020 at 12:40 am

          I love chicken, too! It's has so much diversity!

      7. aisasami says

        March 19, 2020 at 7:29 am

        5 stars
        I never heard of an air fryer. It is like a broiler? I don't know if we have air fryers here in Japan (because it is uncommon to eat whole chickens) but we broilers for fish.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          March 20, 2020 at 12:39 am

          Kind of! They work by circulating hot air. It gives food the crispiness without all of the fat and oil! :)

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      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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