Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe

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A perfectly cooked air fryer whole chicken for an easy weeknight dinner.

This air-fried chicken recipe is juicy and crispy, making it an ideal choice for a quick family dinner or for entertaining.

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious air fryer chicken dinner that everyone will love and enjoy, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe

This air fryer whole chicken recipe is extremely juicy on the inside and very crispy on the outside. 

The skin is cooked to a golden crisp from the olive oil, leaving you with the right amount of desirable skin.

The main advantage is the ease of cooking. 

Air frying has also allowed many households to enjoy the flavor of rotisserie without the need for bulky appliances. 

With the help of the air fryer, the crispiness of this air fryer whole chicken comes naturally without the need to change to a boil set, unlike the oven. 

Can You Cook A Whole Chicken In The Air Fryer?

If you are wondering whether you can cook a whole chicken in the air fryer, the answer is yes. 

Depending on the size of your bird and your air fryer, you should be able to cook a whole chicken in it.

A whole chicken is typically between 5-7 pounds. And 7 pounds would a considered above average. 

Anything more than that is not usually found in abundance at the store. 

Some of the great benefits of air frying a whole chicken is the minimal amount of saturated fat needed to cook the meat. In other words, oil and or butter is not necessary.

Olive oil has some great health benefits as it is rich in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, hence the reason why we use it in this recipe to brush the meat. 

Serving this meal with vegetables or a bed of simple garden salad would also make it keto friendly. 

Ingredients To Make This Recipe

Air fryer whole chicken is simply the best without a question. This method produces a finished rotisserie chicken that’s juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. 

There’s nothing quite like baked chicken. No need to reach for butter to make the skin crispy. 

You can achieve the same crispiness and crunchiness by preparing the whole chicken in the air fryer, without having to sacrifice unnecessary ingredients. 

• Whole chicken – This recipe calls for a 5 lb. whole chicken. We highly recommend you use a bird that will fit in your air fryer basket.

• Garlic and onion powder – Provides a robust garlicky and onion flavor and compliments the herbs.

• Salt and lemon pepper – To season the meat. We used kosher salt in this recipe and lemon pepper seasoning.

• Paprika – We use it to help add color to the meat. It also has a sweet mild flavor.

• Olive oil – This will help the dry seasoning stick to the chicken.

• Melted Butter – To baste the whole chicken and to keep the outer layer crispy.

How To Spatchcock A Chicken

Dating back to the 18^th century in Ireland, to spatchcock a chicken, one would remove the backbone from the tail to the neck of the bird.

This method allows the bird to lay flat–opened, like a butterfly. This allows the chicken to cook faster, which in term shortens the cooking time.

Spatchcocking also allows you to better season the bird.

The process to spatchcock your chicken is very simple. You will need a good pair of scissors or a sharp knife.

When ready to spatchcock your chicken, prepare the bird by cleaning it and removing all the gunk and visible fat. 

Remove the neck and gizzard. Remove the parts or discard the chicken parts.

Place the chicken on a cutting board and turn the chicken over on the stomach. Take the scissors/shears and cut the chicken from the tail to the neck on both sides.

Next, press down firmly to break the breastbone. Clip the tip of the wings, if desired, and that’s it. You have successfully spatchcock your chicken.

How To Prepare The Seasoning Rub

The method is simple.  In a mixing bowl, combine the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika together. Set aside.

Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken Cooking Method

After you have butterflied your chicken or spatchcock your chicken, wash the chicken well.

To clean the chicken thoroughly, check out our poulet en sauce recipe or How To Clean Chicken for full step by step on how to wash the chicken. 

Pat the whole chicken dry with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel. Next, place the chicken on a plate or in the air frying basket.

In a small bowl, mix the dry ingredients well.

Rub olive oil over the chicken to help the seasoning stick to the meat.

Use your hands or spoon and apply the seasoning all over the meat (“inside” and “out”).   

Air fry the spatchcock chicken at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Baste the chicken with the melted butter and herbs, if desired, or simply apply olive oil to the chicken to keep it crispy. 

Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy. 

Air-fried spatchcock chicken can be served with your favorite mashed potatoes, garden salad, or if you prefer rice, you can serve it with a side of this Haitian black rice.

How To Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Wash and pat the chicken dry. 

Cut the onions and peppers into large pieces and stuff them inside the chicken.

Place the chicken in a large bowl or large plate. 

Apply the rub all over the chicken and tuck in the legs with the leftover flaps on the side near the rear end of the chicken.

Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray.

Place the chicken in the basket, then cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the butter and mix the herbs in a small bowl.

Baste the chicken with the melted butter and herbs mixture. Cook for an additional 20-30 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy.

Whole Chicken Oven Cooking Method

Cooking any bird in the oven can be intimating. Especially if this is your first time. 

I always stick to the 350 degrees “rule” when I am not sure of what to do. However, as I became more comfortable, I ventured off that rule a bit. 

To properly cook a whole bird in the oven without any fuss, below are the basic steps.

• First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

• Second, once the oven reaches the temperature above, place the chicken in a roasting pan. Season the chicken. If all fails, salt and pepper always work great.

• Turn the bird breast down, and bake uncovered for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Be sure to read the packaging label as it sometimes will give you the exact time to cook the bird per pound.

• Baste the chicken a couple of times while it’s cooking with the juice that it releases or with melted butter for a crispy layer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

After trying this air fryer whole chicken, we recommend you try one of these recipes next. 

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp 

Air Fryer Shrimp

Air Fryer Green Beans

Air Fryer Lobster

Serving Suggestions

When you’re ready to eat, cut the chicken up and serve it with your favorite side. We love this air fryer whole chicken with all of these recipes:

• Haitian red beans and rice
• Roasted beets
• Air Fryer Garlic Mushrooms
• Sautéed Bok Choy

Air Frying Tips

• You can use the rub to marinate the chicken overnight. While the whole chicken marinades, occasionally turn the bird to make sure it is well coated while in the fridge.
• Allow the chicken to cook. Only base after 30 minutes of cooking time. This will help the moisture to remain and the chicken to cook evenly.
• Do not use a baking bag as it is not needed in the air fryer.
• Always make sure that the thermometer reads 165 degrees or higher instantly as you insert it into the thickest part of the chicken without touching the bone.

Other Air Fryer Dishes You’ll Enjoy

Air Fryer Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe 

Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken and Waffles 

Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Fajita Skewers 

Other Chicken Recipes You Might Enjoy

Haitian Fried Chicken 

Haitian Chicken Tacos

Deep Fried Chicken Wings 

Chicken Fried Steak

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