Cook a Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer in Under an Hour!
Love rotisserie style chicken?!
Turn off the oven and cook a whole chicken in the air fryer in less than an hour! It’s the most delicious whole chicken I’ve ever made! The skin turns out perfectly crisp while the inside stays super juicy and delicious.
I’ve been wanting to try this idea ever since I bought my large 6-quart air fryer and am so excited I finally did!
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
cook time: 50 MINUTES
total time: 50 MINUTES
Get crispy skin with tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken in about an hour, without turning on the oven!
Ingredients
- 5 lb. whole chicken
- 1 or 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 packet Goya Sazon (or different seasoning of choice)
- 1/2 of an onion to stuff inside (optional)
Directions
1
Remove insides from chicken.
2
Rub chicken with butter. Season to taste. Insert onion into the chicken.
3
Place chicken inside air fryer. Set cook time and timer to 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
4
Flip chicken over and set timer for another 20 minutes.
5
Check to make sure chicken is done. Internal temp should reach 165 degrees.
Look at that golden crispy skin!
My favorite seasoning for roasted chicken is Goya Sayzon. It’s a popular Hispanic seasoning I grew up with that results in a deliciously flavored deep brown skin – the ultimate comfort food for me. You can, of course, use any type of seasoning desired. I love that all you have to do is season chicken and place in the air fryer! SO EASY!
Hip Tip: If you’re MSG sensitive and looking for an alternative to Goya, try Badia Sazon.
Tender pull-apart chicken in under an hour!
Air fryers are so amazing because I didn’t even have to turn on the oven. I loved that this chicken was so crispy on the outside and yet so tender, it was easy to pull apart to serve. YUM! My family really enjoyed this easy to make chicken served along with rice, beans, and a side salad. I even have enough left to shred for lunch!
Love using shredded chicken for meal prep?
Roasted chicken is one of the most versatile foods ever!
You can eat the meat as part of one meal, and also in other meals for the week in food preparation. If need some inspiration to use up cooked, shredded chicken try these:
- White Chicken Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce
- Chicken Walnut Salad
- Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup
- Ramen Noodle Salad
- Keto Buffalo Chicken Soup
Thanks for the idea and recipe! I would love to see more recipes using the airfryer and even sous vide. TIA!
Thanks for the feedback Kate!
We have a traditional new wave and love it. We can do a frozen turkey in 4 hours.
Nice, easy recipe, Lina!
How do you wash the tray? It isn’t non stick.
Yes it’s very easy to rinse off 👍
Thanks for your easy recipe.
You’re so welcome!
OMG thank you Lina. It’s 101 degrees here. I love having yummy options that don’t involve turning on the oven. This is perfect.
I ran out of propane for my grill last week and tried pan searing a sirloin steak then throwing it in the air fryer for a few minutes and it was amazing!! Just like Outback! I may never use my grill again! I just seasoned it with a lot of salt and pepper and seared it in a bit of oil in a stainless steel pan before putting it in the air fryer on the hottest temperature for 4 mins. 😍😍😍
Yum! I believe it..I reheated a restaurant steak and normally that isn’t as great the next day. It was amazing reheated in the air fryer! 👍
Does anyone care to give the brand of your air fryer and why you chose it? I’m ready to buy one and not sure which to choose. Thanks!
Mine is a Fabre ware and so far I love it! I’m trying a ehole chicken tonight
Anyone know how it compares to a counter top rotisserie like Ronco? I use the Ronco one a week but it’s bulky And clean up is a pain.
How many will this feed ( estimated )? I need to take something to my growth group and this sounds amazing. Thanks.
A 4 to 7 pound chicken will serve approximately five to seven people. Hope that helps!
When I tried making a whole chicken in the air fryer, there was a lot of smoke emitted. I even put a little water in the bottom pan. Did this happen to you?
No not at all. It has with bacon before – and I would just empty drippings from bottom pan.
Does anyone have any issues with plastic-y odor coming from the exhaust when using your air fryer? I bought a TFal one and when using it, I smell an odd toaster oven/plastic sort of smell…was wondering if that is happening to anyone else. After smelling it the whole cooking time, I feel like I can taste it in the food I make.
Thanks!
Darn -I would maybe try to contact the company and ask. Sorry that’s happening.
Hi I had that bad odor ever since I got mines for Christmas and I’ve been using it weekly. Hated the smell and thought that couldn’t be healthy either so I googled it and did as was suggested in addition to me cleaning it before I used it and after every use. She suggested to turn it upside down, take a soft brush and gentle scrub the top where the heat comes from them wipe it clean. Most importantly, I decided to open my kitchen window a bit turn the back of it to the window and ensure that it was not under OR close any of the kitchen cabinets overhead. Viola!!! It did the trick. No plastic odor when I baked my 2nd whole chicken. They were delicious each time. As a matter of fact everything I put in the AF is delicious. I am just seeing this post and she’s being honest – it is delicious. I have made blueberry muffins, baked Peanuts a few times (my favorite), whole chickens (with and without BBQ Sauce, meatballs and next on the list is pork chops 🤸 you’ve got to try them all. You won’t regret it. My Air Fryer & Instant Pot are my new forever friends. Hope this helps
I have a small “Bella” brand, 2.5lb air fryer(perfect for 1-2 people). I read many reviews to this effect, prior to purchase. Many suggested running empty on high for 15+min, prior to use, to burn off chemical smell. Otherwise, it may be infused into the food. If you do not, it will still burn off after a few uses, but reviewers say food may taste like the smell. I did this, and it worked. Now, after 2mos, no smell from the materials whatsoever. I use almost daily!!
I purchased a cooks air fryer and had the same smell. It even invaded to the tast of the food. I tried turning it on at top heat with nothing in it and could not get rid of the smell. It took dsys to get the smell out of my house. I returned the product and purchased from a different manufacturer. No problem with the new one. Good Luck
Thanks, Lina! Looks great
Thanks for stopping by Christina!
Please send me all the fryer
Do you put your whole chicken in breast side up or down to start?
Thanks for the recipe been looking for recipes for my air fryer. Love to see more.
Ok great – thanks Virginia!
Please be careful using the Goya seasoning it’s primary ingredient is MSG. It is yummy though.
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What temp and time would it be if the chicken was frozen?
Can I cook a 4 1/2-5 lb turkey in a 5 qt. Air Fryer?
Can I do a whole stuffed chicken in my emeril 360 air fryer?