Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Name: Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 430 min
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken (3-5 pounds); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

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If you love a quick and easy chicken dinner, this Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe will not disappoint! It’s tender, juicy and flavorful with extra crispy skin and takes just 50 minutes in the air fryer!

It’s no secret that we love our chicken dinners! Whole chickens are perfect for serving at dinner parties, holiday gatherings or for everyday meals. This whole roasted Indian chicken is a favorite to serve friends and family, and this sous vide whole chicken or soy sauce chicken has quickly become a go-to!

Overhead view of a whole cooked chicken with crispy skin.

We also like to cook a full chicken just for the two of us so we can have leftovers for easy lunches and dinners during the week. Like when we make this Dutch oven roasted chicken.

Adding leftover chicken to this spicy chicken ramen is a must try!

And don’t forget to save the chicken bones to make this Instant Pot chicken bone broth!

Check out the air fryer whole chicken story!

Why this recipe works

It’s quick enough for busy weeknights and hands off enough for dinner parties. Not to mention, it frees up your oven to prepare side dishes and dessert!
The chicken turns out unbelievably tender and juicy, and the skin is ultra crispy without using a lot of oil.
Air frying a whole chicken is faster than cooking one in the oven. It also tastes like a rotisserie chicken without the extra effort!
It’s the perfect recipe for meal prepping. Just air fry your chicken on a Sunday and enjoy it in salads, sandwiches and soups during the week!

Side view of a cooked chicken on a wooden board.

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Other air fryer recipes

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

You’ll need 1 whole chicken for this recipe. I usually go with a 3-5 pound chicken depending on how many people we’re serving. Just make sure whatever size bird you buy that it fits in your air fryer. **And don’t forget to remove the giblets before cooking!

Before air frying the chicken, you’ll want to season it with a homemade rub and let it sit overnight in the fridge.

The rub is made with olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and dried thyme.

If you don’t have liquid smoke, try substituting with smoked paprika or chipotle powder, which both have a distinct smoky flavor.

Step by step instructions

Combine all the ingredients (except the chicken) in a bowl to make a wet rub.

Chicken rub ingredients stirred together in a glass bowl.

Rub all over the chicken. Let the chicken sit in the fridge, uncovered, for 6 hours or overnight for best results.

Overhead view of a seasoned whole chicken on a plate.

Place 1 tablespoon of water in the bottom of the air fryer.

Place the chicken on a trivet in the air fryer basket (so you can easily lift it out), breast side down.

Raw whole chicken in an air fryer basket.

Cook at 360F degrees for 30 minutes. Remove and flip the chicken over.

Cook for another 15-20 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165F degrees.

Remove and let rest for 10 minutes, carve and serve.

Expert tips

If your air fryer model requires preheating, you should do so before adding the chicken.
Make sure you buy a chicken that fits your air fryer. I use a 5.5 quart air fryer and it fits a 5 pound chicken. If your air fryer is smaller, you’ll need to buy a smaller chicken and even reduce the air frying time slightly.
Make sure you start by air frying the chicken breast side down. This will keep the chicken moist and help prevent the breast from drying out.
Each air fryer cooks a little differently, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly.
I always use a trivet when cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer as it makes it easier to lift it out of the basket.
Don’t forget to add the water to the bottom of the air fryer as it will help prevent your air fryer from smoking.
Be sure to remove the giblets before cooking, and hold onto the chicken carcass to make this Instant Pot chicken bone broth.

Overhead view of a whole air fried chicken on a wooden board.

Common questions

Do you need to let the chicken sit in the fridge overnight before air frying it?

It’s not absolutely essential, but I recommend doing it to allow the chicken to absorb the flavors of the rub. This will help it get tender and juicy. The salt also draws moisture out of the skin, so the skin gets extra crispy in the air fryer. If you can’t let the chicken sit overnight, try for at least 6 hours.

At what temperature should you air fry a whole chicken?

To ensure the chicken cooks completely without burning, you’ll want to set your air fryer to 360F degrees. If you set it higher, you risk the skin of the chicken browning too much before the chicken is fully cooked and reaches a safe internal temperature.

How long should you cook a whole chicken in the air fryer?

At 360F degrees, a 3-5 pound chicken will take about 45-50 minutes in the air fryer. As air fryers can vary, you should use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken is cooked when the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165F degrees.

What size air fryer can cook a whole chicken?

I use a 5.5 quart air fryer which holds a 5 pound chicken. If you have a smaller air fryer, just make sure you buy a smaller chicken and reduce the cooking time accordingly.

Can you air fry a frozen whole chicken?

I haven’t tested this recipe with a frozen whole chicken. If all you have is frozen, I suggest letting it thaw in the fridge first. This will also make it easier for the rub to stick to the chicken.

Close up view of a whole cooked chicken.

Storage and reheating leftovers

You can store the leftover chicken in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat it in the oven at 400F degrees for 10-15 minutes or place it in the air fryer for a few minutes.

You can also freeze the chicken. Just let it cool, then remove it from the bones and place it in an airtight container or freezer safe bag. It will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Make it a meal

Here are some of our favorite side dishes to pair with chicken:

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it turned out!