The best use of your air fryer is making this air fryer whole chicken. The meat is juicy and the skin is extra crispy and flavorful like a rotisserie style chicken. you are going to love how easy this whole chicken in the air fryer is!.
A whole chicken can be air-fried in no time, making a tasty home-cooked meal. The whole chicken cooks evenly in an air fryer, and the skin gets crispy and the meat stays moist and tender in less time than when roasting in the oven. But it can be hard to know exactly how long to air fry a whole chicken. The cooking time depends on several factors.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about air frying chicken including
- Benefits of Air Frying Chicken
- Factors That Affect Cook Time
- Recommended Internal Temperature
- Detailed Air Fryer Chicken Cook Times
- Tips for Best Results
Benefits of Air Frying Chicken
In the past few years, air fryers have become very popular, and for good reason. Some of the main benefits of air frying chicken include:
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Quick cooking—Heated air circulation in air frying makes food cook much faster than in a regular oven. A whole chicken can be cooked just right in less than an hour.
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Even cooking – The circulating hot air cooks food evenly on all sides, unlike oven roasting which relies on radiant heat. You’ll get crispy skin all over the chicken.
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Moist meat: Because air-frying seals in the juices, the meat stays nice and moist, even the breast meat, which can dry out when cooked any other way.
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Easy cleanup – With air frying there’s no need to use added fats or oils. This means there are less splatters and drips to clean up afterward.
Factors That Affect Cook Time
Several factors impact how long you’ll need to air fry a whole chicken. These include:
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Chicken size – A small 3-4 lb chicken will cook faster than a larger 5-6 lb bird. Go by the recommended cook times for the weight of your specific chicken.
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Air fryer capacity – Consider the capacity of your particular model. Larger air fryers can accommodate bigger chickens. Check that your chicken fits comfortably in the air fryer basket.
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Temperature – Most recipes call for air frying chicken between 360-400°F. Higher heat will cook the chicken faster.
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Altitude – At higher altitudes, you may need to add a few minutes to the cook time since air is less dense.
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Frozen vs thawed – A frozen chicken will take significantly longer to cook through than one that’s fully thawed.
Recommended Internal Temperature
The safest way to ensure any poultry is properly cooked is to use a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature.
According to the USDA, chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F throughout to kill any potential bacteria and make it safe to eat.
When air frying a whole chicken, aim to cook it until the thickest part of the breast and thighs reaches 165°F when checked with an instant-read thermometer. The juices should run clear with no pink showing when you make a cut between the leg and thigh.
For best results, let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before carving to allow the juices to reabsorb into the meat. The temperature will rise about 5-10°F during this time.
Detailed Air Fryer Chicken Cook Times
Here are general time ranges for air frying whole chickens of different sizes:
- 3-4 lb chicken: 45-55 minutes
- 4-5 lb chicken: 55-65 minutes
- 5-6 lb chicken: 60-75 minutes
For a more exact cook time, follow recipe guidelines specific to the model of air fryer you are using. Many recipes recommend air frying the chicken at around 370°F and flipping halfway during cooking.
Here are estimated cook times from several popular air fryer chicken recipes:
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For a 3.5 lb chicken in a 5.8 qt air fryer, cook at 370°F for 50 minutes total, flipping halfway at 25 minutes.
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For a 4 lb chicken in a 5 qt air fryer, cook at 370°F for 55 minutes total, flipping at 30 minutes.
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For a 5 lb chicken in a 5.3 qt air fryer, cook at 360°F for 60 minutes total, flipping halfway at 30 minutes.
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For a 5 lb chicken in a 3 qt air fryer, cook at 370°F for about 70 minutes total, flipping every 15 minutes.
No matter what recipe you follow, always verify the chicken has reached 165°F at the thickest part before removing from the air fryer.
Tips for Best Results
Follow these tips for perfectly cooked air fryer chicken with crispy skin every time:
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Pat the chicken dry before seasoning or coating to help the skin get extra crispy.
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Brush with oil and seasonings to add flavor. Try olive oil, melted butter, or avocado oil.
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Cook breast side down first to prevent the breast meat from drying out.
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Flip halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and cooking.
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Use a meat thermometer to check internal temp rather than relying on cook time alone.
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Let rest before carving so juices can reabsorb for juicy meat.
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Add veggies or potatoes to the air fryer drippings for extra flavor.
The Bottom Line
When air frying a whole chicken, cook times will vary based on the size of the bird and your particular model of air fryer. For a 3-5 lb chicken, expect the total cook time to be 45-75 minutes at around 370°F, flipping halfway. Always cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety. Following recipe guidelines for your air fryer size while also verifying doneness with a meat thermometer will ensure perfect chicken every time.
Air fryer whole chicken recipe ingredients
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this air fryer whole chicken recipe so you can make it perfectly the first time, and every single time. For a printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
5 – 6 pound (2. 3 – 2. 7 kg) chicken, giblets removed – My chicken was right at 5. 5 pounds and fit with extra room in my 8 quart air fryer. I have also used a 6 quart air fryer and the 5 pound chicken fit perfectly.
If your air fryer is smaller, you still have options. If your air fryer has a removable grate, you would possibly be able to fit a larger chicken. Also, organic chickens tend to be smaller. around 4 pounds.
Seasoning blend:
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
How to make a roast chicken in the air fryer
This section explains how to make this whole chicken in the air fryer recipe, step by step. For a full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
There are not many steps to this recipe, but I have some tips that will help your chicken stay moist until it is fully cooked. When making an air fryer rotisserie chicken, I think the meat that is juicy is even more important than skin that is really crispy.
- Use paper towels to dry the whole chicken, and then tuck the wings under.
- In a small bowl, mix the oil and seasoning blend spices together to make a paste. Spread half of the seasoning rub on the breast side of the whole chicken with a basting brush.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket with the breast side down. Grab it by the legs and move it around. Cover the rest of the chicken with the rub using the basting brush.
Tip : Notice I removed the grate from the bottom of my air fryer. This is something I would recommend if your air fryer allows. The chicken will release a lot of juices while it cooks, and the breast meat will basically marinate in these juices while it cooks. This will make the meat very juicy.
- The chicken was cooked at 360F (182C) for 50 minutes with the breast side down. Then I turned it over and cooked it for another 10 minutes. It is important to use an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken, usually the breast, to make sure the internal temperature is 165F (74C). It might take a little longer in the air fryer until the breast is cooked through.
You now need to remove the chicken from the air fryer onto a cutting board or platter and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
I am telling you now, you will not believe how delicious and juicy chicken in the air fryer is. It really is the easiest way to make the perfect roast chicken!
Air Fryer Roast Chicken | How long to cook whole chicken in air fryer
FAQ
How long do you cook chicken in the air fryer for?
Air fry: Preheat the air fryer. Place the chicken on the air fryer basket / grate in an even layer, leaving a bit of space for air to circulate around. Air fry the chicken at 415 degrees for 10 minutes. If you have larger pieces of chicken, you’ll want to go closer to 13 minutes.