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Air Fryer Whole Chicken is a super easy way to cook a delicious, juicy chicken that has crispy skin with lots of flavor. I’ll show you step-by-step how to air fry a whole chicken. It’s our favorite whole chicken recipe!

whole chicken on a plate
You can use your favorite herbs and spices in the rub, or use my recipe, included in the recipe. It makes a delicious air fryer chicken!

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Air fryers are more popular than ever. Easy air fryer recipes for simple foods, such as how to air fry a chicken, are what most people seem to want.

Today’s air fryer recipe is for a small, whole chicken. The size of the chicken will be up to you, and what will fit in your model of air fryer.

whole chicken on a cutting board
Letting the chicken rest after removing from the air fryer allows the juices to redistribute, and you will have juicy chicken!

Will Air Fryer Chicken Skin Get Crispy?

Yes, as long as you don’t oversaturate it with oil. Just rub it on once and don’t add any more.

How to Air Fry a Whole Chicken

artfully arranged ingredients, spice mix in a bowl
Gather your ingredients and prepare your chicken by patting it dry with paper towels. Add the spices to a bowl.

spices in oil, pouring mixture on chicken
Add the oil to the spices and mix. Pour spice rub/marinade over the entire chicken.

chicken with spice rub on it, chicken in air fryer basket
Rub the marinade over the entire chicken. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket breast side down.

whole chicken in air fryer basket, taking temperature of chicken
Flip the chicken over after 40 minutes and finish cooking. Take the temperature in thickest part of the breast, and at the thickest part where the drumstick and thigh meet the breast, looking for 165ยฐF.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken in air fryer basket
Let the chicken rest about 5-10 minutes for the juices to redistribute before cutting into it.

If You Want to Air Fry Chicken Breasts

I have the best method for Air Frying Chicken Breasts Here.

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Air Fryer Whole Chicken with slice removed

If you make this tasty air fryer whole chicken recipe, please let me know. Just leave a comment below with a star rating. I’d like to know how it worked for you.

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5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

By Sandy Clifton
Air Fryer Whole Chicken is a juicy, delicious chicken that has a crispy skin and lots of flavor. An easy way to cook a whole chicken.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Preheating/Resting: 10 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 5

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
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Ingredients 

  • 1 3-pound Whole Chicken*
  • 4 Tablespoons Neutral Oil canola, grapeseed, or safflower oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Dried Sage
  • 1 Tablespoon Dried Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 2 teaspoons Table Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions 

  • Begin the recipe by patting the whole chicken dry.
  • In a small mixing bowl mix together oil, dried sage, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, table salt and black pepper.
  • Rub or brush the marinade over the whole chicken, ensuring that every part of the chicken is covered including the inside of the chicken.
  • Preheat the air fryer on 360ยฐ F for 5 minutes.
  • Place the marinated chicken into the Air Fryer on 360ยฐ F for 40 minutes, breast side down. After 40 minutes, turn the whole chicken carefully and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
  • After 50 minutes take the whole chicken out of the air fryer and check that the internal temperature of the meat is 165ยฐ F. Take the temperature in thickest part of the breast, and at the thickest part where the drumstick and thigh meet the breast.
  • Let the chicken rest about 5 minutes before cutting. Serve hot.

Notes

*You can cook a larger chicken if your air fryer can fit it in its basket or shelf, etc. Just make sure there is room for the air to circulate as the hot air is what cooks it.
Cook times will vary with the size of the chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @simply_happy_foodie

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Hi, Iโ€™m Sandy!

My style of cooking is casual, uncomplicated, and everything is made from my heart. I hope my recipes will help you get the meal on the table a little easier

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2 Comments

  1. Charles Tweddell says:

    Sandy, I have enjoyed several recipes, for instapot as well as Air Fryerโ€™s, keep them coming!

  2. Teri says:

    This was the best chicken! It was just as you said, crispy skin and juicy meat. So good!