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Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

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Air fryer whole chicken delivers crispy golden skin and juicy meat in under 75 minutes. The convection heat crisps the skin quickly while keeping the dark meat tender and juicy. This recipe requires minimal prep and works well for meal prep or weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole chicken 3-5 pounds, giblets removed
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil for brushing skin
  • 1.5 teaspoon salt kosher salt recommended
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 whole lemon halved, optional, for cavity
  • 2 sprigs rosemary optional, for cavity
  • 2 sprigs thyme optional, for cavity

Equipment

  • Large capacity air fryer Minimum 5.8 quart capacity
  • Instant-read meat thermometer For checking internal temperature
  • Kitchen twine To truss legs
  • Tongs For flipping the chicken

Method
 

  1. Pat chicken completely dry with paper towels. Remove giblets if present. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes while preheating air fryer to 360°F (180°C).
    1 whole chicken
  2. Mix salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Rub half the seasoning inside the cavity. Brush olive oil evenly over skin, then rub remaining seasoning all over the chicken. Stuff lemon halves and herb sprigs inside the cavity if using.
    2 tbsp olive oil, 1.5 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 whole lemon, 2 sprigs rosemary, 2 sprigs thyme
  3. Truss the legs tightly with kitchen twine to keep the bird compact and cook evenly. Tuck wing tips under the body.
    1 whole chicken
  4. Place chicken breast-side down in air fryer basket with at least 1 inch clearance around it. Air fry for 30 minutes.
    1 whole chicken
  5. Using tongs, carefully flip chicken breast-side up. Continue cooking 15-30 minutes more depending on chicken size until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F (74°C).
    1 whole chicken
  6. Remove chicken from air fryer and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute before carving.
    1 whole chicken

Notes

  • Pat the chicken dry thoroughly before seasoning for crisp skin.
  • Start cooking breast-side down to protect white meat and flip halfway to crisp the top.
  • Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked to 165°F in the thigh.

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