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Ultimate Crispy & Juicy Air Fryer Whole Chicken (Rotisserie Style)

A whole roasted chicken with deeply browned, crispy skin, seasoned with pepper, ready to serve after being cooked as an air fryer whole chicken.
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Cook a whole chicken in your air fryer for a fast, reliable dinner. This method yields incredibly crispy skin and moist meat, similar to rotisserie style, ready in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 whole chicken (about 3.5 to 4 lbs)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

Instructions

  1. Remove the giblets from the chicken cavity. Pat the entire chicken surface, including under the wings and legs, completely dry with paper towels. This step is key for crispy skin.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, thyme, and rosemary to create your seasoning rub.
  3. Rub the olive oil all over the exterior of the chicken. Then, evenly coat the chicken with the seasoning mixture.
  4. Place the seasoned chicken directly into the air fryer basket, breast-side up. If your air fryer is small, you may need to tie the legs together with kitchen twine to help it fit better.
  5. Set your air fryer temperature to 360°F (180°C). Cook for 40 minutes.
  6. After 40 minutes, carefully pull out the basket and check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding the bone.
  7. If the temperature is below 165°F (74°C), increase the temperature to 380°F (195°C) and continue cooking in 5-minute increments until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is deep golden brown and crispy.
  8. Once cooked, carefully remove the whole chicken from the air fryer. Let it rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before carving. This resting period keeps the meat juicy.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, stuff the cavity with half a lemon and a few sprigs of fresh rosemary before cooking.
  • If your air fryer basket is large, you can place a few small potatoes or carrots underneath the chicken to cook them in the drippings.
  • Check your air fryer manual; some models require a slightly shorter cooking time for a 3.5 lb bird. Always rely on the internal temperature reading.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://alchemychef.com/air-fryer-whole-chicken/