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Home » Recipes » Main Dish

Last Updated: Aug 13, 2024 by Angela Latimer · 9 Comments

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

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This Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken recipe makes it easy to get that delicious grocery store deli rotisserie chicken flavor at home!

This air fryer rotisserie chicken recipe makes roasting a whole chicken so much easier (and quicker) than using the oven. In under an hour, you'll have a perfectly tender, juicy chicken with crispy skin that rivals any grocery store or deli rotisserie chicken. Plus, cleanup is a breeze!

Rotisserie chicken on a cutting board with fresh rosemary.
Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
  • 🍽️ What To Serve With Rotisserie Chicken
  • 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 🥡 Storing & Reheating
  • 🍗 Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

I'm having fun with my new kitchen staple, so I'm making a fall-apart-tender rotisserie chicken in an air fryer oven. I'm absolutely thrilled with the Instant Pot Vortex Plus and even more thrilled with my absolutely delicious homemade rotisserie chickens.

If you love your air fryer as much as I do, try out these easy air fryer recipes.

🥘 Ingredients

  • Whole Fryer Chicken - A 3-4 pound whole chicken is best. I recommend no more than 4-pound fryers in the air fryer.
  • Olive Oil - 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) or your preferred cooking oil with a high smoke point.

Chicken Seasoning

  • Paprika - 2 tablespoons of paprika (or a paprika substitute).
  • Garlic Powder - 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Onion Powder - 1 teaspoon of onion powder (or an onion powder substitute).
  • Lemon - 1 medium to large lemon, zested and quartered. I have found that you can easily zest up to 2 large lemons to add great flavor to this recipe.
  • Salt & Pepper - Salt and pepper to taste.

Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!

🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

I thoroughly explain every step so that this rotisserie chicken is practically fool-proof (it's not as much work as it looks on paper). You're going to need your air fryer, a sharp knife, a small bowl, measuring utensils, a zester, some kitchen twine, and a meat thermometer.

This recipe works for one small fryer chicken, yielding 4-6 servings.

Prep The Chicken

Step 1: Prep. Empty out the body cavity (remove any gizzards, if inside ), place your 3-4 pound (1.36 kilograms) chicken on a clean cutting board, and pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Trim the tail off, if desired, as well as any excess skin or fatty deposits.

Step 2: Make the seasoning blend. Mix your seasoning, including 2 teaspoons (4.6 grams) of paprika (smoked paprika is best), 1 teaspoon (1.58 grams) of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon (1.46 grams) of onion powder, lemon zest of 1-2 lemons, and salt & pepper to taste, in a small bowl and set aside. Quarter the lemon you used for zest and place it inside the chicken's body cavity.

Step 3: Season. Next, drizzle 2 tablespoons (29.57 milliliters) of olive oil on your fryer chicken and rub it into the skin on all sides of the chicken. Sprinkle seasoning on your chicken, rub it into the skin, and rub the chicken seasoning into the inside of the bird as well.

Step 4: Tie up the chicken. Truss your chicken with kitchen twine so that the wings and legs are bound. Otherwise, they will flop loosely with each rotation of the chicken.

Step 5: Put it on the spit. Push the rotisserie spit (or rod) through the chicken and use the forks included with your Cosori or Vortex Plus air fryer to secure each end of the chicken to the rotisserie rod.

Step 6: Preheat. Line your drip pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, then set your air fryer so it is preheating to 380ºF (195ºC).

Cooking Your Whole Rotisserie Chicken

Step 6: Set the air fryer. Set the air fryer cooking time for 40 minutes and wait for the indicator to 'add food'.

Step 7: Load the spot. After your air fryer is preheated, load the rotisserie spit in by pulling the red lever on the left and latching it onto the left side of the rotisserie first.

Step 8: Secure. Slide the rod along the metal bar on the right until the rod drops into the catch and is securely in place.

Step 9: Cook. Close your air fryer door and cook for 40 minutes.

Step 10: Check the temp. Check your chicken's internal temperature after the 40 minutes, and continue to cook in 5-minute intervals until your chicken has an internal temperature of 165ºF (74ºC) at the thickest points. *This is the USDA Food Safety recommended internal temperature, which should be read using a digital meat thermometer.(See my post on chicken internal temperatures.)

Step 11: Remove from air fryer. To remove your air fryer rotisserie chicken, press the red lever down on the left side and lift the spit out using the y-rod that came from your IP vortex plus or rotisserie air fryer.

Step 12: Rest. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board, plate, or platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

horizontal closeup image of the ready to carve and serve rotisserie chicken.

🍽️ What To Serve With Rotisserie Chicken

This is one of those meals that tastes great with just about anything. Enjoy the succulent chicken meat with roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes and some sauteed green beans.

These fluffy butter herb dinner rolls with a side of chicken gravy are a favorite at my house. Check out this list of tasty sides to serve with chicken for more ideas.

>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

  • A whole fryer chicken larger than 4 pounds is likely too large for the oven cavity in your Instant Pot Vortex Plus or Cosori Air Fryer Toaster Oven. It may burn when rotating as it touches the top of the inner oven.
  • Trussing your chicken helps to keep the whole chicken juicy and moist. Without trussing, the legs and wings will be dried out.
  • There will be options to 'air fry' or 'roast' the chicken. While both will work with a similar cooking time, I like the crispy skin that results from the air fry cooking option.
  • Resting your chicken also ensures tender, flavorful chicken meat, allowing the juices to return to the center of the meat portions.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Once your chicken has cooled, remove the meat and put it in a shallow, airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

Freezing

Remove the meat from the bones and transfer it to an airtight container or Ziploc freezer bag. Squeeze out any excess air and freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw your chicken in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheating

Reheat your leftover chicken meat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-4 minutes or until warmed through. Individual portions can also be reheated in the microwave.

🍗 Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Recipes

You can use your rotisserie chicken in so many recipes. Sub the leftover turkey for chicken in my turkey a la king, turkey curry, or turkey tetrazzini.

Make some chicken noodle soup, creamy chicken wild rice soup, or my tasty Mexican chicken soup.

Shred your chicken for fabulous chicken enchiladas, or cube the chicken for an easy chicken spaghetti with rotel casserole dinner.

❓ Recipe FAQs

Can I Use Any Size of Chicken In My Air Fryer?

No, you cannot use any size chicken. Most whole chickens at the grocery store are over 4 pounds, so you will have to look for a smaller fryer chicken.

What Size Chicken Can I Use In My Vortex Plus?

Your chicken should be no more than 4 pounds for cooking in the Instant Pot Vortex Plus. Anything larger will rub on the interior of the air fryer oven and possibly burn portions of your rotisserie chicken.

This Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken recipe makes it easy to get that delicious grocery store deli rotisserie chicken flavor at home!

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card

This Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken recipe makes it easy to get that delicious grocery store deli rotisserie chicken flavor at home!
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4.98 from 42 reviews

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

This air fryer rotisserie chicken recipe makes roasting a whole chicken so much easier (and quicker) than using the oven. In under an hour, you'll have a perfectly tender, juicy chicken with crispy skin that rivals any grocery store or deli rotisserie chicken. Plus, cleanup is a breeze!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 364kcal
Prep 10 minutes minutes
Cooking 40 minutes minutes
Total Time 50 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • 4 lbs whole fryer chicken (3-4 lb chicken is best - I recommend no more than 4 lbs in the Vortex Plus)
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
  • 1-2 large lemon (zested and quartered)
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • Prepare your 4 lbs whole fryer chicken by ensuring that the inner cavity is clean and giblets are removed. Place chicken on a clean cutting board.
  • Combine seasoning ingredients (2 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, 1-2 large lemon zest) in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Trim the tail from your chicken, if desired, as well as any excess fat. Stuff the 1-2 large lemon quarters into the body cavity, then coat the chicken with 2 tablespoon olive oil and rub the seasoning into the skin.
  • Use kitchen twine to truss the chicken so that the legs and wings do not flap while rotating on the rotisserie function.
  • Push the rotisserie spit through the chicken and secure with the rotisserie forks on each end. Line your drip tray with aluminum foil (for easier cleanup).
  • Set the air fryer to 380°F (193°C) and select either 'air fry' or 'roast'. *I recommend the air fry option for crispier skin. Set the time for 40 minutes.
  • When your air fryer is preheated and indicates to 'add food' load the left side of your rotisserie spit in the vortex plus first, pressing the red lever. Then slide the right side along the metal bar until it drops down into the catch and is securely in place.
  • Close the door and cook for 40 minutes. Check the internal temperature of your chicken using a meat thermometer. If needed, cook for an additional 5 minutes at a time until the safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is reached.
  • Use the Vortex Plus y-rod to remove the chicken, pressing the red lever to release the rotisserie spit. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board or plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • A whole fryer chicken larger than 4 pounds is likely too large for the oven cavity in your Instant Pot Vortex Plus or Cosori Air Fryer Toaster Oven. It may burn when rotating as it touches the top of the inner oven.
  • Trussing your chicken helps to keep the whole chicken juicy and moist. Without trussing, the legs and wings will be dried out.
  • There will be options to 'air fry' or 'roast' the chicken. While both will work with a similar cooking time, I like the crispy skin that results from the air fry cooking option.
  • Resting your chicken also ensures tender, flavorful chicken meat, allowing the juices to return to the center of the meat portions.

Nutrition

Calories: 364kcal (18%) | Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) | Protein: 27g (54%) | Fat: 27g (42%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Cholesterol: 109mg (36%) | Sodium: 103mg (4%) | Potassium: 323mg (9%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 581IU (12%) | Vitamin C: 12mg (15%) | Calcium: 22mg (2%) | Iron: 2mg (11%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Air Fryer, Chicken Dishes, Dinner Recipes, Main Dish
Cuisine American
« Sauteed Zucchini and Yellow Squash
Hunan Shrimp »

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Comments

    4.98 from 42 votes (39 ratings without comment)

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  1. DH Bell says

    May 06, 2023 at 8:39 pm

    5 stars
    Came out excellent! Didn't have any kitchen twine or dental floss so cooked it in the rotisserie basket. Skin didn't come out crispy on air fry and probably so because I used the basket. Next time I'll use the rotisserie spit and double up on the spice mix.
    Thanks again!

    Reply
  2. Brian Tuminski says

    May 04, 2023 at 6:45 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve roasted, smoked, and fried whole and spatchcocked chicken. This was by far the best I’ve ever made. Forgot to grab a lemon, but did S&P, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and rosemary for seasoning. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  3. Charmaine says

    March 08, 2023 at 4:56 pm

    Got my Vortex Air Fryer last week! I have been trying different foods when I only need to cook for myself and have leftovers. I am currently roasting a 4lb chicken! I broiled a steak and it was delicious but air frying french fries was not a good as deep frying. I guess I need to adjust the temperature and time to get desired results.

    Reply
  4. dee says

    February 22, 2021 at 12:12 pm

    4 stars
    Tried this last night, yummy!

    But had a hard time getting the rod adjusted with the prongs. Any suggestions on making this simpler?? My chicken was larger than recommended so that might have been the problem? Also, while I'm asking for help, any ideas on how to avoid a mess?

    Thanks, dee in TN

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      February 23, 2021 at 9:17 am

      Hi Dee! Did you have problems getting the prongs placed into the chicken (after the rod was in place)? I think this has to do with the size of the chicken, as any bird that's too large will be difficult to fit as intended with the prongs, rod, etc.
      Avoiding the mess is super difficult! The best that I have come up with is lining my bottom tray with aluminum foil that has an inch or two folded up along the air fryer sides. Hope that helps! ~ Angela

      Reply
  5. Judith says

    October 22, 2020 at 11:52 am

    Love rotisserie chicken.

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      October 22, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      My family loves this homemade rotisserie chicken! Hope you enjoy it too!

      Reply
  6. Haunani McPherson says

    October 17, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Can I replace the lemon with an orange or pineapple? I dont really like lemon chicken.

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      October 17, 2020 at 6:11 pm

      I would definitely use orange anytime! I love orange with roasted chicken or turkey, enjoy!

      Reply

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Author bio photo with cake.

Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

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