• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bake It With Love

  • Grilling
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Grilling
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Main Dish

Last Updated: Jan 23, 2024 by Angela Latimer · 9 Comments

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Jump to Recipe
Tall pin with 2 images of the air fryer whole chicken roasted and served with parsley garnish.

This whole chicken air fryer recipe is a favorite choice for dinner. It's incredibly simple and results in a remarkably succulent chicken every time! Preparing a whole chicken in the air fryer is straightforward and consistently yields perfect results.

Pair this air fryer chicken with your favorite vegetable side, mashed potatoes, or a green side salad for a complete meal.

Air fryer whole chicken plated and ready to carve.
Deliciously tender and juicy whole-roasted chicken is super easy to make in your air fryer!
Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Cook A Whole Chicken In The Air Fryer
  • 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 🥡 Storing & Reheating
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 🍗 More Awesome Chicken Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

Simply season the whole chicken and let it cook in the air fryer for about an hour. You'll consistently get a chicken with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat.

While oven-roasted chicken is a timeless family favorite, using an air fryer streamlines the process and delivers equally delicious results with crispy skin and succulent, fall-off-the-bone meat every time.

Consider cooking an extra chicken to use the meat for leftover chicken recipes such as casseroles, sandwiches, soups, or salads.

🥘 Ingredients

In addition to your air fryer, there are only a few things that you'll need for this delicious air-fried chicken! Aside from the chicken, you might already have everything else at home!

  • Whole Chicken – One 3½-pound whole chicken. Find one that is around 3.5 lbs but still fits into your air fryer basket.
  • Olive Oil – 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil has the best flavor, but you can use your preferred cooking oil.
  • Salt & Pepper – ½ teaspoon of both salt and pepper to taste. These base spices add so much flavor!
  • Garlic Powder – ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. The flavor is a bit more intense than fresh garlic, and rubbing it into the chicken skin infuses the flavor throughout your chicken.
  • Onion Powder - ¼ teaspoon of onion powder. Dried onion flakes can also be substituted.
  • Paprika – ⅛ teaspoon of paprika. This spice is a great visual garnish for the chicken and gives a wonderful peppery flavor.

***You can also try my amazing poultry seasoning; it's perfect for any chicken dish and easy to make up in large batches!

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

🔪 How To Cook A Whole Chicken In The Air Fryer

This air fryer chicken is beyond easy to make! Use pantry-staple spices to coat the whole chicken, then drop it into your air fryer basket, set the timer, and get a perfect roast chicken!

Depending on the size of your chicken, you will have roughly 4 servings of meat, about a quarter of a chicken per person.

4 step by step process photos of seasoning and air frying whole chicken.

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken. Ensure your chicken is fully thawed if previously frozen, which typically takes about 12 hours in the refrigerator. Remove giblets and neck from the body cavity if present, trim any excess fat, and pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

Step 2: Season the Chicken. Generously rub the entire 3½-pound whole chicken with olive oil. Create a seasoning blend with ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper, ¼ teaspoon each of onion and garlic powder, and ⅛ teaspoon of paprika. Massage this mixture onto the chicken, ensuring it's evenly coated.

Step 3: Cooking in the Air Fryer. Place the chicken breast side down in the air-fryer basket. Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes. Starting breast-side down yields a beautifully presented chicken, but starting breast-side up can make the breast meat even more tender and juicy.

Step 4: Flip the Chicken. Carefully remove the basket and flip the chicken over so the breast side is now up. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for an additional 25-30 minutes.

Step 5: Check for Doneness. Use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. Once it reaches 165°F (74°C), it's fully cooked. For bone-in chicken, you might prefer it cooked to 180°F (82°C) for optimal texture.

Step 6: Rest and Serve. After cooking, let the chicken rest in the basket or on a curved cutting board to catch any juices for about 10 minutes. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, making the chicken more moist and flavorful. Then, carve and serve your deliciously air-fried chicken!

While the bird is cooking, make up a batch of my chicken gravy! Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

  • You can also use the extra meat to make a killer chef salad for lunches! Or use the leftover chicken in my chicken spaghetti with rotel or chicken noodle soup!
  • There will be a lot of juices coming from the chicken while it is resting, so I prefer to keep it in the air fryer basket for easier cleanup or use the drippings for my chicken gravy recipe.
  • A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked. Take a look at my guide to internal chicken temperatures to learn more.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

If there are leftovers, store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

If stored properly, the frozen chicken will last up to 6 months but is best used within the first 4 months.

To reheat, the best method is to microwave or return to the air fryer until warm.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ Recipe FAQs

What Size Air Fryer Can Fit A Whole Chicken?

For air frying a whole chicken, you will want to use an air fryer that falls into the 6-10 quart range. Of course, it also depends on how large your chicken is!

Can Whole Chickens Be Cooked In An Air Fryer?

Absolutely! Just ensure you have an air fryer basket that will fit the chicken. This cooking method is effortless and easy and will yield a tender and flavorful chicken every time!

How Long Should You Cook Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer?

At 350°F (175°C), your whole chicken will take about an hour to cook. This includes flipping the bird over halfway through cooking. If your chicken is larger or smaller, you must adjust the time accordingly.

Air fryer whole chicken plated and ready to carve.

🍗 More Awesome Chicken Recipes

  • Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken - Check out this recipe to learn how to make some frozen popcorn chicken in your air fryer!
  • Crockpot Chicken Recipes - This is a collection of all of my favorite slow cooker chicken dishes!
  • Bacon-Wrapped Baked Chicken Drumsticks - Seasoned drumsticks are wrapped in bacon and popped in the oven for an effortless dish!
  • Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings - These crispy and flavorful wings are the perfect appetizer or snack for game day!
  • Instant Pot Shredded Chicken - Use your Instant Pot to make some quick shredded chicken that can be used in any recipe!
  • Doritos Chicken Casserole with Cream Cheese - Crunchy nacho cheese Doritos and a creamy and rich sauce are the stars of this chicken casserole!

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.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📖 Recipe Card

Air fryer whole chicken plated and ready to carve.
Print Recipe Leave A Comment
Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
5 from 14 reviews

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

This whole chicken air fryer recipe is a favorite choice for dinner. It's incredibly simple and results in a remarkably succulent chicken every time! Preparing a whole chicken in the air fryer is straightforward and consistently yields perfect results.
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 442kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 55 minutes minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

Ingredients
 

  • 3 ½ lb whole chicken (thawed, if frozen)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
  • ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon paprika

(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
 

  • Make sure that your chicken is completely thawed if using a frozen chicken. Remove the neck and giblets from the body cavity if they are present. Remove the tail and trim any fat or excess skin if desired. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
  • Rub the entire 3 ½ lb whole chicken with the 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle the chicken with seasoning (¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper)and rub that in as well.
  • Place the chicken into your air fryer basket with the breast facing downward. Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes.
  • Remove the basket and flip the chicken so that the breast is facing upward. Return the basket and chicken to your air fryer and continue cooking for 25-30 minutes. The chicken is done when it has an internal temperature of 165°F (75 °C).
  • Remove the cooked chicken from your air fryer and allow it to rest in the basket, on a serving tray, or on the cutting board for 10 minutes before carving and serving.

Notes

  • You can also use the extra meat to make a killer chef salad for lunches! Or use the leftover chicken in my chicken spaghetti with rotel or chicken noodle soup!
  • There will be a lot of juices coming from the chicken while it is resting, so I prefer to keep it in the air fryer basket for easier cleanup.
  • A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked. Take a look at my guide to internal chicken temperatures to learn more.

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcal (22%) | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 35g (70%) | Fat: 32g (49%) | Saturated Fat: 9g (56%) | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 143mg (48%) | Sodium: 424mg (18%) | Potassium: 365mg (10%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 297IU (6%) | Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) | 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
Cuisine American
« Types Of Winter Squash
Slow Cooker Pork Ribeye Roast »

Share This Recipe!

  • Share
  • X
  • Flipboard
  • Threads
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 14 votes (14 ratings without comment)

    Thanks for coming! Ask anything - or let me know what you think: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Shamma says

    October 28, 2023 at 3:18 am

    The recipe looks amazing! Thanks Angela! Just a little note (completely irrelevant to the recipe), I'm reading the recipe from the Arabic website, and the only issue is that there are many mistranslations in the recipe, making it hard to understand. Just to clarify, this is not your fault, Angela. Arabic is not an easy language, and even machine translators, like google translate, tend to mistranslate many sentences and phrases. I'm not forcing you to fix this issue; you don't really have to. I just wanted to let you know. Other than that, I wanted to thank you for providing us with such an amazing recipe!

    Reply
  2. Donna Snoke says

    December 20, 2022 at 8:36 am

    I assume this recipe is good for a large oven air fryer?

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      December 20, 2022 at 11:59 am

      Not necessarily! If you look at the process photos, I squished this chicken down into my basket air fryer (and that was before upgrading to an XL capacity)! It works wonderfully. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Rodie says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:22 pm

    De hele kip in de airfryer is verrukkelijk! Lekker knapperig velletje. Ziet er ook heel smakelijk uit. Zal het recept zeker vaker gebruiken. Heb de gekruide kip een nacht in laten trekken. Zal de volgende keer wel wat meer van het kruidenmengsel maken om ook de holte van de kip te kruiden.

    "The whole chicken in the airfryer is delicious! Nice crispy skin. Also looks very tasty. Will definitely use the recipe again. Let the seasoned chicken soak overnight. Will make a little more of the spice mixture next time to season the cavity of the chicken as well."

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      September 14, 2022 at 9:26 pm

      Hartelijk dank voor uw vriendelijke woorden! Ik ben het daar natuurlijk mee eens en vind dit een erg lekkere manier om kip te maken. Ik ben erg blij dat je genoten hebt van het recept, bedankt voor het delen van je resultaten!

      "Thank you very much for your kind words! Of course, I agree and think this is a very tasty way to make chicken. I am very happy that you enjoyed the recipe, thank you for sharing your results!"

      Reply
  4. Cor & Thea van Biljouw says

    January 19, 2022 at 9:06 am

    Wij Cor & Thea hebben een AIRFRYER maar we weten niet hoe je een KIP moet braden in de airfryer hoe lang en wat moet je doen dat het goed gaat, in afwachting van uw bericht Hartelijk dank hiervoor Cor & Thea

    We Cor & Thea have an AIRFRYER but we don't know how to fry a CHICKEN in the airfryer how long and what do you have to do to make sure it goes well, waiting for your message Thank you very much Cor & Thea

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      January 19, 2022 at 9:12 am

      Hallo! De kooktijden voor een hele kip staan ​​hier op de receptenkaart. Hoop dat dat helpt! Angela

      Hello! The cooking times for a whole chicken are here in the recipe card. Hope that helps! Angela

      Reply
  5. Clancy says

    December 12, 2021 at 8:19 pm

    After discovering your roasted split-chicken breast recipe, which was is a Keeper, I began reading ALL your recipes. I have a general question regarding this one and your other recipes about using paprika. You use it quite a bit, mostly your chicken recipes. My question is do you use regular/sweet paprika or smoked paprika? Both have different tastes with the smoked giving a smoky taste. I sure would like to know your preference. Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      December 13, 2021 at 6:52 am

      I do love paprika, especially for seasoning meat in general. Not only does it add great flavor, but it can also save your meaty main from looking bland too! For seasoning meat, I would happily use smoked over regular or sweet paprika. When seasoning meats that I intend to smoke, I always opt for regular paprika. (Just about every spice blend that I make homemade + my BBQ sauces also have paprika in them) The preferred use of paprika actually started after using it to add a great caramelized color to pan-seared steaks a long, long time ago now 🙂

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

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!

More About Me ->

Grilling Recipes

  • Tasty, easy cookout food ideas to make and feed a crowd this summer.
    Easy Cookout Food Ideas: Best Dishes To Bring To A Cookout

  • Square image of sliced Arrachera steak on a cutting board.
    Arrachera (Mexican Steak for Tacos)

  • Square image of sliced Denver steak on a cutting board.
    Denver Steak

  • Square image of grilled ostrich steaks.
    Grilled Ostrich Steaks

  • Square image of grilled pineapple.
    Grilled Pineapple

  • Square image of sliced grilled skirt steak.
    Grilled Skirt Steak

See more Grilled →

Tasty Dinner Ideas

  • A square collage of four images showing easy summer crockpot meals including tender London broil pot roast, green beans and potatoes, grape jelly meatballs, and pork carnitas tacos.
    Summer Crockpot Meal Ideas

  • Panda Express honey sesame chicken copycat recipe plated with rice and garnished with more white sesame seeds.
    Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken

  • A square image showing a bowl of tender wok fried marinated chicken with celery, onions, and black pepper sauce.
    Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken

  • Best leftover lobster recipes page image featuring four favorite dishes in a square collage.
    Leftover Lobster Recipes

  • Square collage image featuring 4 tasty recipes using leftover hard boiled eggs.
    Leftover Hard Boiled Eggs Recipes

  • Spider taco ring on baking sheet with taco toppings in the body and sliced olives for eyes.
    Spider Taco Crescent Ring

See more Main Dish →

Footer

As Seen On

As seen on these popular sites: Mashed, Tasting Table, Parade, MSN, Yahoo, Delish, The Pioneer Woman, Today, Taste of Home, and more.

↑ back to top

About

  • Meet The Team
  • Photo Sharing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Me
  • Accessibility Statement

Recipes

  • Dinners
  • Desserts
  • Breakfasts
  • Cookies & Bars
  • Videos
  • Articles

AI-Free

Everything on Bake It With Love is created by me, where I share my experiences, with help from my team members and family.

I promise that BIWL is 100% free of AI content.

Get Social

Visit us on your favorite social media platforms!

Copyright © 2016-2025 Bake It With Love

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.