Air Fryer Whole Chicken (2024)

The easiestair fryer whole chickenrecipe flavored with loads of fresh lemon, garlic and herbs will quickly become a dinner-time staple.

We all know by now thatair fryingis a great way to cook food quickly, easily and with no fuss. Anything that can be made in anovencan be made in an air fryer and often with much better results. I loveroast chickenbut it’s not always the best option forweeknight dinnerswhen you need food on the table as fast as possible. Thisair fryer whole chicken recipedeliverstenderchicken withcrispy skinand I guarantee it will become a family-favorite in no time.

IngredientsNeeded

• Whole chicken.I used a 3-lb (1.5kg) whole chicken, giblets removed. Depending on the size of yourair fryer basket, you might want to buy a large or smaller chicken.
• Extra-virginolive oil.Avocado oil can also be used.
• Fresh garlic cloves.
• Lemon juice.
• Fresh herbs.I used parsley,thymeand driedoregano. Other herbs like sage,rosemary,basil, and marjoram are also delicious on chicken. Dried herbs can be substituted. I wanted to keep this recipe simple and onlyflavorthe chicken with lemon and herbs butspiceslikepaprika, cayennepepper,poultry seasoning,garlic powder,onion powderor anyseasoning blendof your choice can be used too.
• Saltand blackpepper.

How to air frya whole chicken

Pat thechicken drywithpaper towelsthen make the seasoning oil by finely mincing the garlic and herbs. Combine in asmall bowlwith fresh lemon juice,olive oil, a few teaspoons ofsaltand a generous pinch ofpepperthen rub over the chicken. I like to loosen the skin over the breasts and drumsticks and rub some of the oil over the meat too. Remember to also season the cavity of the chicken – you could even add half of a lemon and a few sprigs of herbs to theinsidecavity for extraflavor.

Place the chicken in the basket of your air fryer, breast-side down, thenair fryat 350°F/180°C for 30 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 20-30 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden and the meat is cooked. Remove from the air fryer and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving and serving.

Cook’s tip:The drippings left behind will make a delicious pan sauce. Simply add to a frying pan with a few cups of chicken broth/chicken stock and reduce over medium-high heat then season to taste. I also always freeze thechicken carcassinfreezer bagsto make stock with later.

What temperature is chicken cooked?

Chicken is done when theinternal temperaturereaches 165°F/75°C on ameat thermometer. The meat will be white to the bone and all juices will run clear when cut.

Can I make this ahead?

The chicken can be seasoned and kept covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking. Anyleftoverscan be kept in anairtight containerin therefrigeratorfor up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Serving suggestion

This chicken recipe is delicious served with a variety of side dishes and can be even be prepped to use inchicken salad,soups,sandwiches, etc. (similarly to how arotisserie chickenwould be used). We love serving rice or mashedpotatoesand veggies with thisair fryer chickenbut if you want an easyKeto/Paleo/Low carbmeal, serve it with vegetables likegreen beansor a bigsalad.

FAQ

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