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Air Fryer Roast Chicken

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Air Fryer Roast Chicken is an easy and healthy weeknight roast that is ready in an hour (or less).  Get ready for juicy chicken on the inside and the crispiest skin you'll ever try on the outside.  All you need is a few simple ingredients and very minimal prep to get this air fryer whole chicken on the table.  This chicken is Whole30 and Paleo compliant, Keto, Low Carb and Gluten-Free. 

Whole roast chicken sitting in air fryer basket.

One of the things I was most intrigued to try cooking in the air fryer was a whole roast chicken.  For years I've made a classic Roast Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary in the oven and I wondered how the air fryer version could possibly stack up.

I'm happy to report that the air fryer did not disappoint.  The chicken is so juicy and tender, and the skin is the crispiest I've ever tried.  Not only that, it was ready in just under an hour!

I'd call this Air Fryer Roast Chicken your "everyday" chicken recipe.  It's healthy, quick and easy to prep, and you could easily pull it off any night of the week.

Oh and just to top it all off it's Whole30 and Paleo compliant, Keto, Low Carb and Gluten-Free.  Phew, what a powerhouse.  Cooking this whole roast chicken in your air fryer really is a must-try!

Why you'll love this recipe...

  • Quick and easy.
  • Minimal, budget-friendly ingredients.
  • Juicy and tender on the inside, crispy skin on the outside.

New to air frying?  Be sure to get your free printable Air Fryer Cooking Chart filled with cooking times & temperatures for all your favourite foods, plus tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your air fryer.

Whole roast chicken sitting in air fryer basket.
 
 

Ingredients

You really don't need many ingredients to make a juicy and flavourful roast chicken in the air fryer.  Here's what you'll need (full measurements listed in the recipe card below)...

  • Whole Chicken
  • Olive Oil
  • Paprika
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Salt & Pepper

MORE SPICE MIX OPTIONS

The spices above are what I regularly use for my air fryer chicken but don't let that limit you.  Try a mix of your favourite spices, like oregano and rosemary, or even a smoked paprika for deeper flavour.

Whole roast chicken sitting in air fryer basket.

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 180C / 350F.  If you don't have a preheat setting just run the air fryer for 5 minutes.

Mix olive oil, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder together in a bowl.

Place the chicken breast side up on a plate and spread a teaspoon or two of the oil mix all over the chicken either with your hands or a brush.  Season with salt and pepper.  Flip the chicken and repeat on the other side.  You'll want to reserve a little of the oil mix for later, but other than that use it liberally.

chicken sitting on a large plate rubbed in seasoning.

Place the chicken in the air fryer basket breast side down and cook for 30 minutes.

chicken sitting in air fryer basket ready to be roasted.

Using tongs carefully flip the chicken breast side up and pour remaining oil mix over.  Continue cooking for 20 minutes or until cooked through.  Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature is 75C / 165F.

whole chicken sitting in an air fryer basket being grabbed with tongs.

Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and allow to rest on a carving board uncovered for 10 minutes, then carve and serve.

roast chicken on a wooden cutting board.

What to Serve with Your Chicken

Top Tips

  • Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer.  I recommend you check in on your chicken at the 45 minute mark and go from there.
  • Depending on how big your air fryer is you may wish to use a bigger or smaller whole chicken.  Just be sure to adjust your spice and oil mix, and the cooking time.  The great thing about having a meat thermometer is it takes the guesswork out, but the air fryer also allows you to periodically check on the chicken without issues.
  • Feel free to play around with your favourite spice mixes!  Try oregano and rosemary, or even smoked paprika for extra flavour.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Want more great Air Fryer recipes?  Be sure to join our Facebook Group - Air Fryer Fun.

If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Roast Chicken I’d love to hear how you enjoyed it! Pop a comment and a star rating below!

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to keep up to date with more delicious recipes.

📋 RECIPE

Whole roast chicken sitting in air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Roast Chicken

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Air Fryer Roast Chicken is an easy and healthy weeknight roast that is ready in an hour (or less).  Get ready for juicy chicken on the inside and the crispiest skin you'll ever try on the outside.  All you need is a few simple ingredients and very minimal prep to get this air fryer whole chicken on the table. 

Ingredients

  • 1.3kg / 2.8 lbs (approx) Whole Chicken
  • 2 tbsps Olive Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Mix olive oil, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder together in a bowl. 
  2. Place the chicken breast side up on a plate and spread a teaspoon or two of the oil mix all over the chicken either with your hands or a brush.  Season with salt and pepper.  Flip the chicken and repeat on the other side.  You'll want to reserve a little of the oil mix for later, but other than that use it liberally. 
  3. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket breast side down and cook for 30 minutes on 180C / 350F.  Using tongs carefully flip the chicken breast side up and pour remaining oil mix over.  Continue cooking for 20 minutes on 180C / 350F or until cooked through.  Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature is 75C / 165F.
  4. Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and allow to rest of a carving board uncovered for 10 minutes, then carve and serve.

Notes

Tips for making Air Fryer Roast Chicken

  • Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer.  I recommend you check in on your chicken at the 45 minute mark and go from there.  
  • Depending on how big your air fryer is you may wish to use a bigger or smaller whole chicken.  Just be sure to adjust your spice and oil mix, and the cooking time.  The great thing about having a meat thermometer is it takes the guesswork out, but the air fryer also allows you to periodically check on the chicken without issues.  
  • Feel free to play around with your favourite spice mixes!  Try oregano and rosemary, or even smoked paprika for extra flavour. 

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 131Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 42mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 14g
© Cassie Heilbron
Cuisine: Western / Category: Dinner

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Irene says

    Is it okay if the chicken is frozen?

    • Cassie says

      Hi Irene, I would thaw first before cooking with this method. Enjoy!

  2. DEBBIE OWENS says

    THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A ROTISSERIE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GLUTEN FREE SO I WATCH MY HUSBAND EAT THEM AND I UST DROOL. I JUST CHECKED MY CHICKEN AND TURNED IT BREAST SIDE UP AND TOOK IT'S TEMPERATURE AND IT SHOULD BE DONE IN TIME FOR OUR SUPPER. I AM SO EXCITED !!! I USE CAPS BECAUSE I AM SIGHT IMPAIRED

    • Cassie says

      I'm so happy to hear that Debbie! Now that you've made your own and seen how easy it is, you'll never have to miss out again!

  3. Edna says

    I’m going to try this with a small chicken.Sounds delicious.Thanks for sharing.

    • Cassie says

      Thanks Edna - hope you enjoy 🙂

  4. Cathy says

    Made this tonight and it was awesome. Being a newbie to air frying and not reading all the instructions my chicken was about 6 pounds (hard to find a 2 1/2 pound chicken in Texas lol. So it smoked up the house pretty fast so I moved it out side. Chicken was great and the patio smelled awesome 😂

    • Cassie says

      Good idea moving it outside! So glad you enjoyed this one 🙂 bigger chicken just means more to enjoy!

  5. Beth says

    Do you recommend letting the chicken get to room temperature before putting it in the air fryer?

    • Cassie says

      For the air fryer I don't find it's necessary but of course you can if you'd like to 🙂

  6. Yvette says

    Cassie, I can't wait to try this. I buy a rotisserie chicken once a week. Thanks for sharing.

    • Cassie says

      You will love this! A staple in our house for sure.

  7. Amanda says

    Can I use air fry setting on my oven and cook it the same? My chicken is about 7 lbs so how long would you recommend I cook it for?

    • Cassie says

      Hey Amanda, yes you can set your air fryer to oven and cook the same. For a chicken that large you'd need to increase the cooking time - in the oven it would be roughly 2.5 hours but you may find it cooks quicker in the air fryer. Do you have a meat thermometer? Would be best to check in periodically to ensure it's not over- or under-cooked.

  8. Cristina says

    I usually buy a rotisserie chicken every Sunday and use it to make my partner’s weekday lunches and also chicken broth for the dog. The were sold out today so I had to get a raw chicken. So glad I tried this recipe as the chicken turned out perfect and it was quick and easy with minimal raw chicken handling. It was also about half the cost of the store cooked chicken. Really pleased and looking forward to trying more spice combos. Thank you!

    • Cassie says

      Isn't it crazy how easy it is in the air fryer? I'm so glad you enjoyed it and I bet you'll come up with some amazing spice combos!

  9. Russ says

    Would adding stuffing change the cooking time?

    • Cassie says

      No, should be fine to stick to the same cooking time 🙂

  10. Holly Torina says

    Do you leave the thermometer in the fryer while its cooking or do you check the temp at intervals. worried about losing all the juice from the chicken and also worried about an explosion. HA Ha

    • Cassie says

      Hey Holly, great question. I just check the temp when it's looking ready - skin crisp and golden etc 🙂

  11. Kathryn says

    I had a roasting chicken in the fridge but didn’t want to use the oven. I saw this recipe and was excited! Then I saw my chicken was 6.5 pounds! I simply increased the temperature to 400 for 30 minutes. Turned it over for another 30 at 370 or 400, I forget. Added 5 more mins at 350. This chicken was fantastic! The kids wanted seconds! My husband couldn’t believe this was in the air fryer. Hands down recommended!! So juicy and easy!!

    • Cassie says

      So glad to hear it worked out so well Kathryn! I can't think of anything that isn't made better in the air fryer, but whole chicken is definitely one of the best 🙂

    • Yvettr says

      Kathryn, did you use a rotisserie spit in your air fryer or just place it inn a basket/tray? Sounds delicious!

  12. Heather says

    What air fryer do you have? What size is it? I don’t have one yet, but definitely want one big enough for a whole chicken!

    • Cassie says

      Hey Heather, I have a 3.2L / 3.3Q air fryer. Mine is from Kmart Australia and is their smallest model. I buy whole chickens that are on the smaller size (perfect for 2 people) and it fits well. I'd encourage you to get a bigger one if cooking for more than 2 though 🙂

  13. Jen Cruz says

    Is this on the air fryer setting? Or bake?

    • Cassie says

      air fryer 🙂

  14. Cora says

    Thanks for sharing your recipe. I just want to find out if the chicken needs to be defrosted first. Much appreciate your response !

    • Cassie says

      Hey Cora, you can cook meats in the air fryer from frozen but as this is a whole chicken I'd recommend defrosting first 🙂

  15. Linda Smith says

    Thank you so much for sharing this, I'm DEFINATELY gonna try it.

    • Cassie says

      Enjoy Linda!

  16. Kathleen van Aswegen says

    Thank you for the nice recipes! I would appreciate it if i could get some more as I am new at the AF family. Thanking you in advance.

    • Cassie says

      There is definitely more to come Kathleen! Welcome to the AF fam 🙂

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