You’re going to love how easy this family-sized air fryer roast chicken is! It is covered in a dry spice rub and then air fried to crispy, golden perfection. The meat is juicy and tender with perfect, extra crispy skin – every time! All you need is a few simple ingredients for this healthy, easy weeknight roast that the whole family will enjoy.
Ever since my family bought me an air fryer for Mothers’ Day, I’ve been totally hooked on air-frying anything I can get my hands on! And it’s not hard to see why I’m addicted. Air fryers cook foods with less oil, in no time at all, leaving them deliciously crispy and golden and meat incredibly tender. They are also a fantastic time saver – and using the air fryer tray means significantly less dishes and minimal clean up!
This air fryer whole chicken comes out so succulent and tender, with the crispiest skin you’ll try! It takes about an hour and 20 minutes total cooking time, but after a little quick prep, you can set and forget and let the air fryer work its magic while you work on other things!
While it tastes amazing with traditional roasted vegetables, it can also be served with your favourite salads, like this pumpkin, rocket and goats cheese salad. Because it is so easy, I will sometimes also chop it up for soups, wraps, tacos, sandwiches or even leftover salad.
This will be your new, go-to chicken recipe because it is so easy and SO delicious!
Why you’ll love this recipe
Quick and so easy – five minutes of prep is all that you’ll need – the air fryer will take care of the rest!
Healthy – roasting a whole chicken in an air fryer uses less oil. This recipe is also paleo, low-carb, keto and gluten free.
Juicy and tender – you won’t believe how succulent and full of flavour this chicken is!
What you’ll need
* This post contains tips and instructions to achieve the best possible results. For full ingredient quantities and methods, see the detailed recipe card below.
Ingredient notes;
Whole chicken – For my family of six, I look for a whole chicken that is around 2.8 kg (6.2 lb) to get about 6-8 serves. This size is perfect for feeding a hungry crowd or for utilising the leftovers in another dish. Just make sure that the chicken is small enough to fit in the air fryer! You can also use a smaller chicken, but be mindful that the cooking times will vary. Buy a whole chicken from your supermarket or butcher and make sure the cavity is empty before adding the lemon.
Olive oil – The olive oil helps the skin become crispy and gives it a golden colour.
Seasoning – For air fryer bbq chicken, I chose paprika, salt and pepper for the dry spice rub for a slightly smoky flavour, with some fresh thyme and lemon. But you can also add a mix of spices like oregano, garlic powder, rosemary or your favourite roast meat spice rubs.
Lemon – A fresh lemon placed inside the chicken cavity before roasting will add incredible flavour, as well as helping to keep the chicken beautifully moist and tender.
Step by step instructions
This recipe is super easy to make. And I have a few little tips that will make sure the chicken doesn’t dry out while cooking.
I start with a 2.8kg (approx. 6.2 lb), whole chicken and have an air fryer with an 8 litre capacity. You can use a smaller chicken, but note that the cooking time will be reduced. A rough guide is to cook at 180 C for 12-15 minutes per 500 grams (air fryers will cook the chicken faster than an oven. Ovens will take about 25 minutes per 500grams), until the internal temperature reaches 75 C/167 F.
First, rub the olive oil all over the chicken. Then, season generously with the spice mix and use your hands to rub it all over the skin. Make sure to cover it well, so that the flavour gets into every part of the chicken!
Poke some holes in the whole lemon and insert it into the empty chicken cavity, along with some fresh thyme.
Now it’s time to put the chicken into the air fryer basket, breast side down. Placing the chicken in this way for the first hour ensures that everything stays moist and cooks evenly.
Cook the whole chicken for approximately 60 minutes and then carefully flip the chicken so that the breasts are facing up and continue cooking for around 20 minutes, or until completely cooked through. Use a thermometer to test the roasted chicken (75 C/167 F) at the thickest part of the bird. Another way to test that the chicken is cooked through, is when the meat is falling off the bones without any resistance. You don’t want to overcook it, or it won’t be as juicy and tender.
It does take some trial and error to find the exact cooking time specific to the size of the chicken and the air fryer that you are using, as different models and sizes can differ slightly. Take note the first time you make it and use that as a guide next time – because you will want to make this again, and again!
Let the chicken rest on a board or plate for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
The chicken, once it has been flipped to ‘breast side up’
Handy tips
- The cooking times below are suited to a large chicken that is around 2.7-2.8kg (6.2lb) and I use an air fryer with an 8 litre capacity. Make sure your air fryer can accommodate the size of the chicken. If you have a smaller chicken, follow the recipe the same, but reduce the cooking time. Air fryers cook faster than ovens, so for air fryer whole chicken, allow around 12-15 minutes per 500 grams of chicken. Once cooked, the internal temperature in the thickest part of the chicken should be 75 C/167 F. Once you perfect the cooking times, write them down for next time! (Trust me, you’ll want to make this again!). I recommend checking the chicken as it goes, starting around the 45 minute mark. A meat thermometer takes the guessing out.
- The juice left in the bottom of the air fryer basket can be used to make a delicious gravy!
- Feel free to swap the spice rub for your favourite spices. Try garlic powder, dried thyme, your favourite herbs or mixed spice rubs for roast meat.
Related recipes
Love your air fryer? Get inspired by these easy recipes!
- Air fryer pizza rolls
- Crispy sweet and sour pork
- Air fryer banana fritters by Kidgredients
- Air fryer crispy chicken wings by Cook it Real Good
- Baked apples by Cook it Real Good
- Air fryer broccoli (two ways) by Cook it Real Good
- How to make frozen paratha by Mirchi Tales
- Honey lemon and sea salt asparagus by Wholefood Bellies
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to leave a comment or review below, or send me a message. For more food inspiration, tips and to share your own recipes and creations, head over to my Facebook Recipe Group.
Air Fryer Roast Chicken
Ingredients
- 2.8 kg whole chicken
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2-3 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp salt
- pepper
- 1 lemon
- 1 bunch fresh thyme
Instructions
- Pre-heat the air fryer to 180°C/356 F.
- Pat the chicken dry with some paper towel. Then, rub the olive oil over the skin, along with the paprika, salt and pepper. Rub the spices over the entire chicken.
- Prick the lemon with a fork and place it into the empty chicken cavity, along with the thyme.
- Place the chicken into the air fryer tray, breast side down. Cook for around 60 minutes, before carefully turning the chicken so that the breast side is facing up.
- Continue cooking for a further 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is completely cooked through (when a meat thermometer reaches 75 °C (167 F) at the thickest part of the chicken. Cooking times will vary slightly depending on the size of the chicken and brand/size of air fryer. See notes below.
- Once cooked, place the chicken onto a board or plate to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Whole chicken – For my family of six, I look for a whole chicken that is around 2.8 kg (6.2 lb) to get about 6 serves. This size is perfect for feeding a hungry crowd or for utilising the leftovers in another dish. Just make sure that the chicken is small enough to fit in the air fryer! You can also use a smaller chicken, but be mindful that the cooking times will vary. Buy a whole chicken from your supermarket or butcher and make sure the cavity is empty before adding the lemon.
- Seasoning – For air fryer bbq chicken, I chose paprika, salt and pepper for the dry spice rub for a slightly smoky flavour, with some fresh thyme and lemon. But you can also add a mix of spices like oregano, garlic powder, rosemary or your favourite roast meat spice rubs.
- The cooking times below are suited to a large chicken that is around 2.7-2.8kg (6.2lb) and an air fryer with an 8 litre capacity. Make sure your air fryer can accommodate the size of the chicken. If you have a smaller chicken, follow the recipe instructions above, but reduce the cooking time. Air fryers cook faster than ovens, so for air fryer whole chicken, allow around 12-15 minutes per 500 grams of chicken. Once cooked, the internal temperature in the thickest part of the chicken should be 75 C/167 F. Once you perfect the cooking times, write them down for next time! (Trust me, you’ll want to make this again!). I recommend checking the chicken as it goes, starting around the 45 minute mark. A meat thermometer takes the guessing out, but if you don’t have one, cook until the meat is falling off the bone with minimal effort.
- The juice left in the bottom of the air fryer basket can be used to make a delicious gravy!
- Feel free to swap the spice rub for your favourite spices. Try garlic powder, dried thyme, your favourite herbs or mixed spice rubs for roast meat.
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