Cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious meal. Air fryers use super heated air and a convection fan to circulate the hot air and cook food. This allows food to cook fast without drying out. When using an air fryer to cook a whole chicken, there are some key things to consider to ensure it turns out juicy, tender and cooked through.
What size chicken for an air fryer?
Air fryers come in different sizes and capacities. To cook a whole chicken in an air fryer, you want to choose a size appropriate chicken that will fit comfortably in your particular model. Here are some general size guidelines:
- For a 3-4 quart air fryer, choose a chicken around 3 lbs
- For a 5-6 quart air fryer, a 3.5-4 lb chicken should fit well
- Larger air fryer models around 8 quarts can accommodate a 4-5 lb chicken
It’s important not to overstuff your air fryer basket. You want sufficient room for the hot air to properly circulate and cook the chicken. Check the dimensions of your air fryer basket and opt for a chicken on the smaller side if it’s a tight fit.
How long to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer?
Cooking times can vary based on the size and weight of your chicken, but in general you can expect air frying a whole chicken to take 60-90 minutes. Here are some approximate air fryer chicken cooking times:
| Chicken Weight | Cooking Time |
|---|---|
| 3 lbs | 60-70 minutes |
| 4 lbs | 75-85 minutes |
| 5 lbs | 85-95 minutes |
To ensure even cooking and the best results:
- Set the air fryer temperature between 360-380°F
- Flip the chicken halfway through cooking
- Brush or spray chicken with oil before cooking for crispy, browned skin
- Let the chicken rest 5-10 minutes before carving
Tips for the best air fryer whole chicken
Follow these tips and tricks for cooking juicy, flavorful chicken in your air fryer:
Season well
For great flavor, generously season the outside and inside of the chicken with salt, pepper and any additional herbs or spices you enjoy. Some options include paprika, garlic powder, oregano, thyme or rosemary.
Use a rack
Cooking your chicken elevated on a rack allows the air to better circulate under and around the chicken for even, crisp browning.
Maximize crispy skin
For ultra crispy skin, rub the skin with a light coating of oil before seasoning. Coatings like olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil work well.
Maintain moisture
Spray or baste the chicken with broth, oil or juice a few times during cooking to keep the meat juicy and tender.
Cook stuffing separately
Cooking raw stuffing inside the chicken can lead to undercooked poultry. Prepare stuffing in a casserole dish for the best texture and safety.
Let it rest
Letting the chicken rest 5-10 minutes before carving allows the juices to redistribute for moist, flavorful meat.
How to tell when chicken is done in an air fryer
Here are some ways to check your air fried chicken for doneness:
- Use a meat thermometer – chicken is safely cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Look for clear juices – prick chicken at thickest part and check juices run clear.
- Cut into thickest part – meat should not be pink and juices should not be red.
- Pierce with a fork – meat should feel firm and fork should slide out cleanly.
- Check drumsticks – meat should pull away from the bone easily.
The skin will be crispy and golden brown when fully cooked. If concerned, use a thermometer for guaranteed safety and doneness.
Troubleshooting air fryer chicken
Chicken is undercooked
If your chicken is undercooked, the easiest fix is to put it back in the air fryer for additional time, checking frequently for doneness. Be sure to use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature reaches 165°F. You may need 10-15 extra minutes to fully cook through.
Chicken is overcooked
An overcooked chicken can be dry or rubbery. This usually happens from cooking at too high of heat or for too long. Unfortunately an overcooked bird can’t be reversed. For next time, use a lower air fryer temp (360°F vs 390°F) and cook just until 165°F.
Chicken skin is not crispy
For crispy air fryer chicken skin, be sure to thoroughly pat the chicken dry before cooking. Rubbing oil over the skin can also help promote crisping. Midway through cooking, you can brush oil over the skin again if needed. Cook at a higher temp like 380°F vs. 350°F for optimal crispness.
Chicken is unevenly cooked
Flipping the chicken halfway during cooking encourages even exposure to the circulating hot air. Cooking at a lower temp but for a little longer time can also allow the heat to better penetrate. A thinner chicken breast vs whole bird will cook more evenly as well.
Recipes for air fryer chicken
The air fryer is great for cooking a simple seasoned whole chicken. But it also shines for cooking chicken wings, drumsticks, thighs and more. Here are some tasty air fryer chicken recipes to try:
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Crisp seasoned chicken wings are an easy crowd pleaser! Coat with oil and your favorite spices. Cook at 380°F for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway.
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks come out juicy on the inside with crispy skin outside when air fried. Coat 4-6 drumsticks with oil, salt and pepper. Fry at 360°F for 22-28 minutes.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Boneless skinless thighs are a quick cooking cut great for weeknight meals. Brush 4 thighs with oil and seasoning. Fry at 380°F for 14-18 minutes until 165°F.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Cook juicy, tender chicken breasts without oil! Season to taste and cook 4 6-oz breasts at 370°F for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Crisp breaded chicken topped with tomato sauce and cheese! Bread chicken breast, spray with oil, and cook at 360°F for 15 minutes until 165°F. Top with sauce and cheese, then cook 3 more minutes.
Converting oven recipes to air fryer
Many traditional oven-baked chicken recipes can easily be adapted for the air fryer with slightly adjusted cook times. When converting conventional oven recipes to air fryer recipes, keep these adjustments in mind:
- Reduce temperature by 25-50°F
- Cook time may reduce by 25-30%
- Use smaller pans that fit in air fryer basket
- Brush or spray items with oil for browning vs baking dish
- Flip or toss items midway through cooking
So if an oven recipe calls for baking chicken at 400°F for 1 hour, try cooking in the air fryer at 350°F for 40-45 minutes instead, tossing halfway.
Cleaning your air fryer after cooking chicken
It’s important to properly clean your air fryer after cooking meats like chicken. Here are some tips for cleaning and sanitizing your air fryer:
- Unplug and allow oil and grease to cool before wiping out.
- Remove basket and wash with hot soapy water.
- Clean inside fryer drawer with non-abrasive sponge or cloth.
- Use baking soda and water paste to remove stuck-on grease.
- Sanitize by wiping down with disinfectant spray or vinegar solution.
- Avoid submerging fryer base in water.
- Dry all parts fully before reassembling.
Deep clean every 1-2 months by running empty air fryer on high heat for 5-10 minutes to burn off residue. A clean fryer prevents odors and smoke from transferring to future meals.
Storage tips for cooked air fryer chicken
Leftover properly cooked chicken stored correctly stays fresh for several days. Follow these storage tips:
- Let cooked chicken cool completely before storing.
- Store in airtight shallow containers for quick cooling.
- Refrigerate within 2 hours; freeze for longer storage.
- Use fridge leftovers within 3-4 days.
- Frozen chicken keeps 6 months in freezer; thaw in fridge before use.
- Reheat fully to 165°F until hot and steaming.
- Avoid room temperature storage over 1-2 hours.
With proper home storage, you can safely enjoy delicious air fried chicken again and again.
Conclusion
Cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer yields tender, juicy meat with crispy browned skin in just an hour or so. Choose an appropriate sized small chicken for your model and cook at 360-380°F, flipping halfway, until the internal temperature reads 165°F. Season the chicken well and brush with oil for best results. Allow to rest before serving the flavorful chicken straight from the air fryer. Follow proper cleaning procedures after to keep your fryer in top condition. Store leftovers properly to enjoy again soon.