My crispy air fryer whole chicken is the perfect weeknight dinner for a busy family! Rub this bird down with your favorite spice blend, avocado oil, and pop it in your air fryer. Yum! If you are tired of overcooked dry-tasting chicken, this recipe is for you.
Over this past year, I have been testing whole roasted chickens in the oven. Something that should be so easy to make is difficult to master.
Friends, if you do not have an air fryer yet, then pick one up! This recipe is so EASY to make and tastes just like a rotisserie chicken.
The chicken turns out so juicy and moist it is like magic! Roasting a bird in the oven is so easy to overcook. I promise this recipe will turn out perfect every time. Keep reading for my tips and tricks to make this recipe even better.
This recipe was inspired by low carb with Jennifer and pairs well with my cranberry-parsnip gratin.
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Why this crispy air fryer whole chicken is so good
- Tender and juicy. It can be a challenge not to overcook the chicken breast when roasting the whole bird. Air fryers cook the perfect rotisserie chicken every time.
- Only 3 ingredients. The recipe consists of paleo powder, avocado oil, and a whole chicken. Cooking a whole chicken is more about technique than adding a bunch of flavors.
- Crispy skin. The air fryer produces evenly brown and crispy skin every time, it's AWESOME!
Ingredients
- paleo powder pink - blend of spices consisting of Himalayan pink salt, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, white pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper.
- avocado oil - a neatural oil that can withstand high temperatures.
- whole chicken - a 4-5 pound bird will fit the best in your air fryer
How to make this recipe
Crispy air fryer whole chicken is so easy to make, here's how to make it:
- Remove chicken from the packaging and remove the neck and bag of giblets. Rinse chicken under cold running water. Place onto a baking tray and dry with paper towels. Tip - For extra crispy skin, place chicken into the refrigerator uncovered for 24 hours to dry out the skin.
- In a small bowl, mix paleo powder and avocado oil. Make sure there are no clumps of seasoning remaining.
- Using a spoon, brush, or hand, rub the mixture over the whole chicken. Make sure to rub the seasoning on the inside of the bird too.
- Place whole chicken breast side down into air fryer basket. It may be a tight fit depending on the size of your air fryer and chicken. I recommend a 4-5 pound chicken for the best fit. Set air fryer to 350 degrees and cook for 30 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over with the breast is facing up. I like to use large spoons to prevent the skin from tearing. Cook for another 20 minutes.
- When the timer ends, place chicken on a cutting board. Let rest for 20 minutes.
Substitutions
Chicken Breast - If you don't want to roast a whole chicken, you can still use your air fryer for chicken breast. A 6 oz chicken breast will take 8-10 minutes to cook.
Seasonings - Any poultry spice blend will work for this recipe. I like paleo powder because they are a sugar-free spice blend. A combination of salt and pepper is all you need for a deliciously seasoned chicken.
Cooking fats - Ghee, tallow, avocado oil are all great swaps. My only advice here is not to use extra virgin olive oil. The flavor is too strong, and the oil will burn.
AIP - Paleo powder sells an AIP spice blend.
How to store and reheat a whole chicken
How to Store: The best way to keep cooked whole chickens is to place them in a shallow airtight container or tightly wrap them with plastic wrap. Place in a refrigerator for 3-4 days.
How to Freeze: Wrap the whole chicken multiple times with plastic wrap and place it into a 1-gallon freezer bag. The chicken will last 5-6 months in the freezer.
How to Reheat: Turn your air fryer on to 350 degrees and plop your chicken right into the basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until hot. You can place chicken in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes as well.
Pro Tips
- Dry out your chicken. Rinse under cold water, completely drying the chicken inside and out. For extra crispy skin place uncovered chicken on a plate and refrigerate for 24 hours.
- Make a seasoning paste. I like to mix the avocado oil with the spices make a rub that will coat the chicken. I have found when you are sprinkling the seasoning from above, the coverage is inconsistent.
- Let the chicken rest. One of the biggest mistakes is slicing into the chicken right after it cooks. The chicken needs to relax and distribute all of its juices throughout the whole bird. This is the difference between a dry and juicy whole chicken.
- Temp your chicken. Chicken is only safe to eat at 165 degrees and above. Place your thermometer probe in the thickest parts of the chicken breast.
- This recipe is so versatile. Use chicken in salads, soups, enchiladas, tacos, etc.
- Sanitize. When working with raw chicken, you must clean and sanitize everything it comes in contact with. Cutting boards, knives, hands, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
An air fryer within the 6 to 10-quart range will be large enough to fit a whole chicken. I like to choose a chicken around 4-5 pounds for the perfect fit.
This all depends on the size of your chicken. A 4-5 pound chicken will take 50 minutes to cook.
Yes! Aluminum foil should only go into the air fryer basket. Do not use aluminum foil when cooking anything acidic or tomato-based. The acidity reacts with the foil and can eat away at the foil. Parchment paper is a better choice.
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📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken 4-5 pounds
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 3 tablespoons paleo powder pink
Instructions
- Remove the whole chicken from the packaging, discarding the neck and bag of chicken giblets. Run under cold water to wash away chicken juice. Dry chicken with paper towels inside and out.
- In a small bowl mix together 2 tablespoons of avocado oil and 3 tablespoons of paleo pink powder. Whisk until there are no clumps and the mixture looks like a paste.
- Rub the mixture over the inside and outside of the chicken. You can use a brush, spoon, or your hands.
- Lay the chicken breast-side down into the air fryer basket. Set to 350 degrees and cook for 30 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over carefully with 2 spoons and cook breast-side up for another 20 minutes.
- Let chicken rest for 20 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!
mikecleavenger
If you are looking for an easy and delicious roasted chicken this is the recipe for you! The paleo powder is the perfect blend of spices. The chicken is tender and juicy throughout.