Cooking whole chicken using an air fryer is done with little to no oil, as an air fryer uses alternate methods to cook the whole chicken in less than one hour. All you need to do is follow the step-by-step directions in preparing and seasoning your chicken, then place your whole chicken breast side down into the air fryer to begin the cooking process.
Depending on the size of your chicken, the cooking time may vary. A larger chicken will take longer to cook evenly but should be at most 2 hours, no matter how big the chicken is. Flip sides after about 20 minutes before leaving to air fry the rest of the time.
Air Fryers are a modern way of cooking without the need or the use of a lot of butter or oil. It uses heat convection to cook and fry, utilizing the little oil provided, unlike oven cooking and deep frying.
Cooking Directions:
The first step in cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer is preparing the chicken to be air fried.
The next step is seasoning the chicken. Sometimes it’s not always enough to season with salt and pepper, especially if it’s a full chicken, the probability of your chicken being bland in taste is definite.
Here’s a list of seasonings and spices that may help improve the taste and quality of your chicken
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Celery,
- Butter (optional)
- Cooking spray
- Italian seasoning (optional)
- Olive or canola oil
Instructions:
- Start by preparing the chicken. Remove the giblets and neck from the inside of the chicken if it hasn’t already been done. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to ensure the skin is dry, which will help it crisp up in the air fryer.
- In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. This mixture will be used as a rub for the chicken. Rub the mixture all over the chicken, covering it completely.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Preheating the air fryer is important to cook the chicken evenly and properly.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, breast side up. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to slightly bend the chicken legs to fit it in the basket. Cook the chicken for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, flip the chicken over so the breast side faces down. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (75°C). Check the temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked, please remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the chicken, making it even more tender and juicy.
How to Properly Season Whole Chicken
Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel after properly washing it. And Mix your preferred seasonings into a bowl with olive oil or melted butter.
Rub the mixture all over the chicken using a brush or your fingers.
Another way is to first rub olive oil on the surface of the chicken before sprinkling and massaging your seasonings on it.
What is the right temperature to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer?
The appropriate temperature to cook your whole chicken in an air fryer is 350 degrees Fahrenheit with the breast side down.
Ensure you preheat your air fryer for at least 10 minutes before placing your chicken into the basket.
Make sure you spray the basket with cooking oil or use a non-stick cooking spray. This prevents the chicken from sticking to the basket.
How Long does cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer take?
Cooking whole chicken using your air fryer should take approximately one hour, and this time should be enough to arrive at an outer crisp and a moist inner chicken in an air fryer.
Depending on the size of your chicken, the cooking time may vary. A larger chicken will take longer to cook evenly but should be at most 2 hours, no matter how big the chicken is.
You should start air frying your chicken breast side down for about twenty-five minutes before opening the air fryer and flipping over to the other side; this keeps the chicken from drying out quickly.
After flipping the chicken, close the air fryer and air fry for another thirty-five minutes, and then open it to check if it’s done. You should notice a golden brown coloration at this point, although this does not indicate that your chicken is well-cooked.
When cooked for the right amount of time, your chicken should be soft, tender, crisp, juicy, and healthier due to the lack of oil. More importantly, it should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit at least.
| POSITION | DURATION |
| Breast side down (initially) | 25 Minutes |
| Breast side up (After flipping) | 35 Minutes |
How to know if my chicken is done in an air-fryer?
Using a meat thermometer, check the temperature of the chicken using the breast, as it’s the thickest part of the chicken.
A well-cooked chicken breast should have an internal temperature of one hundred and sixty-five (165) degrees Fahrenheit.
Do not go deep enough to touch the bone when checking for temperature, which could alter the readings.
Allow your chicken to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
This could be served with vegetables and potatoes equally cooked in the air fryer.
Considerations
● Olive oil helps hold the spices together and prevents them from burning quickly.
● You could also decide to stuff the chicken cavity with herbs and spices, but remember that this tends to increase the cooking time.
● Often, your chicken may come out cooked but dry; basting is an effective way to counter this.
(Basting is pouring juices, fat, or sauce over your meat while cooking. This enables the meat to retain moisture, leaving your chicken moist and juicy.
I recommend using a brush, turkey baster spoon, or ladle to occasionally baste your chicken in the air fryer to lock in the moisture.)
You could baste with only oil, sauce, or seasoning paste.
● You could also truss your chicken before sticking it into the air fryer or cook it without tying the limbs.
● If your air fryer is not large enough to contain your chicken, butterflying it may be a great idea. You could carry this out yourself or have your local butcher do it?
● There are different models of air fryers. Regardless of the one you have, it would still cook just fine. You have to understand the working principles taking note of the timing and temperature.
● Using an air fryer lowers the calories in meals and is a healthy alternative; it reduces cooking time.
● To cook a whole chicken in an air fryer is simple and less time-consuming. It is a very easy way of preparing a crisp and moist chicken in no time.
● Ensure adequate space in the basket containing the whole chicken before putting it in the air fryer.
Cooking a Whole Chicken in an Air Fryer Recipe
Ingredients
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Celery
- Butter (optional)
- Cooking spray
- Italian seasoning (optional)
- Olive or canola oil
Instructions
- Start by preparing the chicken. Remove the giblets and neck from the inside of the chicken if it hasn’t already been done. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to ensure the skin is dry, which will help it crisp up in the air fryer.
- In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. This mixture will be used as a rub for the chicken. Rub the mixture all over the chicken, covering it completely.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Preheating the air fryer is important to cook the chicken evenly and properly.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, breast side up. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to slightly bend the chicken legs to fit it in the basket. Cook the chicken for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, flip the chicken over so the breast side faces down. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (75°C). Check the temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked, please remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the chicken, making it even more tender and juicy.
Video
Notes
- You can add any other seasonings or spices that you like to the rub. For example, you could add some thyme or rosemary for an even more flavorful chicken.
- If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you can still cook a whole chicken by spatchcocking it. To spatchcock a chicken, remove the backbone and flatten it out before cooking.
- Make sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it’s fully cooked. Eating undercooked chicken can lead to food poisoning and other health problems.
Conclusion
Air fryers are fast, healthier, and a reliable way of cooking. They’re used to prepare various foods, including meat, potatoes, and vegetables. The amazing thing about this is that it takes little to no oil to cook and is quick and effective.
Using an air fryer to prepare a whole chicken is one of the fastest ways to cook a chicken, as other cooking methods require a longer cooking time. It is a sure way of getting your chicken crispy and full of moisture and is highly recommended.
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