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Air Fryer Whole Chicken

By: Author nutmegnanny

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This air fryer whole chicken comes out juicy and perfect every time, with tasty butter, lemon, and Italian seasonings. 

Air Fryer Whole Chicken sitting in the air fryer basket.

It seems like everyone these days has an air fryer, and for good reason! They’re super versatile and make cooking a breeze!

This air fryer whole chicken is perfectly cooked, moist, and juicy chicken, smothered with butter, Italian seasonings, garlic powder, and lemon, and comes out perfect every single time.

And the best part is, you don’t have to turn on the oven; the air fryer does all the work for you!

Trust me, whether it’s a busy Monday, or a relaxing Saturday evening, this air fryer whole chicken is the perfect answer when someone asks, “what’s for dinner?” 

Ingredients to make Air Fryer Whole Chicken sitting on a sheet pan.

Ingredients for air fryer whole chicken

  • 4-lb Whole chicken – This is the perfect size bird for a family meal.
  • Butter – The fat of choice here, that will keep the chicken moist and add great flavor.
  • Seasonings – Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and parsley are a perfect combination of flavors to add to the chicken.
  • Lemon – A burst of citrus freshness. 
  • Salt and pepper – Two necessary ingredients to make sure the chicken is well seasoned!
Air Fryer Whole Chicken covered in spices before cooking.

Mix it up!

Italian seasoning and garlic powder are just some of my favorite flavors, but feel free to use your own!

Try using Cajun seasoning instead of Italian, smoked paprika and lime juice, or maybe some cilantro and chipotle seasoning.

You’re only limited by your imagination!

Air Fryer Whole Chicken served with lemon.

Air Fryer FAQ

An air fryer is a tabletop convection oven.
It mimics the outcome of a deep-fat fryer but without oil. Hot hair is moved around via a fan that quickly and crisply cooks the food. The two most common air fryers you’ll see are basket-style (that is what I have) or convection/toaster oven-style. There are pluses to both, but I prefer my basket style.

I prefer the basket-style air fryer as it’s smaller and takes up less room than the toaster oven-style air fryer. My biggest tip regarding air fryers is to pick a style that will work best for your family and the amount of food you will cook. My large basket-style air fryer can cook up to 12 wings, 2-4 servings of french fries, etc., which works well for my household.

The answer to this will depend on your brand. It is ALWAYS best to double-check all brand recommendations by reading your user manual or visiting their website and seeing if they address this question on their site. My air fryer brand is basket style, and the outer and inner baskets are dishwasher safe.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken sitting on a serving platter.

Storage and leftovers

Any leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and kept for up to 3 days. 

To reheat, simply place in a microwave-safe dish covered loosely with a damp paper towel and heat for 3-5 minutes or until heated thoroughly.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken sliced on a plate.

More air fryer recipes

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Author: Brandy O’Neill
This air fryer whole chicken comes out juicy and perfect every time, with tasty butter, lemon, and Italian seasonings.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 pound whole chicken giblets and neck removed
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • 3 tablespoons fresh parsley minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

  • Prepare your chicken, make sure that all giblets are removed, and pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.  
  • In a bowl, combine the softened butter, minced parsley, lemon juice, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika until it forms a paste. 
  • With a brush (or your hands), massage the mixture all over the outside of the chicken, and under the skin.  
  • Place the chicken into the air fryer basket (breast side down to start is best), and turn the air fryer to 370 degrees F for 25 minutes. 
  • Turn the chicken to the other side, and set the air fryer to 370 degrees F for another 25 minutes.  
  • Check the internal temperature of the chicken, and make sure that it has reached at least 165 degrees.
  • Remove the chicken from the air fryer and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.  Carve, and serve!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 626kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 208mg | Sodium: 739mg | Potassium: 461mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 1216IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg
Course Air Fryer
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer chicken, air fryer recipes, crispy air fryer chicken, whole chicken in the air fryer
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment and 5 star review!
Air Fryer Whole Chicken pin for Pinterest.
Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

Recipe Rating




James

Monday 14th of November 2022

Can you air fry a Cornish Henry

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