Thanks to the amazing air fryer, making rotisserie chicken has never been easier. This Air Fryer Whole Chicken Rotisserie Style is coated in a flavorful dry rub, then roasted in the air fryer. As the skin renders, it becomes crispy while the meat stays moist and delicious!
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Check out my Air Fryer Carnitas and my Air Fryer Sesame Chicken for more delicious air fryer recipes!
Can you put a whole chicken in the air fryer? You sure can, and these step-by-step instructions will teach you how to cook a perfectly crisp and juicy whole chicken in your air fryer that tastes exactly like a rotisserie chicken!
Here's how it works; a rotisserie chicken slowly rotates as it cooks next to the heat source, rather than directly on top of the heat. This technique crisps the skin creating a delicious caramelized crust on the surface while cooking the meat evenly and locking in all the moisture and juices.
Cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer essentially works the same way. The chicken is placed below the heat source, and the hot air continuously rotates around all sides creating gorgeous golden skin and perfectly cooked, fall-off-the-bone meat.
The best part? You don't need any heavy oils or butter! Instead, the chicken is coated with a homemade dry rub made with seasonings that you probably already have in your spice cabinet!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's easy to make and perfect for weeknights. Clean-up is a cinch!
- Air frying a whole chicken makes crispy skin and juicy meat like a rotisserie chicken.
- The delicious chicken dry rub is flexible and easy to modify to your tastes.
- You can shred the meat and repurpose it for other meals throughout the week. Shredded rotisserie chicken is great for a quick pasta dinner with my low calorie Alfredo sauce!
Ingredients You'll Need
Whole Chicken: Be sure to choose a chicken that will fit your air fryer. If your air fryer has a 4-6 quart capacity, you should have plenty of room for a 5-pound chicken. If your air fryer's capacity is less than 4 quarts, I recommend buying a small 3 to 4-pound whole chicken.
Chicken Dry Rub: This mixture of spices incorporates a dynamic blend of smoky, savory, and spicy flavors. You will need:
- Salt: Salt is at the core of any good chicken dry rub. It enhances flavor but also pulls moisture to the surface of the meat, which encourages even browning.
- Dry Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, white pepper, and thyme bring smoky and savory flavor, and a pinch of cayenne brings the heat.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep whole chicken. Remove the chicken from the packaging. If it came with the giblets intact, be sure to remove them. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
Step 2: Make the dry rub and apply. Stir salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, and thyme in a small bowl. Sprinkle an even layer of the dry rub on all sides of the chicken. Use your hands to rub the spices into the crevices, including the inner cavity.
Step 3: Cook whole chicken. Place the chicken breast side down in the air fryer basket, and cook at 370 °F for 30 minutes. Use tongs to flip the chicken breast side up, and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
Step 4: Rest, then serve. Remove the chicken from the air fryer, tent loosely with foil, and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. Enjoy!
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- To ensure the chicken roasts in the air fryer evenly, set it out on the counter 30 to 35 minutes ahead of time to bring it to room temperature.
- The dry rub recipe yields a little less than three tablespoons. You can use more or less dry rub to taste. I like to use at least one tablespoon of dry rub per pound of chicken.
- Line the bottom of the air fryer basket with aluminum foil for easier clean-up.
- To check for doneness, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and close the bone. It's cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- The exact time it takes to cook will depend on the functionality of your air fryer, so keep an eye on the chicken and use an instant-read thermometer.
Variations & Serving
You can flavor the whole chicken however you prefer before cooking it in the air fryer. Feel free to substitute the dry rub with one of these spice blends: cajun, lemon pepper, chili seasoning, herbes de Provence, jerk, Greek, Italian, or za'atar.
Make this air fryer rotisserie chicken a healthy and wholesome dinner, and serve it with any of these low-calorie and low-carb sides.
- Keto Mashed Cauliflower
- Dairy Free Mashed Cauliflower
- The Best Cauliflower Stuffing
- Keto Broccoli Salad
- Balsamic Vinegar Broccoli
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Allow chicken to cool, place in an airtight container, or wrap in a tight layer of aluminum foil, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freezing: After cooling, set the chicken in a freezer safe zip top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Then, thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Recipe FAQ‘s
The exact time it takes to cook a whole chicken to a safe internal temperature will vary depending on your air fryer's functionality and the chicken's size. For instance, a 5-pound bird will take about 1 hour to cook in the air fryer at 370 °F.
It's best to carve off the chicken portions you intend to eat, place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, and reheat at 360 °F for 5-8 minutes. For larger pieces, spray them with cooking spray to keep them moist.
Yes. To make this from frozen, place the whole frozen chicken directly in the air fryer basket and heat at 160 °F until thawed (about 20 minutes). Once the chicken is fully thawed out, remove it from the air fryer, and then proceed to season and cook the chicken as instructed in this recipe.
More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
Air Fryer Whole Chicken Rotisserie Style
Ingredients
- 5 pound whole raw chicken
- ½ tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Remove the chicken from the packaging. If it came with the giblets intact, be sure to remove them. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- Stir salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, and thyme in a small bowl. Sprinkle an even layer of the dry rub on all sides of the chicken. Use your hands to rub the spices into the crevices, including the inner cavity.
- Place the chicken breast side down in the air fryer basket, and cook at 370°F for 30 minutes. Use tongs to flip the chicken breast side up, and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer, tent loosely with foil, and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. Enjoy!
Notes
- To be sure the chicken roasts in the air fryer evenly, set it out on the counter 30 to 35 minutes ahead of time to bring it to room temperature.
- The dry rub recipe yields a little less than three tablespoons. You can use more or less dry rub to taste. I like to use at least one tablespoon of dry rub per pound of chicken.
- Line the bottom of the air fryer basket with aluminum foil for easier clean-up.
- To check for doneness, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and close the bone. It's cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 °F.
- The exact time it takes to cook will depend on the functionality of your air fryer, so keep an eye on the chicken and use an instant-read thermometer.
- Storing: Allow chicken to cool, place in an airtight container, or wrap in a tight layer of aluminum foil, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: After cooling, set the chicken in a freezer-safe zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Then, thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Choclette
Have to say I had no idea you could cook a whole chicken in an air fryer. But now I've read your recipe, it makes sense. Great for summer time cooking when you don't want to switch the oven on.
Erin
I'm obsessed with my air fryer and this dry-rubbed whole chicken is the perfect way to have a comfort food dinner with the crispy skin that I love.
Amanda
Talk about a game changer! The skin came out perfectly crisp, and I love how moist the chicken stayed in the air fryer. Definitely making this a regular dinner!
Lisa Huff
Wow looks so much better than those grocery store rotisserie chickens! Love that you made your own dry rub!
Toni
This is so good!! Love how easy it is!
Jessica Formicola
This dry rub looks incredible! I am definitely going to break out my air fryer to make this chicken for dinner tonight!
Kushigalu
They look so moist and delicious. I will soon try this air fryer version.