Try this recipe to get delicious, perfectly cooked Air Fryer Half Chicken! It's the best way to get golden brown, crispy skin with a little oil.
This recipe has instructions to cook a half chicken in the air fryer over potatoes and carrots, which is a complete air fryer dinner you can make all at once!
Check out my Air Fryer Sesame Chicken and my Air Fryer BBQ Chicken for more air fryer chicken recipes!
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The air frying cooking method is the perfect way to get juicy meat with no deep frying! Easy air fryer recipes are game changer for weeknight dinners.
This recipe has potatoes and carrots added to it if you want to make a complete air fryer dinner, but if you decide to leave those out, this air fryer chicken goes great with a side of air fryer squash and zucchini and dairy-free mashed cauliflower.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The air fryer uses less oil than cooking in a pan, which means there are fewer calories and less fat overall.
- The skin turns crispy and is so flavorful. It's the easiest way to enjoy "fried chicken."
- This recipe cooks the chicken, potatoes, carrots, and onions all at once. In just minutes, you'll have a complete dinner!
- It's gluten-free and easy to make.
- Half-chickens are usually much cheaper per pound than chicken breasts, so it's a great way to have a budget-friendly chicken dinner.
- Leftover chicken makes GREAT chicken salad.
Ingredients You Need
- Butter potatoes (Yukon gold potatoes): Chopped in 1-inch cubes and parboiled for faster cooking.
- Yellow onion: Chopped into 1-inch pieces.
- Baby carrots: Parboiled for faster cooking.
- Halved chicken: A halved skin-on chicken.
- Olive oil: Helps to crisp up the chicken. Avocado oil is also a good choice.
- Thyme: A great herb to add to chicken.
- Paprika: Adds a little bit of savory flavor and a nice red color. I always use sweet paprika (not spicy), but you can use spicy paprika if you prefer.
- Kosher salt and black pepper: To season the chicken.
- Garlic powder: Adds great flavor to the chicken.
Step By Step Photos
Add vegetables and chicken to a bowl and season with oil and spices.
Add vegetables to the air fryer basket.
Place chicken on top.
Cook, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking.
How To Make This Half Chicken Recipe
Step 1. Season vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, add the vegetables. Mix in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and half of the spices.
Step 2. Prepare chicken: Place the raw half chicken in the mixing bowl. Use the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the rest of the spices to coat the chicken. Let it rest for 5 minutes while preheating the air fryer to 350 °F.
Step 3. Air fry: Add the seasoned vegetables to the air fryer basket. Place the chicken on top. Cook at 350 °F for 30 minutes. Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time. Check the temperature with a meat thermometer. If it is not 165F in the thickest part of the chicken, continue cooking.
Step 4. Serve: Once the chicken and vegetables are cooked, serve them hot.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Tips
- Parboiling simply means to boil the potatoes and carrots in a pot until they are about halfway cooked. A fork should NOT go through them easily. This should take about 2-3 minutes in boiling water, depending on the size of your vegetables.
- Use a meat thermometer on thickest part of the chicken to be sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F. If it's below, then continue cooking until it reaches a minimum of 165 °F.
- If you prefer to break down the chicken before cooking, use a sharp knife and cut into chicken pieces.
- Add more spices to the chicken for different flavors. Add some cayenne pepper, paprika and onion powder to the chicken before cooking. This will give the chicken a nice kick of flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Half Chicken
Yes, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can toss leftovers with light and healthy Alfredo sauce and make a great chicken pasta the next day!
Yes, you can. Divide the leftovers into individual or family-sized portions. Wrap the portions tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped portions in a freezer-safe, airtight container or resealable plastic bags. Use within 2-3 months.
More Air Fryer Recipes You Might Enjoy
Air Fryer Half Chicken
Special Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 Yukon gold potatoes (aka butter potatoes) chopped in 1-inch cubes, parboiled for faster cooking
- ½ yellow onion chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided in half
- 1 tablespoon thyme divided in half
- 1 tablespoon paprika divided in half
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder divided in half
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided in half
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper divided in half
- Raw half chicken
Instructions
- Add vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and half of the spices. Mix and fully coat.
- Add the half chicken and use the remaining oil and spices to coat. Let rest for 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats at 350°F.
- Add vegetables to the air fryer basket and place chicken on top.
- Cook at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked to 165F, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking. Check the temperature with a meat thermometer. If it is not 165F in the thickest part, continue cooking.
Notes
- Parboiling simply means to boil the potatoes and carrots in a pot until they are about halfway cooked. A fork should NOT go through them easily. This should take about 2-3 minutes in boiling water, depending on the size of your vegetables.
- Use a meat thermometer on thickest part of the chicken to be sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. If it's below, then continue cooking until it reaches a minimum of 165°F.
- If you prefer to break down the chicken before cooking, use a sharp knife and cut into chicken pieces.
- Add more spices to the chicken for different flavors. Add some cayenne pepper, paprika and onion powder to the chicken before cooking. This will give the chicken a nice kick of flavor.
- Storing: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Place the chicken in a freezer safe airtight container for up to three months. When ready to eat, simply thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight and reheat in the air fryer.
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.
Angela
What a delicious and easy way to prepare chicken! Love that I can make an entire meal in the air fryer too. Thanks for the great recipe!
Erika
Thanks, Angela!