This air fryer whole chicken is well-seasoned, tender, and juicy. Plus, it is super simple to make, and cooks in about an hour, giving you perfect results every time!
Prepare the vegetables by cleaning and peeling the carrots, garlic, and onion. Also rinse the celery, trimming the ends if needed. Chop the veggies if you want, I like to keep them whole. If needed, remove the giblets from the chicken.
Pat the chicken dry with kitchen paper. Stuff the cavity with the vegetables and rosemary.
In a small bowl, combine all the spices and oil. Then rub the seasoning all over the chicken.You can also lift the skin on top and rub it underneath it to spread even more flavor.
Spray or brush oil/cooking spray in your air fryer basket. Place the chicken breast side down.
Cook for 45-50 minutes at 350ºF/180ºC, flip the chicken, and cook for a further 15-17 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165ºF/74ºC or, if pierced with a fork or knife, the juices run clear..For super crispy skin, flip the chicken sooner (after 35-40 minutes of cooking).
Remove the chicken from the air fryer and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to settle for super juicy chicken.
Storage Instructions
Fridge:Cool the chicken first, ideally within two hours, and wrap well and place it in a dish with a lip (in case of any liquid seepage), then store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Sliced/shredded chicken can be stored in an airtight container. Freezer: Remove the chicken from the carcass when freezing it. You can either slice or shred it and place it in a freezer bag to store in the freezer for up to 3 months.Reheat: Place the leftover chicken in the air fryer and cook at 360ºF/180ºC for about 5-8 minutes or until it's warmed through. Or you can reheat it in a microwave, but be careful not to overcook it, or it will dry out.
Notes
Choose a chicken that fits your air fryer: A 6-quart basket should hold a medium-sized bird of around 3-5lb. You may need to break the backbone to fit if it's too tall.
Cook breast down first: This way, the juices help to keep the drier (white meat) parts of the chicken from drying out as it cooks.
The cooking time varies: Based on the size of the chicken and your air fryer model. The best way to ensure the air fryer whole chicken is properly cooked is with a meat thermometer/instant-read thermometer (checking for an internal temperature that reaches 165ºF/74ºC).
Save the drippings: You can use them to make delicious chicken gravy in just 10 minutes. Alternatively, pour them over veggies.
Customize the spices and herbs: Use any of your favorite herbs and/or spices for chicken, like Italian seasoning, chicken seasoning, Cajun seasoning, etc.