Perfect Air Fryer Whole Chicken (Ninja Foodi Recipe)

Enjoy chicken perfection with this Ninja Foodi air fryer whole chicken recipe. Crispy skin & juicy meat – effortlessly achieved at home!

I love, love, love my air fryer! The first time I used it, I was hooked.

This handy little kitchen appliance has been a game changer for me, especially on busy weeknights. I can make so many different recipes with it in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven.

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Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer

Today’s home-cooked rotisserie style chicken recipe, made in my handy-dandy air fryer, is a great alternative to the store-bought variety. Making a whole chicken may seem daunting, but the cooking process is actually very simple, especially in an air fryer.

With this recipe, you only need a couple of simple ingredients and the chicken is prepped in a matter of minutes. And it is so juicy and delicious.

Serve this air fryer chicken with your favorite side dish, like a simple garden salad, green beans, or truffle fries. This classic caesar salad or dill & dijon potato salad would also be delicious side dishes to make while the chicken rests.

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Supplies

• Ninja Air Fryer – this is a great all-around air fryer in my experience!
• Parchment paper – awesome for lining the basket of the air fryer and making clean up a breeze.
• Air Fryer Paper Liners – these disposable air fryer liners work great too!
• Cutting board – for slicing & dicing ingredients.
• Knife – this is my go to kitchen knife.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 60-75 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes

Serving Size: 4 servings

Ingredients

• Small whole chicken – for my machine, a 3-4 pound chicken is ideal.
• Dried rosemary
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Avocado oil

Instructions

1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes.

2. Rinse the whole chicken under cold water and pat it dry with paper towels.

3. In a small bowl, combine the dried rosemary, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and avocado oil. Mix well.

4. Rub the skin of the chicken with the mixture, ensuring it is evenly coated.

5. Gently place chicken into the preheated air fryer basket, breast side down.

6. Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 60-75 minutes, depending on the size and weight of the chicken. Check for doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C).

7. Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.

8.Once cooked, carefully remove the whole chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Note: Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the chicken and the type of air fryer you have. Adjust accordingly.

Ensure that the whole chicken you choose is small enough to fit comfortably in your particular air fryer.

Tips and Tricks

• Adjust the cooking time depending on the size and weight of your chicken. A larger chicken may require additional cooking time.
• The best way to ensure that any meat is cooked properly is to test the internal temperature using a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat.
• Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste, adding more or less smoked paprika, salt, or other spices. Add hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or chili powder for some heat. Experiment with different spice blends like cajun or Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, or even a BBQ dry rub like this one.
• Add in a few cloves of garlic and some fresh herbs with the chicken.
• Store any leftover chicken in the fridge in an airtight container.

How to Get the Best Results from Your Air Fryer

• It’s important to preheat the air fryer to ensure even and consistent cooking.
• Make sure your food is in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the basket, as this may lead to uneven cooking. Cook in batches if needed to allow for adequate circulation of hot air.
• Save on cleanup by lining your air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Clean your air fryer! I recommend washing by hand, but check your manual.

FAQ

• Everyone is talking about air frying. How exactly does an air fryer work? An air fryer cooks food quickly by radiating heat into the chamber that is then circulated through convection. This allows for food to be fried without the use of oils.
• I don’t have an instant read thermometer. How can I tell that the chicken is fully cooked? Cut into the breast and if the juices run clear, it’s done!

Today’s whole chicken recipe is perfect for meal prep. Cook once and use the leftover meat for chicken salad or quesadillas.

More Tasty Air Fryer Recipes

Now that you have experienced just how simple an air fryer is to use, I have tons of other easy air fryer recipes for you.

• air fryer broccoli
• asparagus
• sweet potato
• air fryer burgers
• traditional French fries
• BBQ chicken drumsticks
• air fryer steak
• steak bites
• salmon
• thick cut bacon

If you love this air fryer whole chicken recipe, please give it a five star review and share it on Facebook and Pinterest so others can enjoy it too.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Enjoy chicken perfection with this Ninja Foodi air fryer whole chicken recipe. Crispy skin & juicy meat – effortlessly achieved at home!

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Additional Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Author: Heather Painchaud

Servings: 4

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Ingredients

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• 1 small whole chicken For my machine, a 3-4 pound chicken is ideal.
• 2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika You can also substitute sweet paprika.
• 2 tbsp avocado oil

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Instructions

• 1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes.
• 2. Rinse the whole chicken under cold water and pat it dry with paper towels.
• 3. In a small bowl, combine the dried rosemary, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and avocado oil. Mix well.
• 4. Rub the skin of the chicken with the mixture, ensuring it is evenly coated.
• 5. Gently place chicken into the preheated air fryer basket, breast side down.
• 6. Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 60-75 minutes, depending on the size and weight of the chicken. Check for doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C).
• 7.Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.
• 8.Once cooked, carefully remove the whole chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Hello, I’m Heather!

I'm an active mom of twin boys who is always looking for opportunities to inspire creativity through fun crafts, do-it-yourself projects and delicious recipes. This blog has been an integral part of supporting my little family and I am so grateful to have you become a part of our journey! Let's create together... Read more...