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Learn how long to cook whole chicken in air fryer as part of our air fryer back to basics series.
Let us share with you the ideal air fryer whole chicken cooking time and temperature, as well as a master recipe that you can keep as is or make your own.
Table of Contents
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- The Complete Air Fryer Cooking Guide
- Free Air Fryer Time & Temperature Printable
- Can You Cook A Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer?
- Does Chicken Cook Quicker In The Air Fryer Or Oven?
- Can I Wrap Whole Chicken In Foil In Air Fryer?
- How Long To Cook 6lb Whole Chicken In Air Fryer?
- How To Cook Whole Chicken In Ninja Dual Air Fryer?
- Air Fryer Easy Everyday + Meal Prep
- Can You Recommend An Air Fryer?
- How To Cook A Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer?
- How Long To Cook Whole Chicken In Air Fryer Rotisserie?
- Get Air Fryer Confident
- More Air Fryer Resources
- More Whole Chicken Recipes
- How Long To Cook Whole Chicken In Air Fryer? Recipe
- Can’t make it now? Then save it for later!
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
There is often the story, that the air fryer that you started off with, is not the one that you now have. You bought one that is too small, or you got a cheap one, to see if you liked it, before you got a good one.
Well, for us we started with the original Philips air fryer (this one) and our reason for upgrading, after years using it, was because it was simply not big enough to cook an air fryer whole chicken. That was the ultimate goal and after getting a bigger one, a whole chicken in the air fryer has become our air fryer food of all time.
Whole chicken in the air fryer is one of those true food greats. It cooks much quicker compared to the traditional oven, requires a lot less fat and is so moist that it will last for days in your fridge.
Today, we will be running through our top FAQ for cooking whole chicken in air fryer, how long to cook whole chicken in air fryer depending on the weight of the chicken and so much more. Plus, you have the chance to grab our free air fryer time and temperature printable which features plenty of chicken ideas!
The Complete Air Fryer Cooking Guide
The Complete Air Fryer Cooking Guide is new for 2024, following on from our first air fryer cookbook. Our first cookbook sold over 160,000 copies worldwide is still selling well and has changed the way people use the air fryer.
In this newer mini book, we provide you with the air fryer cooking times and temperatures for more than 275 everyday air fryer foods. It also highlights with symbols when to flip, shake and spray your air fryer food.
Read more about The Complete Air Fryer Cooking Guide here.
Free Air Fryer Time & Temperature Printable
During the pre-order promotion of our first air fryer cookbook “The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook”. We gave away a free time and temperature air fryer chart of a lot of the single item foods that were featured in the cookbook.
It was a HUGE success and you asked for, so here I am with more for you. A FREE air fryer time and temperature chart that features the top 30 most cooked air fryer food including these yummy air fryer frozen egg rolls. You will no longer have to scroll whilst cooking dinner, because you can print it out and save it for later!
Can You Cook A Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer?
Yes, you sure can. Cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer is amazing. Most air fryer users that cook chicken regularly will tell you that the time saving and the fact of how moist a whole chicken is via the air fryer, as a reason in itself to buy an air fryer.
Does Chicken Cook Quicker In The Air Fryer Or Oven?
Yes, the speed for a whole chicken in the air fryer is much, much faster compared to the oven method.
For example, a medium chicken packaging says to cook in the oven for 1 hour 45 minutes, yet the same medium chicken takes 45 minutes without a preheat in the air fryer.
Further reading: do you need to preheat the air fryer?
Can I Wrap Whole Chicken In Foil In Air Fryer?
Yes, you can wrap your chicken in foil in the air fryer, but I don’t recommend doing so.
It will increase the cooking time, and you wont get that amazing crispy skin on the chicken that you get when you air fry it directly in the basket.
How Long To Cook 6lb Whole Chicken In Air Fryer?
If you are cooking an extra-large chicken in the air fryer, such as a 6lb/2.7kg one, you will need a little longer than the standard ones. I would recommend about an hour at 180c/360f, though do take an internal temp and make sure its above 70c/160f before serving.
How To Cook Whole Chicken In Ninja Dual Air Fryer?
When you cook chicken whole in a Ninja Dual air fryer, you can cook them for the same time and temperature as an air fryer basket, but the only issue you will have, is if the chicken will fit your size of Ninja.
For example, I can do a medium, maybe push in a large, but an XL (5-6lb) will not fit.
And just like an air fryer basket, its all about half on each side for that moist perfect chicken.
Or if you are using a ninja dual and its not big enough why not try our air fryer Cornish hens (known as poussins in the US)
Air Fryer Easy Everyday + Meal Prep
In our first air fryer cookbook, The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook (get it here) we taught you how to cook chicken drumsticks with our delicious fried chicken recipe.
But in our 2nd air fryer cookbook Air Fryer Easy Everyday (get it here) we were asked to show you how to flavour your chicken and we did just that in our meal prep section.
So, if you want to give your whole chicken the wow factor, we recommend that you plan an hour, maybe once a month, where you marinate the chicken for the freezer. Then you will have plenty of ways to enjoy your air fryer chicken without feeling like mealtimes are getting boring.
Can You Recommend An Air Fryer?
I often get asked which air fryers I recommend and which one I use. In 95% of our air fryer recipes, we use either the Philips Air Fryer XL or the Cosori XL because they are the best ones, we have found out of many air fryers we have tried over the years. You can click on the links above and read up on them. But if you would rather have a dual air fryer we recommend this Ninja Dual (make sure you order the right one as not all are good) or the Philips Dual.
How To Cook A Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer?
- Oil. Place the whole chicken, breast side down on a cutting board. Spray the chicken with olive oil.
- Season. Sprinkle half of mixed herbs over chicken as well as salt and pepper.
- Cook. Place the whole chicken into the air fryer, breast side down, and air fry at 180c/360f for 25 minutes.
- Flip. Place fork into the cavity of the whole chicken and use it to flip the chicken over.
- Season. Spray the chicken with olive oil again, this time on the breast side. Sprinkle with remaining herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Cook. Air fry for 20 more minutes at 180c/360f or until the internal temperature reads 70c/160f or higher.
That is how simple it is cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer but now let’s talk all about how long to air fry your chicken.
How Long To Cook Whole Chicken In Air Fryer Rotisserie?
Would you like to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer oven? Then you can and its like a real rotisserie chicken that you buy from the supermarket. You attach the whole chicken to its rods and clamps and it takes about the same cooking time as a classic air fryer basket. Which is between 45-60 minutes depending on the size.
If you do have an air fryer oven, we do have a chapter dedicated to it in our new air fryer cookbook, air fryer easy everyday.
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Whole Chicken – If you are air frying a whole chicken in the Ninja Foodi, you will use the same time and temperature, and be sure to use the air fryer button. You can also pressure cook a whole chicken in the instant pot. Be sure to follow our instant pot whole chicken recipe!
Instant Pot Air Fryer Whole Chicken – Though we find that the instant pot air fryers tend to be a little slower. So, adjust the temperature to 200c/400f, but use the same cooking time.
How long does it take to cook a whole chicken in a ninja dual air fryer? This depends on the size of the chicken you are cooking. The temperature is the same – 180c/360f in the Ninja Dual Air Fryer. You will have to cook your chicken for between 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of whole chicken that you select. Remember to always check for an internal temperature of 70c/160c or higher to be sure it is cooked properly.
How long to cook 1.6kg chicken in air fryer? A 1.6kg whole chicken or 3.5 pounds takes approximately 50 minutes at 180c/360f to be properly cooked.
How long to cook 3lb whole chicken in air fryer? Slightly smaller compared to the 3.5lb one above, and weighing in at 1.4kg these take just 45 minutes at 180c/360f to be fully cooked.
How long to cook 5lb whole chicken in air fryer? A much bigger 5lb/2.2kg whole chicken will take between 50-55 minutes at 180c/360f.
Get Air Fryer Confident
It can be daunting when you first get an air fryer, you land on a recipe site and then think now what?
Well, we love helping new people to the air fryer as we remember the struggle ourselves when got our first air fryer back in 2012. That is why we have put together these useful resources just for you.
Prefer the visual then check out our You Tube Channel – with more than 750 step by step kitchen gadget recipes. Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to get access to new videos as they happen!
Sign up for our 100% free air fryer kickstart course. It’s a 5 day free mini series delivered by email and teaches you the basics of air frying. Get it here – its free!
We also have two amazing air fryer cookbooks that are perfect for learning the air fryer. With step by step photos for key techniques and more than 140 recipes in each book. The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook was our first and has sold over 150,000 copies worldwide, and our new baby is Air Fryer Easy Everyday.
Want to get cooking over and done with? Don’t want to always be cooking? Then let me introduce you to our meal prep course which teaches you how to efficiently use the air fryer for your meal prep.
We also have two amazing air fryer cookbooks that are perfect for learning the air fryer. With step by step photos for key techniques and more than 140 recipes in each book. The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook was our first and has sold over 150,000 copies worldwide, and our new baby is Air Fryer Easy Everyday.
More Air Fryer Resources
More Whole Chicken Recipes
Recipe This Blog
Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken
Recipe This Blog
Air Fryer Frozen Whole Chicken
Recipe This Blog
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken And Potatoes
Recipe This Blog
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Recipe This Blog
How Long To Cook Whole Chicken In Instant Pot?
Recipe This Blog
Instant Pot Frozen Whole Chicken
Recipe This Blog
Air Fryer Greek Chicken And Potatoes
Recipe This Blog
Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Plus, don’t forget some delicious sides to serve with your roast whole chicken in air fryer. Our favourites include air fryer stuffing balls, air fryer roast potatoes, pigs in blankets in the air fryer, Instant Pot no drain mashed potatoes, air fryer frozen green beans, Ninja Foodi baked potatoes, and Air Fryer frozen cauliflower cheese.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItLearn all about whole chicken air fryer cooking times below, note you can print it out with or without photos, adjust servings, or click between metric and imperial depending on where you are in the world.
Though before you do, don’t forget to subscribe, and grab your FREE VIP Pass to Recipe This. You will get access to our latest recipes first, you will be able to request recipes, you will have access to free mini courses, free ebooks and useful cooking time charts and so much more.
How Long To Cook Whole Chicken In Air Fryer?
Ingredients
- 1 Medium Whole Chicken
- 1 ½ Tbsp Dried Mixed Herbs
- Olive Oil Spray
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Let’s cook a whole chicken in air fryer. Start by placing the whole chicken, breast side down, on a chopping board. Spray with olive oil into all the visible skin, then sprinkle half the mixed herbs over the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the air fryer, breast side down.
- Air fry at 180c/360f for 25 minutes and then flip the chicken over. The best way to do this is to place a fork in the cavity. Then spray the top with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with the remaining dried seasoning, along with a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper.
- Air fry at the same temperature for a further 20 minutes or until the chicken reads an internal temperature of 70c/160f or above.
Notes
Nutrition
Can’t make it now? Then save it for later!
