1-Hour Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken (How To Air Fry A Whole Chicken!)

Why cook a chicken in your air fryer?

You might be wondering why you’d bother to air fry a whole chicken. Well, what if I told you it’s the perfect way to cook a smaller chicken? It takes almost half as long as in a regular oven, and turns out moist, juicy, crispy and delicious every time.

This cooking method is particularly perfect on a summer’s day because your air fryer won’t heat up your kitchen like your oven does. You won’t need a roasting pan, either. Just pop the chicken in the air fryer, paint with a quick rub and cook.

Unbelievably, your chicken will be perfectly cooked in just 35 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the chicken and your particular air fryer.

Achieving a rotisserie-style chicken is just so EASY when you cook it in your air fryer!

Just one thing to note: If your chicken is on the larger side – say over 4.5 pounds or 2 kilos – I would in fact stick with your oven. It might be just a little too snug in your air fryer and you won’t get the best results.

About the ingredients

A whole (raw of course) chicken: As mentioned above, it’s best to choose a small to medium sized chicken – up to about 4.5 pounds/2 kilos in weight. Any bigger and it can be a bit of tight squeeze in an average sized (around 4L) air fryer!

I always choose a free range or organic chicken if I can. It’s worth it if you eat up every scrap of the chicken and perhaps even use the carcass to make a stock or broth.

For the rub: I usually use some basic herbs and spices and some olive oil. Brushing this all over the chicken before cooking and again half way through will help the skin to crisp up nicely. Not to mention that it will taste absolutely delicious!

I typically throw in dried herbs (either mixed Italian or oregano), onion and garlic powder, paprika and salt and pepper. If I’m feeling fancy I might add a little ground cinnamon (trust me!) and a squeeze of lemon juice.

If I do add lemon, I usually stuff the rest of it inside the chicken to subtly flavour the meat as it cooks. You can also throw some garlic cloves in there too if you have some.

Prefer to keep a quick and easy dry rub on hand, ready to use every time you want to air fry a chicken? Make a batch of this all purpose seasoning instead.

Firstly, make the olive oil rub by whisking all the rub ingredients together.

If you added lemon juice to your rub, push the rest of the lemon into the chicken cavity (if not, no worries!).

Paint the chicken all over with the rub. I usually use a pastry brush but fingers work too if you don’t mind the mess! Be generous!

Place the chicken inside the air fryer basket. You want it to be BREAST SIDE DOWN at first. This way the legs and wings stay moist as they are tucked under the rest of the chicken.

Cook for 20 minutes (smaller chickens) to half an hour (medium chickens) at 355F/180C.

Then, using big tongs or meat forks, turn the chicken over so that it’s now BREAST SIDE UP. Paint again with any remaining rub.

Continue to cook for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken. For a 4.5 pound or 2 kilo (medium) chicken, I find 25 minutes longer (on top of an initial 30 mins) is about right. So around 55 minutes altogether. To be sure, however, invest in a meat thermometer. (See below!)

How long to air fry your chicken for

It’s always quite hard to know how long to cook a chicken for, right? You want it to be properly cooked without overcooking it, but chickens come in different sizes. Ovens can vary, too.

The answer? Use a meat thermometer! I used to think this would be a hassle, but it’s actually super simple. Just insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken. A good spot is between the breast and the thigh. Push the thermometer deep into the breast but don’t touch the bone. It should read at least 165F or 74C.

That should give you some peace of mind, but here’s a rough guide as to how long different size chickens should take to roast in an air fryer:

3 pounds/1.3 kilos: 35 to 45 minutes

3.5 pounds/1.5 kilos: 45 to 50 minutes

4.5 pounds/2 kilos: 50 minutes to an hour

Another way to look at it is to allow roughly 12 to 15 minutes for each pound or 500 grams. But do always check the temperature with your thermometer before declaring your chicken cooked. Cooking times do vary a bit in different air fryers!

Serving ideas

Make a simple roast chicken dinner with roast potatoes and vegetables of your choice. While your chicken rests, make a simple gravy with the juices that have collected at the bottom of your air fryer. Skim off any fat and serve as a French style ‘jus’. Alternatively, pour into a small saucepan and heat with cornflour and extra chicken stock (or instant gravy powder) for a more traditional style gravy.

Craving mashed potatoes as well? I recommend this very simple truffle mashed potato (you’ll need just 2 teaspoons of truffle olive oil for the flavor).

Wild card option – make this delicious and very easy lemon & butter sauce to go with it!

This is also a great solution for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Free up space in your oven by cooking a chicken in your air fryer!

Either these sautéed frozen green beans or stir-fried frozen broccoli would go perfectly, and both take only 10 minutes to make! Or how about this 5-minute recipe for frozen spinach? Alternatively, make your air fryer do double duty with this air fryer cauliflower. Make it in just 12 minutes while your air fried chicken rests.

Make chicken and fries! While the chicken is resting, quickly slice up some potatoes into skinny fry shapes and toss them in a little olive oil, paprika, salt and pepper. Wipe out the air fryer. Cook the fries for around 15 minutes, shaking the basket half way through. Serve with salad or veggies.

Alternatively, make these crowd pleasing small smashed potatoes in your air fryer!

Serve with pasta or rice: Whip up this delicious and vibrant creamy pea pasta while the chicken is cooking. If you prefer rice, you can’t go wrong with this simple Greek lemon rice.

Serve Greek style. Make these ‘phenomenal’ Greek potatoes (I don’t say this lightly), and a quick traditional Greek salad. Yum – dinner is served!

Make tacos! Pull the meat off the chicken and stuff into tortillas with salad, avocado, Greek yogurt and 5-ingredient fresh tomato salsa.

Chicken salad. Use the ideas in this easy tuna salad post to make a chicken version. Or serve with another easy but delicious salad such as this beet salad with feta and walnuts.

Use up the leftovers on pizza or in sandwiches, pastas and crustless quiche (impossible quiche!) or in this creamy chicken and leek pie.

More really easy air fryer recipes

• This air fryer banana bread is a great way to use up that last browning banana. It’s also tiny so you won’t be tempted to eat more than you should!

• Make a double batch of bacon in your air fryer and store it in the fridge for salads, sandwiches and pastas. No extra oil needed, and no grease splattering everywhere!

• These crowd pleasing Greek air fryer meatballs are great on their own or with spaghetti and sauce. Or try another Mediterranean style dinner all-in-one: air fried stuffed bell peppers!

• These Greek style crispy smashed potatoes work well made in an air fryer.

• In the mood for a healthier burger? Make crispy chicken burgers!

Or see all my easy air fryer recipes.