Air Fryer Chicken: Can You Fit A Whole Bird?

Air fryers are a great way to cook a whole chicken, resulting in a juicy and tender bird with a crispy skin. The high heat of the air fryer means that a whole chicken can be cooked in under an hour, and the smaller cooking chamber means that temperatures remain consistent throughout the cooking process. Most 5- or 6-quart air fryers can accommodate a small whole chicken of around 3 to 4 pounds, but it's important to ensure that the chicken doesn't touch the top of the air fryer, as this may cause it to burn.

Air fryer chicken cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for air-fried chicken depend on the size and type of chicken. Here is a general guide for cooking chicken in an air fryer:

Whole Chicken

For a whole chicken, preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Then, rub the chicken with olive oil and season it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, or your choice of seasonings. Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer basket and cook for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, flip the chicken and cook for an additional 12-22 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

For boneless, skinless chicken breasts, preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness and season with olive oil, salt, and your choice of seasonings or marinade. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 10-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping the chicken halfway through.

Bone-In Chicken Breasts

For bone-in chicken breasts, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Season the chicken with olive oil, salt, and your choice of seasonings. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, bone-side up, and cook for 25 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs

For boneless, skinless chicken thighs, preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Season the chicken with olive oil, salt, and your choice of seasonings. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping the chicken halfway through.

Bone-In Chicken Thighs

For bone-in chicken thighs, preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Season the chicken with olive oil, salt, and your choice of seasonings. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping the chicken halfway through.

Drumsticks

For bone-in drumsticks, preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Season the drumsticks with olive oil, salt, and your choice of seasonings. Place the drumsticks in the air fryer basket and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping the drumsticks halfway through.

Leg Quarters

For leg quarters, preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Season the leg quarters with olive oil, salt, and your choice of seasonings. Place the leg quarters in the air fryer basket and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping the leg quarters halfway through.

Wings

For wings, preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Season the wings with olive oil, salt, and your choice of seasonings. Place the wings in the air fryer basket and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping the wings halfway through.

It is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the size and model of your air fryer, so it is always a good idea to check the internal temperature of your chicken with an instant-read thermometer to ensure it has reached 165°F before serving.

Air fryer chicken seasoning

There are many ways to season a whole chicken in an air fryer. Here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of your roast chicken.

Choosing your chicken and air fryer

Firstly, it is important to choose a chicken that fits in your air fryer. A good rule of thumb is to use a 3-4 lbs chicken for a 5-quart fryer, a 4-lb chicken for a 6-quart fryer, and a 5-lb chicken or larger for an 8-quart fryer.

Seasoning options

When it comes to seasoning, you can use a simple mixture of salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, and garlic powder. You can also add other spices like onion powder, oregano, dried basil, lemon zest, or rosemary. If you have a favourite blend of spices, feel free to use that instead.

Preparing the chicken

Before seasoning, pat the chicken dry with paper towels. You can also try loosening the skin from the breast meat by running a small spatula or your fingers gently underneath the skin. This will allow you to spread butter or oil underneath, which will help keep the meat juicy.

Adding flavour

For extra flavour, you can mix all the herbs and spices with oil or butter to create a paste that you can spread over the chicken. You can also try marinating the chicken in buttermilk overnight before cooking to make the meat more tender and juicy.

Cooking the chicken

Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer basket and cook at 350-360°F for 30 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and cook for an additional 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken. Check the internal temperature of the chicken, which should reach 165°F.

Resting the chicken

Finally, let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before carving and serving. This allows the juices to absorb back into the meat, ensuring a juicy and tender roast chicken.

Air fryer chicken side dishes

Air-Fryer French Fries

A low-calorie, air-fried option that can be whipped up at a moment's notice with ingredients you likely already have on hand. You won't miss the deep fryer!

Air-Fryer Roasted Green Beans

If you love roasted green beans but don't have the time to wait for them to cook in the oven, try making them in the air fryer instead.

Air-Fryer Asparagus

This air-fried asparagus recipe is packed with flavour, thanks to the lemon-garlic dressing that the spears are tossed in before roasting. It's a simple, quick side that goes with almost anything.

Air-Fryer Okra with Smoked Paprika

A lighter version of fried okra, this recipe calls for roasting the okra with lemon juice and smoked paprika for extra roasty oomph.

Air-Fryer Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is a fantastic barbecue side when it's charred on the grill, but you can also cook it in the air fryer for that same roasted, grilled flavour. Just spray it with a bit of oil, air fry for about 16 minutes, then slather it with butter, salt, and pepper.

Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

These crunchy, flavourful fries are simple to make. Just peel and cut your potatoes, toss them in oil and spices, and place them in the air fryer.

Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Carrot Fries

These carrot fries are similar to sweet potato fries but get even crispier. They also pack more flavour thanks to the addition of parmesan and red pepper.

Air Fryer Dumplings

Try making frozen dumplings in your air fryer. It takes less than 15 minutes to make four servings, and they'll taste just as good as any dumplings you order from a restaurant.

Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan

This cheesy broccoli parmesan is a fresh and delicious air fryer side dish. Even if you're not a huge broccoli fan, you might like this recipe. If you like a bit of heat, add some chili flakes as a garnish.

Air Fryer Potato Wedges

These potato wedges have exceptionally crispy outsides and warm, soft, fluffy insides. Season them with paprika, parsley flakes, chili powder, sea salt, and black pepper for an herb taste that's a bit addictive.

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Air frying Brussels sprouts is the only other way to get them as crispy and perfect as oven-cooking them. The red wine vinegar, butter, shallots, olive oil, and salt add a nice zestiness to the sprouts.

Air Fryer Crispy Garlic Potatoes

There's nothing better for making crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside potatoes than an air fryer. These are even better because you'll cover them in garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper for delightful flavour.

Air Fryer Garlic Zucchini

If you're not a fan of zucchini unless it's breaded and fried, try making it in the air fryer. You can forgo the breading in favour of garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a bit of cooking spray to help it all stick. The zucchini gets super crunchy, and the garlic tastes great.

Air Fryer Cauliflower

Cauliflower is often overlooked as a side dish, but it's a shame because, when seasoned correctly and tossed in the air fryer, it's scrumptious. It holds the flavours of spices like turmeric, paprika, salt, and pepper exceptionally well and gets insanely crispy.

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

For baked potatoes with perfectly crispy skins and soft, tender, melt-in-your-mouth insides, cook them in the air fryer! It takes about 45 minutes to cook four, but there's almost no work required from you. Just wash your potatoes and add oil and salt.

Air Fryer Biscuits

You can even make canned or frozen biscuits in your air fryer! Cooking them this way is the closest you can get to homemade buttermilk biscuits without actually making them from scratch. They'll be thick, flaky, and full of flavour.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tots

These crunchy, perfectly seasoned tots take less than 25 minutes to make. All you need are sweet potato puree, salt, cumin, coriander, and panko breadcrumbs, along with a bit of spray oil.

Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

Green beans are always a healthy, tasty side dish, but they gain some tastiness when wrapped in crispy, yummy bacon. The bacon-wrapped green beans are sheer perfection.

Air-Fried Italian Stuffed Tomatoes

If you like stuffed peppers, try these air fryer stuffed tomatoes. They don't have the same spicy heat, but they taste so good that you won't miss it. Each tomato is stuffed with cooked brown rice, parmesan cheese, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, basil, garlic, and Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs.

Air Fryer Carrots

Whether you like your carrots sweet or savoury, the air fryer makes it easy to cook them to perfection in about 30 minutes. The sweet carrots are insanely easy to make, requiring only four ingredients: carrots, butter, brown sugar, and salt.

Air Fryer Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms

Until you've tried them, you can't comprehend how incredible bacon-stuffed mushrooms are. They're so full of flavour! All you need are mushrooms, cream cheese, bacon, parmesan cheese, and ground sage. They take less than 15 minutes to make, and you won't be able to stop at just a couple.

Air fryer chicken leftovers

So, you've cooked a whole chicken in your air fryer and now you're wondering what to do with the leftovers. Well, wonder no more! Here are some delicious and creative ways to transform your leftover air-fried chicken into exciting new dishes:

Air Fryer Chicken Croquettes

If you're looking for something a little different, why not try making chicken croquettes? These crispy delights have a creamy interior and a gorgeous breaded coating. You'll need some shredded leftover chicken, butter, plain flour, milk, grated cheese, spices, onions, fresh coriander leaves, an egg, and breadcrumbs. Simply combine the shredded chicken with the other ingredients, shape them into balls, dip them in beaten egg, coat them with breadcrumbs, and then air fry to perfection!

Chicken Quesadillas

For a quick and easy meal, chicken quesadillas are a great option. All you need are some flour tortillas, shredded leftover chicken, and shredded cheese. Simply assemble the quesadillas, pop them in the air fryer, and cook for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy. You can also add some veggies like bell peppers, tomatoes, or mushrooms to sneak in some extra nutrients.

Chicken Salads, Sandwiches, and Soups

If you're looking for something a little lighter, you can use your leftover chicken to make chicken salads, sandwiches, or soups. Simply shred or chop the chicken and add it to your favorite salad greens, sandwich bread, or soup broth. You can also experiment with different seasonings and spices to create a variety of flavors.

Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas are a fun and flavorful way to use up leftover chicken. Simply fill some tortillas with shredded chicken, roll them up, cover them with a delicious sauce, and bake until bubbly. You can also add some vegetables, beans, or cheese to the filling for extra flavor and nutrition.

Chicken Noodle Soup

On a cold day, there's nothing quite like a bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm you up. Simply add some shredded leftover chicken to a pot of simmering broth, throw in some vegetables and noodles, and you'll have a comforting and hearty meal.

With a little creativity, your leftover air-fried chicken can be transformed into a variety of delicious and exciting new dishes. So, don't let those leftovers go to waste—get creative and enjoy!

Air fryer chicken cleanup

Air fryer chicken is a quick, easy, and convenient way to cook a whole chicken. Not only does it save time, but it also makes cleanup a breeze. Here are some detailed instructions and tips for cleaning up after cooking a whole chicken in your air fryer.

Step-by-Step Cleanup Guide:

• Unplug the air fryer and allow it to cool down completely. It's important to ensure that the appliance is no longer hot before proceeding with cleanup.
• Remove any leftover chicken or food residue from the air fryer basket or drawer. Use tongs or a spatula to gently lift and dispose of any large pieces of leftover chicken or food debris.
• Fill the air fryer basket or drawer with warm water. You can also add a few drops of dish soap or a mild detergent to the water to help loosen any stubborn residue. Soak the basket or drawer in the soapy water for about 30 minutes. This will help soften any stuck-on food particles and make them easier to clean.
• After soaking, use a soft-bristled brush or a non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub away any remaining residue. Pay extra attention to the crevices and corners of the basket or drawer, as food particles can get trapped in those areas.
• Rinse the basket or drawer thoroughly with clean water to remove any soap residue. Ensure that all surfaces are free of soap before proceeding to the next step.
• Dry the basket or drawer with a clean cloth or paper towel. Make sure to remove as much moisture as possible to prevent water spots or mineral buildup.
• If your air fryer has a removable grill or grate, clean it separately. Soak it in warm, soapy water and use a soft brush to dislodge any food particles. Rinse and dry it thoroughly before placing it back in the air fryer.
• Wipe down the exterior of the air fryer with a damp cloth. Be careful not to get any electrical components wet. You can use a mild all-purpose cleaner or a solution of vinegar and water to wipe down the outside of the appliance, making sure to dry it afterward.
• For deep cleaning, consider using the TikTok trick. Fill the air fryer basket halfway with water and add a generous amount of dish soap. Place the basket back into the air fryer, set the temperature to 350°F, and run it for about 5 minutes. However, it's important to note that while some people have found this method effective, others have reported mixed results. Always exercise caution when attempting new cleaning methods.
• Finish by cleaning the surrounding area. Wipe down the countertop or surface where you placed the air fryer during cooking. Use a disinfectant spray or a mild cleaning solution to ensure that the area is free of any bacteria or food residue.

Additional Tips for Easier Cleanup:

• Line the air fryer basket or drawer with parchment paper or a reusable air fryer liner before placing the chicken in it. This will catch any drippings or residue, making cleanup much easier.
• If you don't have liners, you can also coat the basket or drawer with cooking spray before adding the chicken. This creates a non-stick surface that prevents food from sticking and makes cleanup faster.
• Avoid using abrasive scrubbers or harsh chemicals when cleaning your air fryer, as they can damage the non-stick coating. Opt for soft-bristled brushes or sponges and mild detergents.
• Clean your air fryer regularly to prevent the buildup of grease and residue, which can be more challenging to remove if left for too long.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations for cleaning your specific model of the air fryer. Some air fryers may have specific care instructions that should be adhered to.

Frequently asked questions