Air-Fried Roast Chicken: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Air fryers are a convenient and easy way to cook a roast chicken, with minimal washing up and preparation required. The chicken is cooked breast-side down for the first half of the cooking time, helping to keep the breast meat moist and juicy, and then flipped over to crisp up the skin. The whole roast chicken, with roast potatoes and vegetables, can be cooked in less than 90 minutes.

Cooking times and temperatures for roast chicken in an air fryer

You can cook a whole chicken in an air fryer, and it's a great way to keep the meat juicy. It's important to check that your air fryer will fit a whole chicken as air fryer sizes vary. If you have a smaller air fryer, you will need to purchase a smaller chicken or cook chicken pieces or halves.

When cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer, heat the air fryer to 180°C (356°F). Place the chicken in breast-side down and roast for 30 minutes. Then, turn the chicken over and roast for another 10 minutes. Turn the heat up to 200°C (392°F) and cook for a final 10-15 minutes to crisp the skin. The chicken is done when a temperature probe or meat thermometer reaches 70°C (158°F) when inserted at the thickest part of the chicken or the juices run clear when pierced.

For chicken halves, take a whole chicken and use strong scissors or a boning knife to cut down the spine. Then, flip over and cut down the middle of the breast, resulting in two halves that will fit inside your air fryer. Season the chicken and cook at 180°C (356°F) for 45 minutes, checking every 5 minutes thereafter until the chicken is cooked through.

For chicken pieces, use two chicken thighs or drumsticks per person. Mix butter with a teaspoon of olive oil, lemon juice, and thyme leaves, then season well. Spread this paste over the chicken pieces and cook in the air fryer at 180°C (356°F) for 10 minutes. Then, turn and cook for another 12-15 minutes until crispy and golden.

If you are cooking chicken breasts in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes. Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with a spice mixture of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Place the chicken in the air fryer presentation-side down and cook for 6 minutes. Then, flip the chicken breasts over and cook for another 2 to 8 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 155-160°F (68-71°C). Chicken is considered safe to eat at 165°F (74°C).

How to prepare the chicken before cooking

Preparing the chicken before cooking is a crucial step in ensuring your roast chicken turns out juicy and flavourful. Here are some detailed instructions on how to prepare your chicken for air frying:

Firstly, ensure that your chicken fits snugly inside your air fryer. Air fryer sizes vary, so it's important to check if your chicken is too big. If it is, you may need to cut off the legs and nestle them alongside the body or use halves or pieces of chicken instead. It's also important to take the chicken out of the refrigerator 30-45 minutes before roasting to let it come up to room temperature slightly.

Next, prepare your chosen spices and oil. You can use a variety of spices and herbs to flavour your chicken, such as paprika, dried herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, rosemary, or a classic combination of garlic, thyme, and lemon. Mix your chosen spices with oil in a small bowl. You can also add butter to the mixture to create a paste.

Once your spice and oil mixture is ready, it's time to rub it onto the chicken. Place the chicken on a plate or in a large bowl and use your hands or a brush to spread the mixture all over the chicken, ensuring it's completely coated. Don't forget to season the chicken liberally with salt and pepper, both inside and out.

After the chicken is seasoned and coated, you can stuff the cavity with aromatics. Classic options include garlic, thyme, and a pierced lemon, which will help keep the meat moist.

Your chicken is now ready to be placed in the air fryer! Remember to always cook the chicken breast-side down for the first half of the cooking time to prevent the breasts from drying out.

How to season the chicken

There are many ways to season a roast chicken before cooking it in an air fryer. The most important step is to ensure the chicken is coated in oil before cooking, as any parts that aren't oiled won't crisp up. You can use olive oil, or another vegetable oil, and rub it all over the chicken with your hands or a brush.

For seasoning, a simple mix of salt and pepper is a good option, but you can also try garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried herbs, and garlic granules. You can also stuff the cavity of the chicken with garlic cloves, thyme, and a pierced lemon, which will add flavour and moisture to the chicken.

If you want to get creative, you can try different spice combinations such as oregano and rosemary, or smoked paprika. You can also try a spice rub with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.

It's important to note that the size of your chicken and air fryer will impact the amount of seasoning and oil you use, so adjust accordingly.

How to check when the chicken is cooked

Checking that your chicken is cooked through is an important step in the cooking process. There are a few ways to do this. Firstly, you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. The chicken is considered cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). It is recommended to check the temperature early on to ensure the chicken does not overcook. You can also turn the chicken over and check that the juices run clear when the thickest parts of the breast and thigh are pierced with a skewer or knife.

If you are cooking chicken breasts, it is recommended to remove the chicken from the air fryer when the temperature reaches 155-160°F (68-71°C). The chicken will then be brought to a safe temperature to eat through carryover cooking.

If you are cooking a whole chicken, it is recommended to cook the chicken breast-side down for the first half of the cooking time. This will keep the breast meat moist. For a 3-pound chicken, this will take 30 minutes, and for a 4-pound chicken, this will take 45-50 minutes. You should then flip the chicken and cook for another 20-30 minutes. Check the chicken is cooked as described above, and then let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

What size chicken to use

The size of the chicken you can cook in an air fryer depends on the size of your air fryer. It is important to check that your air fryer will fit a whole chicken as air fryer sizes vary. If you have a smaller air fryer, you will need to purchase a smaller chicken.

Most chickens you buy in stores are around 5 to 6 pounds, but organic chickens are usually around 4 pounds. A 3-pound chicken will need 45-50 minutes to cook, while a 4-pound chicken will need closer to 60 minutes. If your chicken is larger and touches the top element, you can untie the legs and/or press it to flatten it so that it fits.

The cooking time will also depend on the size of the chicken breasts. Smaller breasts (about 6 ounces each) will need only around 8 minutes total, while larger ones may need 14 or more minutes.

One user with a 6-quart fryer cooked a chicken that was over 6 pounds. They cooked the chicken breast side down at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, then flipped it and cooked it for an additional 10 minutes. However, they noted that the breasts took longer than 60 minutes to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Frequently asked questions