This simple air fryer chicken recipe makes the perfect roast chook. Crispy skin, juicy meat and done in 60 minutes.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can cook a whole chicken in the air fryer… the answer is a big, juicy YES. 🙌🏻
After asking my community for their best tips (you never fail me!), I finally gave air fryer chicken a whirl – and honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever roast a chicken any other way again.
It’s quick, it’s easy, and the results are so good. Golden skin, juicy meat, and dinner on the table in an hour. My dream.
Let me show you exactly how I did it.
Why cook a whole chicken in the air fryer?
There are a few reasons I’m now obsessed with air fryer chicken:
- It cooks faster than the oven
- The skin gets beautifully golden and crisp
- The meat stays tender and juicy
- It’s honestly so low-effort
- It doesn’t heat up the whole kitchen (perfect for Aussie summers!)
And the best part? You only need a couple of simple ingredients.
What you’ll need to make air fryer chicken:
- 1 whole chicken (around 1.5kg–2kg works best)
- Butter
- Garlic salt (or your favourite seasoning blend)
- Olive oil (optional)
That’s it!
How to cook a chicken in the air fryer
Here’s the exact method I used, step by step:
1. Prep the chicken
Pat your chicken dry with paper towel.
Gently lift the skin and tuck a little butter underneath — this keeps the breast super juicy.
Sprinkle garlic salt all over the top. If you want, add paprika, lemon pepper, herbs, whatever you love.
2. Preheat your air fryer
Set it to 180ºC.
3. Start upside down
Place the chicken breast-side down in the basket.
Cook for 30 minutes at 180ºC.
This helps the juices run into the breast meat instead of out of it.
4. Flip it over
Carefully turn the chicken so it’s breast-side up.
Cook for another 30 minutes.
5. Check for doneness
The chicken should be golden, sizzling, and smell incredible.
If you check with a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should be 75ºC. You can also cut into the joint and check that the juices are clear, not bloody.
Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before carving.
The result?
Perfection.
Juicy. Golden. Crispy in all the right places. And done in an hour.
I’m officially adding this air fryer chicken to our weekly rotation. It’s just too easy not to.
Tips for the perfect chicken
- Choose a chicken that fits comfortably in your basket
- Dry the skin well before seasoning
- Don’t skip the upside-down start
- Rest the chicken before carving
- Save the juices for gravy or rice!
Serving ideas
This works beautifully with:
- Roast veggies
- Slaw
- Mashed potato
- Salad
- Air fryer potatoes
- Steamed greens
Or, keep it simple and serve it with bread rolls and butter – always a hit.
Have you tried cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer?
If you’ve got tips, tricks or favourite seasonings, I’d love to hear them.
Tell me how you make your chicken amazing!
Want more deliciously easy recipes? Browse through hundreds of my tried and tested recipes, or take a look at my free recipe eBook filled with budget-friendly dinner ideas. You can also keep up-to-date by following along on Instagram or Facebook.
