If you love grabbing a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store, you need to try this Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken. It takes minimal prep to make and tastes even better than the store-bought version. I promise that after you try it once, it will quickly become a weeknight staple with delicious leftovers!
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Dinner
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 25 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 4-6
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Crispy, golden skin with savory garlic-herb seasoning and juicy, tender meat.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Rice, roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, or in wraps and salads.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, season ahead and refrigerate; leftovers reheat well for easy meals.
Summarize and Save This Content On
I no longer buy rotisserie chickens because making a whole one in the air fryer saves money and gives you the freedom to enjoy one whenever you like. I'm not as busy as I used to be, but this is one of the top chicken recipes that I recommend for busy families. You get that amazing crispy skin and juicy meat every time.
Some other methods for cooking a whole chicken you should check out are this sous vide cooked whole chicken and this easy whole chicken in the oven. Both recipes are easy and delicious cooking methods.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It makes great leftovers: I love leftover rotisserie chicken because it's so versatile! Reheat it as is or repurpose it into another tasty meal.
- You can easily customize the flavors: I use basic spices for this rotisserie air fryer chicken. Feel free to get creative and use your favorite rub or blend.
- It's a hands-off recipe: Once the chicken is seasoned and placed into the air fryer, there's no need to babysit or baste it. Just let it cook until it's time to flip!
Ingredients
The most important components needed to air fry rotisserie chicken are the chicken itself and the oil. Then, you can season it generously with any spices you want!
- Whole chicken: A 3-3 ½-pound bird is ideal, since most air fryer baskets are 5-6 qt. I don't recommend going bigger than 4 ½ pounds to ensure that air can circulate in the air fryer. Make sure that you pat it dry and remove any giblets included in the package.
- Avocado oil: You'll need an oil with a high smoke point to air fry this rotisserie chicken. Avocado oil is my top choice, but canola or vegetable oil also works. Avoid olive oil or butter as they can burn. I use avocado oil for the same reason to make roasted broccoli and carrots.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Lemon pepper: Season your air fryer rotisserie chicken with your favorite lemon pepper seasoning blend to add some brightness. Keep ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, too!
- Italian-style: Instead of paprika and thyme, add 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning for an Italian flair.
- Make it spicy: Use ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper in place of the thyme, or ¼ teaspoon of jalapeno powder.
How to Cook a Rotisserie Chicken in an Air Fryer
Here are the instructions needed for this air fryer rotisserie chicken recipe. If you like, you may tie the legs with twine to keep them in place, but it's optional.
Step 1: Season and cook the first side. Generously coat your chicken with the oil and spices. Then place it breast-side down in the air fryer basket and cook it at 350F for 25 minutes.
Step 2: Flip and finish cooking. Carefully flip the rotisserie chicken and cook it for another 25 minutes. Now you can let it rest for 10 minutes before serving it with slow-cooked green beans or your favorite sides.
Expert Tips
- Cook it for meal prep: This air fryer rotisserie chicken recipe is perfect for meal prep. Cook it at the beginning of the week, shred the meat, and use it in other recipes as a shortcut.
- Pat the chicken dry: Ensure that you pat the chicken dry thoroughly with paper towels before you season it. This helps the skin get nice and crispy. Wet skin will not brown properly and will be rubbery.
- Check doneness with a thermometer: Always use a thermometer to check for doneness! Stick the probe into the thickest part of the thigh. It must be cooked to a minimal temperature of 165F for safety.
- Refrigeration and freezer directions: Carve up the chicken and store the meat in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. You may freeze it for up to 4 months. Freeze the carcass for up to 4 months, too, so you can use it later to make a homemade chicken broth in the slow cooker.
- Reheating the rotisserie chicken: I recommend heating leftovers in a 350° F oven for 15-20 minutes or a 360° F air fryer for 4-8 minutes for crispy skin.
If you want another air fryer bone-in chicken recipe, I recommend this bone-in chicken breast recipe.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve your air fryer whole chicken rotisserie style with my broccoli crunch salad and garlic mashed potato cakes for a simple weeknight dinner.
- Shred the leftover chicken and turn it into other meals like these pot pie muffins, crack sliders, and buffalo chicken enchiladas.
Recipe FAQs
Use a pair of tongs and a wide spatula to carefully turn the chicken over halfway through cooking. Slide the spatula underneath to support the bird while using the tongs to guide it over. Flip it gently rather than lifting it quickly, since the skin is delicate and can tear if handled roughly.
Air fryers cook with very concentrated circulating heat, so the skin can brown quickly before the inside finishes cooking. If this happens, lower the temperature to about 325°F to finish cooking the chicken through, then raise it to 400°F for the last few minutes to crisp the skin.
Chicken breasts are leaner and cook faster than thighs, which contain more fat and connective tissue. In an air fryer, the hot circulating air can also hit the breast side more directly, causing it to cook sooner. If the breasts are finishing too quickly, flip the chicken during cooking or tent the breast lightly with foil while the thighs finish cooking.
No, I don't recommend it. The chicken must be thawed and dry. Air-frying the rotisserie chicken from frozen will keep it from cooking properly and evenly.
Most air fryers can cook a 3 to 4-pound whole chicken comfortably. A basket-style air fryer with a capacity of at least 5 to 6 quarts usually provides enough space for the chicken to fit and allows hot air to circulate properly. If the chicken touches the heating element or sits too tightly in the basket, it may cook unevenly.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Do you like cooking meals with your air fryer? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pound whole chicken
- 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Dry the outside of the chicken and remove the giblets, and discard them.
- Tie the chicken's legs with twine. This is optional, but the chicken is more presentable when the twine is used.
- Rub all sides of the chicken with the oil and seasonings.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer, breast-side down, at 350°F for 25 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 25 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165° F.
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Notes
- Pat your whole chicken dry with paper towels before cooking it in the air fryer to ensure that you get golden, crispy skin.
- It's normal for the breasts to cook faster than the thighs, but the thighs must reach at least 165F in the thickest part to be safe to eat.
- Thaw the chicken completely before cooking it in the air fryer to ensure it cooks properly and evenly.
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