This easy and simple Cosori air fryer whole chicken recipe is delicious and juicy. If you love rotisserie or roasted chicken, then you’ll love how easy it is to get that same or better flavor from the air fryer. Ready in about an hour so it’s perfect for dinner any night!
Goes great with my Popeyes Copycat Mashed Potatoes recipe.
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If you love juicy chicken then you have to try this recipe! The first time we tried it, it instantly became one of our favorite ways to use our Cosori air fryer especially on a busy weeknight. It's something the whole family loves with side dishes like loaded mashed potatoes or creamy southern stoneground grits.
I love that I can use the leftover chicken to make some of my other favorite main dishes like these easy green chile chicken enchiladas.
If you love to meal prep, then this will be a game changer. The breast meat is perfect for casseroles, chicken salad, and soups like chicken tortilla that you can make the next day or later in the week. It also freezes really well.
And air frying uses little oil so you don't get loaded down with extra fat and calories. Combine that with the little effort it takes and you won't' be disappointed!
Why it’s awesome
Easy recipe: You only need a few simple ingredients readily available at the grocery store.
Crispy skin and juicy meat: No more dry chicken!
Weeknight or weekend: easy enough to throw together for a weeknight dinner but delicious enough for company on the weekend.
Main dish or leftovers: Great as a main dish as is, or use to make other dishes.
Healthy: Low carb and packed with protein.
Equipment
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom of this post for precise amounts and a printable recipe card.
- Whole chicken - I used a 5 pound chicken for this recipe. It fits in my Cosori 5.8 QT air fryer perfectly. Cook times will vary according to size of the chicken.
- Olive oil - I prefer the flavor of extra virgin olive oil, but you can use regular or your favorite mild flavored oil like canola or vegetable oil. This helps crisp the skin and helps the seasonings stick to the chicken.
- Seasoning mix - I like a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, and Italian seasoning. Sometimes I use oregano instead of Italian seasoning, or just some dried parsley. Let your imagination run wild with your favorite flavors.
- Salt and black pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
STEP ONE: Mix seasoning together in a small bowl.
STEP TWO: To prep the chicken, remove it from the plastic packaging. Check inside the cavity for the giblets- they may be in a bag. Discard or keep for another use, such a gravy. It’s no longer recommended to rinse the chicken because it could increase the chance of cross contamination. Instead, just place it in a bowl or on a cutting board and use paper towels to thoroughly dry chicken.
STEP THREE: Rub chicken all over with olive oil. Sprinkle all sides evenly with seasoning.
STEP FOUR: Preheat the air fryer (optional). When ready, spray the fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the chicken, breast side down, into the air fryer basket. Close the basket and program the air fryer to cook at 360 degrees F for 50 minutes. Turn the chicken over and set the air fryer to cook for an additional 10 minutes at 360 degrees F. If you don’t want to reprogram the air fryer at the 50 minutes mark, you can set it for 60 minutes, just remember to set a separate timer to remind you to flip the chicken at the 50 minutes mark.
STEP SIX: Once chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature, let the chicken rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before carving, for the best result.
Common questions and answers
Use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the chicken. Insert into the thickest part of the breast without touching the breast bone. Chicken is safe to eat at 165 degrees F.
Yes, fresh, raw chicken works very well in an air fryer. The skin gets crispy and the inside is moist and juicy.
Preheating is not always necessary. Check the owner's manual of your particular brand. Cosori recommends using the preprogrammed preheat feature for best results.
Kitchen tips
- If you want your chicken and other foods cooked perfectly every time, use this meat thermometer. It’s an inexpensive, indispensable kitchen tool.
- Be sure to cover the entire chicken in seasoning or spice rub.
- Cooking times will vary depending on the size of your chicken. A smaller chicken may not need as much time just as a larger chicken will need more time.
- Aim for 12 minutes per pound. Flip the chicken over for the last 10-15 minutes to allow both sides to brown. Use your meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Continue the cooking process in 3-5 minutes increments until cooked.
- Don’t forget to let it rest for about 10 minutes. This lets the juices recirculate back into the meat for the juiciest chicken ever!
Variations
- Try my other seasoning blends to change up the flavor:
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Cajun Style Louisiana Rub
- Authentic Fajita Seasoning
- You can use your imagination to come up with some delicious blends yourself, or use standbys like Lawry’s all purpose, lemon pepper, or Montreal steak seasoning.
Storage and reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 3 or 4 days.
Freeze for up to 3 months in freezer safe storage containers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Comfort food pairings
- Southern White Country Gravy
- Air Fryer Steak Fries
- Vegetarian Dirty Rice
- Crispy Parmesan Potato Bites
- Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
Healthy pairings
- Cajun Red Gravy (Tomato Based)
- Light and Healthy Kale Salad
- Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
- Carrot and Cucumber Salad
More air fryer recipes to try
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (5 lb) whole chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, oregano or thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
Instructions
- Mix herbs and spices together in a small bowl. Set aside.
- To prep the chicken, remove it from the plastic packaging. Check inside the cavity for the giblets- they may be in a bag. Discard or keep for another use, such a gravy. It’s no longer recommended to rinse the chicken because it could increase the chance of cross contamination. Instead, just place it in a bowl or on a cutting board and use paper towels to thoroughly dry chicken.
- Rub chicken all over with olive oil. Sprinkle all sides evenly with seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer. When ready, spray the fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the chicken, breast side down, into the air fryer basket. Close the basket cook at 360 degrees F for 50 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook for an additional 10 minutes at 360 degrees F.
- Chicken is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before carving.
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