The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to roast or bake chicken in the air fryer? ›

If you love roast chicken in the oven, you're going to really love this method for air frying a whole chicken. Air fryer roast chicken takes less time, leaves less of a mess and turns out nearly identical results -- or better, even.

Place the chicken on the air fryer basket / grate in an even layer, leaving a bit of space for air to circulate around. Air fry the chicken at 415 degrees for 10 minutes. If you have larger pieces of chicken, you'll want to go closer to 13 minutes. You're looking for an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

In general, yes, you can wrap chicken in foil and cook it in an air fryer. Using foil will keep the chicken moist, prevent it from drying out, and lead to a moist and tender dish, as the foil helps to retain the meat's natural juices.

You can use the air fryer's basket or one of its trays to cook it. However, if you do not have or use the rotisserie function, then it is better to flip the chicken halfway through to be able to evenly cook it.

Chef Dennis Littley told me that 'the main difference between air frying, baking, and roasting is the circulation of hot air. Air frying blows hot air directly onto the food from all sides for crisping but baking relies on ambient heat in the oven. Roasting uses hot air but at lower temperatures than air frying'.

If you're cooking food that has a solid structure — like any type of meat or vegetables — no matter the temperature of the oven, you'll roast it. If you're cooking food that doesn't already have a solid structure, but will after it's cooked — like muffins, cake, bread, and casseroles — the proper method is baking.

Yes, you put raw frozen chicken in the air fryer! You won't be able to brine it first or pound it to an even thickness (so the results are not *as* juicy) but if you forget to thaw your chicken, it's a great option to have on hand.

The #1 tip for the best chicken breasts in an air fryer is: Don't overcook them! Chicken breasts should be cooked to 160°F, but if you cook them all the way to that temperature in the air fryer, carryover cooking will take them beyond that temp and cause them to dry out.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Parchment paper is good for food that might stick to the basket, like chicken wings, making clean up a bit easier. If you're tempted to use parchment every day or are simply waste-conscious, consider instead a silicone liner for air fryers.

Is it better to put aluminum foil or parchment paper in the air fryer? ›

You can use parchment paper in an air fryer, but with many of the same caveats as with foil (never use wax paper, as its coating can melt at high temperatures). Again, it's important to make sure the parchment is heavily weighted down by food to avoid it getting sucked into the heating element and burning.

Tips for the Best Air-fried Whole Chicken

3. If chicken skin is burning: grab a sheet of aluminum foil and securely cover the breast of the chicken, using toothpicks to keep it in place. This trick will help prevent further burning and allow the chicken to continue cooking evenly.

In a bowl, toss your food in a few teaspoons of vegetable oil or olive oil along with your seasoning before putting it in the air fryer. This method works best for cooking fresh meats and vegetables.

When to Use Water in an Air Fryer and How Much to Add. Adding a little bit of water can help to hydrate the food in your air fryer and prevent it from becoming too dry. It adds moisture into the atmosphere of your air fryer and it's a great way to refresh any baked items you might want to cook in your air fryer.

Issue: One of the most common problems with air fryers is the unit not heating up as it should, which results in undercooked or unevenly cooked food. Solution: Ensure that the air fryer is placed on a flat, stable surface. Also, make sure the basket is securely inserted and that the food is not overcrowded.

Which is better between air frying vs. oven baking? Air-frying is a healthier alternative to deep-fried foods, but oven-baking often preserves good nutrients while filtering out the bad ones, making oven-baked foods even healthier than most air-fried foods.

In Bake mode, food will prepare in dry heat like bread, cake, toast, etc. Both the top and bottom heating elements cycle on and off while baking. Recipes will vary, and cooking time should be monitored for desired results. For better cooking results, select the correct cooking pan to allow for proper air circulation.

Air fryer: best for one to two people

An air fryer works like a small conventional fan oven. Because they're small, air fryers are often cheaper to run than an oven for the same meal. In this example, it would cost £0.18 in GB and £0.29 in NI to cook the same portion of chicken in an electric oven.

You can use your air fryer to cook recipes that have instructions for cooking in the oven. Because the heat in the air fryer is more intense than a standard oven, reduce the suggested temperature by 25ºF to 50ºF and cut the time by roughly 20%.