Air Fryer Roast Chicken
A whole small chicken rubbed with oil and paprika and cooked breast side down, then up, in the air fryer. Four servings in 65 minutes.
How to Cook Air Fryer Roast Chicken
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Heat the air fryer to 180°C / 355°F. Pat the chicken very dry and rub with the oil, salt, paprika, garlic powder and pepper. Put the lemon halves in the cavity.
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Place the chicken breast side down in the basket and cook for 25 minutes.
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Turn it breast side up and cook for 30 minutes more, until the skin is deep golden and the thickest part of the thigh reads 75°C.
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Lift onto a board, cover with foil and rest for 15 minutes before carving.
What Can Go Wrong
- Choose a chicken that sits in the basket with space around it.
- Dry the skin well so it crisps.
- Use a thermometer; 75°C in the thickest part of the thigh means done.
- If the skin browns too quickly, tent it loosely with foil.
About This Recipe
It has to be a small chicken, about 1.4 kg, because the whole bird must fit in the basket with room for air to move round it. A big bird touches the top element and burns before it cooks through.
Pat it very dry and rub the oil, salt and paprika right into the skin. Dry skin crisps; wet skin steams. Start it breast side down for the first half so the juices run into the breast, then turn it breast side up to brown.
Check the temperature, not the clock. The thickest part of the thigh should read 75°C. Air fryers vary a lot, so look at 45 minutes if your machine runs hot.
Rest the bird for 15 minutes under foil before carving. The meat stays moist and the skin stays crisp. The carcass makes stock, and the juices in the base of the basket make a quick gravy. While the bird rests, the juices in the base of the basket can be poured off, skimmed and warmed to make a quick gravy with a spoon of flour and a splash of stock.
To Go With It
Roast potatoes · Gravy · Green beans · Stuffing
Keeping Air Fryer Roast Chicken
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cool within 2 hours of cooking and reheat until steaming throughout.
Quick Answers
How long does Air Fryer Roast Chicken take to make?
About 1 hour 5 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 55 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Air Fryer Roast Chicken?
Choose a chicken that sits in the basket with space around it. Dry the skin well so it crisps. Use a thermometer; 75°C in the thickest part of the thigh means done. If the skin browns too quickly, tent it loosely with foil.
What should I serve with Air Fryer Roast Chicken?
Roast potatoes; Gravy; Green beans; Stuffing.
How should Air Fryer Roast Chicken be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cool within 2 hours of cooking and reheat until steaming throughout.
Is Air Fryer Roast Chicken suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, high-protein, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Air Fryer Roast Chicken?
About 717 kcal per serving, with 67 g protein, 2 g carbohydrate and 49 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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