Easy Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Looking for a perfectly roasted chicken that has golden, crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat, but don’t want the work of breaking out a full-size rotisserie or oven? Enter the air fryer!
This Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken will be your ticket to a favorite meal that’s easy to make, and provides all the flavor and texture of a store-bought rotisserie chicken—only better, because it’s home cooked!
You’ll learn why to give this recipe a try, how to make it, step-by-step, how to get maximum flavor, and answers to frequently asked questions. Let’s fire up that air fryer!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Light and Tasty: One of the best things about an air fryer is that it requires significantly less oil and makes it a healthy alternative to roasting.
- Quick & Convenient: This takes less time, no preheating time and makes your kitchen smell perfectly roasted without heating up the entire house like conventional oven-roasted chicken does.
- Affordable Alternative: Making one at home will provide the same quality flavor and texture for a quarter of what you’d pay in the store.
- Spices are REAL: customize the seasoning mix how you like—from classic herbs to spicy cajun rubs!
- Perfectly Tender Meat: The air fryer produces a gorgeously crispy surface, sealing moisture inside for the kind of juicy, flavorful meat you want.
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
To create this mouth-watering Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken, you’ll need the following simple ingredients:
- 1 Whole Chicken (approximately 3-4 lbs, giblets removed)
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil (or your preferred cooking oil)
- 2 Tsp Salt
- 1 Tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Tsp Paprika (optional for that classic golden color)
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tsp Onion Powder
- 1 Tsp Dried Thyme (or your favorite herb blend)
Feel free to experiment by swapping or adding other spices such as smoked paprika, cumin, or lemon zest for unique flavors.
Required Equipment
- Air Fryer (preferably one large enough to fit a 3-4 lb chicken)
- Kitchen Twine (to truss the chicken for even cooking)
- Meat Thermometer (highly recommended for checking internal temperature)
- Mixing Bowl (for combining seasonings)
- Basting Brush (to coat the chicken with oil and seasoning evenly)
Instructions
First off, take the giblets out from the chicken (if you have any) and dry the chicken with paper towels. This step is key for the crispy skin.
In a bowl combine the salt, pepper, Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme. Drizzle olive oil onto the chicken and rub it all over the skin, then sprinkle seasoning mix generously across the entire surface of the bird — under the skin and in the cavity for maximum flavor.
Truss the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the body. Slowing the cooking process ensures even cooking and prevents chicken from drying out.
Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Preheating allows for a more even temperature during cooking, leading to an evenly cooked chicken.
Put the chicken breast side down in the air fryer basket. Cook at 350°F for 30 minutes. Then, gently turn it over (breast-side up), and cook for another 20-25 minutes, or until the thickest part (the thigh, in most cases) of the chicken reads 165°F (74°C) on an internal-meat thermometer.
Notes
Rest Before Serving
Take the chicken out of the air fryer and let it rest, sliced, for 10 minutes. This step allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, so it will be tender and juicy.
How to Serve
There are countless ways to use your air fryer rotisserie chicken:
- Serve with roasted vegetable or a green salad for a complete meal.
- Shred the chicken for sandwiches, tacos or meal prep bowls.
- Turn the chicken bones into rich, flavorful homemade chicken broth for soups and stews.
This chicken is versatile and great for leftovers, as it will be just as tasty the following day.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
- Calories: 330
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free