Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken is the most delicious juicy chicken recipe with a crispy skin. It is the perfect way to cook a whole chicken for dinner. Naturally low carb and full of flavor with your favorite spices and leftovers make great sandwiches!
In just an hour, the air fryer will produce the best rotisserie chicken you have ever eaten and while it is air frying, you have time to throw together your favorite side to serve with it.
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❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
✔️ It is an effortless way to roast chicken!
✔️ This air fryer chicken recipe is ready in just 1 hour!
✔️ Leftover chicken is perfect for chicken salad sandwiches, chicken and biscuits, and more.
🍳 Cooking method
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If there is one appliance you should own, it is the Air Fryer. I started out small, and recently progressed to a much larger air fryer that allows me to do so much more. Once I had my new air fryer, I decided to give the rotisserie chicken method a try. It was the best chicken I had ever had!
The air fryer fries the food with a fan in the oven circulating hot air around the food. The food is placed in an air fryer basket, on a rack, or rotisserie spit and once the air fryer is turned on, the rapid circulation of hot air cooks the food similar to the way it is cooked when fried in oil.
If you are new to using an air fryer, check out this post on How To Use an Air Fryer.
🥘 Ingredients
Below is a list of spices I use to rub on the chicken before air frying.
Whole chicken: shouldn't weigh more than 4 pounds.
Dried thyme
Dried oregano
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Smoked paprika
Cayenne pepper
Salt
Ground black pepper
🔪 Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, garlic, onion, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Tie the chicken legs together as well as the wings on the chicken breast side with a piece of kitchen twine.
- Coat the outside of the chicken with a tablespoon of olive oil. Rub the spice mixture into the chicken all over.
- Insert the Air Fryer rotisserie rod through the legs where they are tied together and through the chicken's cavity, exiting at the neck and centering the bird on the spit.
- Insert the forks securely into the chicken and tighten the screws.
- Preheat the air fryer for 15 minutes on the air fryer setting. Once preheated, turn the wheel to adjust the time to 45 minutes at 400 degrees. Press the start button and cook for 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F and the meat is no longer pink.
- Use the retrieval tool to remove the chicken from the air fryer. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the rotisserie spit from the chicken. Slice and serve.
🙋Recipe FAQ's
A 4 pound chicken fits perfectly in an 11 quart air fryer with rotisserie function.
For a 4 pound whole chicken, it should take approximately 45 - 55 minutes.
The rotisserie method cooks the chicken evenly so there are no overcooked parts of the chicken.
💭 Tips
- When cooking a whole chicken, be sure to remove any of the innards from the cavity of the chicken (usually the neck, liver, etc.)
- Always pat the chicken dry before applying the rub.
- Line the drip pan with aluminum foil to catch any grease.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the air fryer and the size of the roast. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees. If it has not reached that temperature at the end of 45 minutes, add 5 minutes at a time until it does.
- Use the carcass to make homemade chicken stock.
📖 Variations
- Marinade the chicken for up to 6 hours in your favorite Italian dressing instead of using a rub.
- Use this Homemade Taco Seasoning as a rub for the chicken.
- Stuff the chicken's cavity with a lemon (sliced in half), some fresh thyme, and a quartered onion to infuse flavor into the chicken.
🍽 Equipment
An air fryer with the capability of doing a rotisserie chicken. This 15.5 quart air fryer is a well rated and affordable one.
You can also use an air fryer with a basket. Just flip the chicken over halfway through cooking.
Kitchen twine is needed to secure the legs and wings to the body of the chicken. This is so the chicken will be compact when roasting on the rotisserie in the air fryer.
🏫 What I've Learned
Using an air fryer to cook chicken is one of the best cooking methods and making my own air fryer rotisserie chicken recipe is easy and it tastes better than store bought! It roasts up tender and juicy with a delicious crispy skin.
It may take 2-3 times tying the chicken legs and wings with the kitchen twine before it is perfected, but it is well worth learning how to do!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this rotisserie chicken up with a your favorite sides. I recommend french fries, Garlic Mashed Cauliflower, or Mom's Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits.
Use leftovers to make this Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup, Chicken Salad Recipe or Easy Chicken Potpie.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat the chicken, wrap it in aluminum foil and place it in the oven or microwave the thawed chicken in the microwave in a covered dish for 30 - 60 seconds, until just warmed.
Related Recipes
Chipotle Chicken and Waffle Fries
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 lb whole chicken
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, garlic, onion, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Tie the chicken legs together as well as the wings on the chicken breast side with a piece of kitchen twine.
- Coat the outside of the chicken with a tablespoon of olive oil. Rub the spice mixture into the chicken all over.
- Insert the Air Fryer rotisserie rod through the legs where they are tied together and through the chicken's cavity, exiting at the neck and centering the bird on the spit.
- Insert the forks securely into the chicken and tighten the screws.
- Preheat the air fryer for 15 minutes on the air fryer setting. Once preheated, turn the wheel to adjust the time to 45 minutes at 400 degrees. Press the start button and cook for 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F and the meat is no longer pink.
- Use the retrieval tool to remove the chicken from the air fryer. Allow the chicken to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the rotisserie spit from the chicken. Slice and serve.
Kathy
I am excited to try this! I have another recipe that calls for a lemon in its cavity and I think I am going to do that as well. Your seasonings look so good!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Kathy, thank you so much! I hope you love it as much as we do. I will definitely try the lemon myself. Please let me know how it worked for you! Tying the wing portion was pretty tricky but I made it work. lol Shelby