Replicate the flavor, lovely burnished skin and moist texture of a classic rotisserie chicken with this easy recipe for cooking a whole chicken in your air fryer. With just a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes of active time, you get a roast chicken with lemon and herbs that's a remarkable doppelganger for a deli chicken right after it comes out of the rotisserie—before it gets shriveled and dried out from sitting in the deli's holding case for hours. Serve this chicken with your favorite veggie sides for a healthy weeknight dinner or weekend supper. And if you're hosting a dinner party, cooking your main course in the air fryer is also a great way free up oven space for casseroles, rolls and other dishes.
Ingredients
½ tsp. ground pepper, divided
¾ tsp. salt, divided
1 (3½ to 4 pound) whole chicken, giblets removed
1 lemon, halved
4 sprigs fresh thyme
Method
01
Place thyme sprigs and lemon halves in the chicken cavity. Truss the chicken legs closed with kitchen twine. Sprinkle the breasts and legs evenly with ⅜ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Place the chicken, breast-side up, in the air-fryer basket.
02
Set the air fryer to 350°F (no need to preheat); cook for 30 minutes. Carefully turn the chicken over; cook for 15 minutes. Carefully turn the chicken over again; cook until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of a thigh registers 165°F, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board; let rest for 10 minutes.
03
Carve the chicken; discard the thyme and reserve the lemon halves. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with the remaining ⅜ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper; squeeze the juice from the reserved lemon halves over the chicken.
Replicate the flavor, lovely burnished skin and moist texture of a classic rotisserie chicken with this easy recipe for cooking a whole chicken in your air fryer. With just a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes of active time, you get a roast chicken with lemon and herbs that's a remarkable doppelganger for a deli chicken right after it comes out of the rotisserie—before it gets shriveled and dried out from sitting in the deli's holding case for hours. Serve this chicken with your favorite veggie sides for a healthy weeknight dinner or weekend supper. And if you're hosting a dinner party, cooking your main course in the air fryer is also a great way free up oven space for casseroles, rolls and other dishes.
01
Information
Gradeeasy
Serving
4 servings
Calorie166 Kcal
Prep Time10 Mins
Cook Time70 Mins
Total Time80 Mins
02
Ingredients
½ tsp. ground pepper, divided
¾ tsp. salt, divided
1 (3½ to 4 pound) whole chicken, giblets removed
1 lemon, halved
4 sprigs fresh thyme
03
Method
Step 1
Place thyme sprigs and lemon halves in the chicken cavity. Truss the chicken legs closed with kitchen twine. Sprinkle the breasts and legs evenly with ⅜ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Place the chicken, breast-side up, in the air-fryer basket.
Step 2
Set the air fryer to 350°F (no need to preheat); cook for 30 minutes. Carefully turn the chicken over; cook for 15 minutes. Carefully turn the chicken over again; cook until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of a thigh registers 165°F, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board; let rest for 10 minutes.
Step 3
Carve the chicken; discard the thyme and reserve the lemon halves. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with the remaining ⅜ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper; squeeze the juice from the reserved lemon halves over the chicken.