How Long to Air Fry a Whole Chicken: A Detailed Guide

Air frying a whole chicken is a quick and easy way to make a delicious home-cooked meal. With an air fryer, the entire chicken cooks evenly and results in crispy skin and moist, tender meat in less time than traditional oven roasting. But figuring out exactly how long to air fry a whole chicken can be tricky. The cooking time depends on several factors.

In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about air frying chicken including

• Benefits of Air Frying Chicken
• Factors That Affect Cook Time
• Recommended Internal Temperature
• Detailed Air Fryer Chicken Cook Times
• Tips for Best Results

Benefits of Air Frying Chicken

Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Some of the main benefits of air frying chicken include:

• Quick cooking time – Air frying cooks food much faster than a traditional oven by using super heated air circulation. A whole chicken can be perfectly cooked in under an hour.

• Even cooking – The circulating hot air cooks food evenly on all sides, unlike oven roasting which relies on radiant heat. You’ll get crispy skin all over the chicken.

• Moist meat – Air frying locks in juices so the meat stays nice and moist, especially the breast meat which tends to dry out with other cooking methods.

• Easy cleanup – With air frying there’s no need to use added fats or oils. This means there are less splatters and drips to clean up afterward.

Factors That Affect Cook Time

Several factors impact how long you’ll need to air fry a whole chicken. These include:

• Chicken size – A small 3-4 lb chicken will cook faster than a larger 5-6 lb bird. Go by the recommended cook times for the weight of your specific chicken.

• Air fryer capacity – Consider the capacity of your particular model. Larger air fryers can accommodate bigger chickens. Check that your chicken fits comfortably in the air fryer basket.

• Temperature – Most recipes call for air frying chicken between 360-400°F. Higher heat will cook the chicken faster.

• Altitude – At higher altitudes, you may need to add a few minutes to the cook time since air is less dense.

• Frozen vs thawed – A frozen chicken will take significantly longer to cook through than one that’s fully thawed.

Recommended Internal Temperature

The safest way to ensure any poultry is properly cooked is to use a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature.

According to the USDA, chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F throughout to kill any potential bacteria and make it safe to eat.

When air frying a whole chicken, aim to cook it until the thickest part of the breast and thighs reaches 165°F when checked with an instant-read thermometer. The juices should run clear with no pink showing when you make a cut between the leg and thigh.

For best results, let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before carving to allow the juices to reabsorb into the meat. The temperature will rise about 5-10°F during this time.

Detailed Air Fryer Chicken Cook Times

Here are general time ranges for air frying whole chickens of different sizes:

• 3-4 lb chicken: 45-55 minutes
• 4-5 lb chicken: 55-65 minutes
• 5-6 lb chicken: 60-75 minutes

For a more exact cook time, follow recipe guidelines specific to the model of air fryer you are using. Many recipes recommend air frying the chicken at around 370°F and flipping halfway during cooking.

Here are estimated cook times from several popular air fryer chicken recipes:

• For a 3.5 lb chicken in a 5.8 qt air fryer, cook at 370°F for 50 minutes total, flipping halfway at 25 minutes.

• For a 4 lb chicken in a 5 qt air fryer, cook at 370°F for 55 minutes total, flipping at 30 minutes.

• For a 5 lb chicken in a 5.3 qt air fryer, cook at 360°F for 60 minutes total, flipping halfway at 30 minutes.

• For a 5 lb chicken in a 3 qt air fryer, cook at 370°F for about 70 minutes total, flipping every 15 minutes.

No matter what recipe you follow, always verify the chicken has reached 165°F at the thickest part before removing from the air fryer.

Tips for Best Results

Follow these tips for perfectly cooked air fryer chicken with crispy skin every time:

• Pat the chicken dry before seasoning or coating to help the skin get extra crispy.

• Brush with oil and seasonings to add flavor. Try olive oil, melted butter, or avocado oil.

• Cook breast side down first to prevent the breast meat from drying out.

• Flip halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and cooking.

• Use a meat thermometer to check internal temp rather than relying on cook time alone.

• Let rest before carving so juices can reabsorb for juicy meat.

• Add veggies or potatoes to the air fryer drippings for extra flavor.

The Bottom Line

When air frying a whole chicken, cook times will vary based on the size of the bird and your particular model of air fryer. For a 3-5 lb chicken, expect the total cook time to be 45-75 minutes at around 370°F, flipping halfway. Always cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety. Following recipe guidelines for your air fryer size while also verifying doneness with a meat thermometer will ensure perfect chicken every time.