Cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer is a great way to make a delicious, juicy chicken dinner with ease. A 6lb whole chicken is a large bird, so it requires some special considerations when using an air fryer. In this article, I’ll provide a complete guide on how long to cook a 6lb whole chicken in an air fryer for perfect results every time.
Benefits of Cooking Chicken in an Air Fryer
Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years due to their ability to make fried foods with little to no oil. But air fryers aren’t just for french fries – they can cook a whole chicken to crispy, golden perfection Here are some of the benefits of using an air fryer for whole chickens
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Uses little to no oil – Air frying chicken results in up to 75% less fat than deep frying. This makes it a healthier cooking method.
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Gets skin crispy – The high heat circulation of an air fryer crisps up the skin beautifully.
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Cooks chicken evenly – Hot air surrounds the entire chicken ensuring even cooking throughout. No dry breasts or underdone thighs.
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Retains juiciness – Quick cooking times prevent moisture loss, keeping the meat tender and juicy.
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Adds flavor – The air frying process imparts delicious flavor as the chicken cooks in its own rendered fat and juices.
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Easy cleanup – With minimal oil splatter, air fryers are easier to clean than an oven after cooking chicken.
Time Required to Cook a 6lb Chicken in an Air Fryer
Cooking time can vary based on the specifics of your chicken and air fryer model. That said, here are some general timelines:
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Whole chicken: Approximately 1 hour is needed to fully cook a 6lb whole chicken in an air fryer. This allows time for the interior to come to temperature while the outside gets crispy.
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Chicken pieces: Chicken pieces like breasts, thighs, legs and wings will take less time, around 20-30 minutes.
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Bone-in vs bone-out: Bone-in chicken can take slightly longer than boneless pieces. The bones act as insulation, slowing down the cooking process.
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High vs low temp: Using a higher air fryer temperature (400°F) will reduce cook time compared to a lower temp (325°F). But both can work well.
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Flipped vs not: Flipping chicken halves the cook time. One flip mid-way through is recommended for even cooking.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking a Whole 6lb Chicken
Follow these simple steps for foolproof air fried whole chicken:
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Remove giblets: Check inside the chicken cavity and remove any giblets or neck that may be tucked away.
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Pat dry: Pat the skin dry with paper towels. This helps the skin get extra crispy.
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Season: Generously season on all sides with salt, pepper and desired seasonings. Herbs, garlic, lemon, or cajun seasoning all work great.
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Insert thermometer: Place a meat thermometer deep in the thickest part of a breast, being careful not to hit bone. This will allow you to monitor the internal temperature.
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Place in fryer: Put the seasoned chicken into the air fryer basket. For a 6lb bird, you may need to sit it at an angle.
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Air fry at 400°F: Cook at 400°F for approximately 50-60 minutes, flipping halfway through. Monitor temperature.
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Check temp: Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temp of 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and 180°F in the thigh.
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Let rest: When done, remove chicken and let rest 10 minutes before carving. This allows juices to redistribute.
And that’s it! Following these tips will reward you with a perfectly cooked whole chicken with crispy skin and juicy meat in about an hour. Enjoy your delicious air fried chicken!
Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional pointers to ensure air fryer chicken success:
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When in doubt, use a lower temp rather than higher – overcooking dries out the chicken.
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Utilize the air fryer rotisserie attachment if your model has one. This allows for even 360 degree cooking.
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Misting the skin periodically with oil helps crispness, but watch splatter.
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Use a meat thermometer for accuracy – appearance alone doesn’t guarantee doneness.
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Let the chicken rest before carving for juicier meat.
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Air fry extra veggies like potatoes or broccoli to complete your meal.
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Use foil to tent chicken and let carryover cooking finish off the center.
Common Air Fryer Chicken Problems and Solutions
Even when following the proper technique, you may encounter some hiccups. Here are some typical air fryer chicken problems and how to troubleshoot:
Problem: Chicken skin isn’t crispy.
Solution: Pat skin extremely dry before cooking, use higher temp like 400°F, and mist skin with oil.
Problem: Chicken is burned on outside but raw inside.
Solution: Use lower temp and cook for longer time, and flip chicken halfway through.
Problem: Chicken is dried out and stringy.
Solution: Don’t overcook, use thermometer for accuracy, and tent foil over chicken after cooking.
Problem: Chicken doesn’t fit in basket.
Solution: Place at an angle or cook pieces separately.
Problem: Chicken releases a lot of smoke.
Solution: Trim excess skin and fat to reduce this.
With a few simple tweaks, you can rectify any air fryer chicken challenges that arise.
Alternative Cooking Methods
While air frying is a great choice for whole chicken, there are other options if you don’t own an air fryer:
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Oven: Roast at 375°F for about 1 hour until 165°F internal temperature.
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Grill: indirect grill over medium heat for 60-90 mins, flipping occasionally.
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Slow Cooker: Cook on LOW heat for 4-6 hours until tender.
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Sous Vide: Cook submerged in 165°F water bath for 2-4 hours depending on thickness.
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Stovetop: Brown chicken pieces in a skillet first, then simmer in broth or sauce until done.
So don’t worry if you don’t have an air fryer on hand. There are plenty of other ways to end up with delicious home cooked chicken for your dinner table.
In Summary
Cooking a 6lb whole chicken in an air fryer is an easy, healthy and flavorful way to prepare chicken. Allow around 1 hour cook time at 400°F, flipping halfway through. Monitor the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast to ensure the chicken reaches 165°F. Letting the chicken rest before serving also improves juiciness. Follow the tips provided to troubleshoot any potential problems that arise. And if you don’t own an air fryer, never fear – oven roasting, grilling or slow cooking can also make a tasty chicken. Enjoy experimenting with all the possibilities for preparing fantastic chicken dinners using your air fryer.
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
This chicken recipe is one of the easiest Instant Pot Recipes you can make. However, if you are new to using an Instant Pot, you may first want to check out How to Use an Instant Pot to familiarize yourself with some of the terms and steps.
- Place the trivet or rack inside the pressure cooker.
- Pour in 1 cup water of cold water for a 6-quart model and 1-1/2 cups for an 8-quart model. Be sure to use cold tap water, not warm water. Using warm water will cause the instant pot to come to pressure faster, which ultimately changes the cooking time needed.
- In a small bowl combine the seasonings for the spice rub.
- Remove any plastic or metal pieces from the chicken and the giblets from inside the cavity of the chicken. Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Generously sprinkle the spice rub over the chicken, using your hands to rub the spice blend into the skin of the chicken. Be sure to season both sides of the chicken.
- Place the chicken, breast side up on the rack inside the prepared Instant Pot.
- Wash your hands well, and then place the lid on the Instant Pot, being sure to set the vent knob to the sealed position.
- Set to cook on High Pressure for 6 minutes per pound, by using the manual or pressure cook button, and then hitting the +/- buttons to adjust the cooking time.
- After the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to naturally release for at least 15-20 minutes. This will ensure the meat stays tender and juicy.
- After 10 minutes of natural release. you can do a quick release of remaining pressure by using a long utensil to hit the vent knob valve from sealing to venting. Just be sure to stand away from the valve to prevent being burned by steam.
- Use a digital thermometer, inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, to check to ensure the temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees F. If the temperature is below 165 degrees F, place the lid back on the pressure cooker and cook for an additional 2 minutes for every 5 degrees below 165 degrees.
Note: It is NORMAL for the meat to pull away from the bones after pressure cooking. It will still be incredibly juicy and delicious.
- If desired, you can crisp up the skin by placing the chicken onto a sheet pan, brushing the skin with oil, and broiling for 2-4 minutes, watching closely so as to not burn the chicken.
- Remove the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute.
- Slice the chicken into pieces and serve as desired. And don’t forget to save the bones to make Instant Pot Chicken Stock.
Instant Pot Whole Chicken is perfect for serving as the star of dinner along with a side of Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Carrots or a side salad. This Instant Pot Chicken is perfect for any recipe that calls for cooked chicken. Some of my favorite recipes are shared below.
The length of cooking time for a whole chicken in the Instant Pot will vary based on the size of your chicken. A safe rule of thumb is to cook your chicken on HIGH pressure for 6 minutes per pound with a natural pressure release of at least 15-20 minutes for perfectly cooked chicken.
- 3-pound chicken: 18 minutes on high pressure
- 4-pound chicken: 24 minutes on high pressure
- 5-pound chicken: 30 minutes on high pressure
To account for an additional 1/2 pound, add an additional d 3 minutes to the total cooking time. For example, if you were cooking a 3-1/2 pound chicken cook for 21 minutes (6 minutes per pound + 3 minutes per half a pound).
Please Note: If your chicken seems like it is really thick (the chicken breasts are on the larger side) you may want to increase the time to 7 minutes per pound.
If you happen to have an air fryer lid that fits on your Instant Pot, you can use your air fryer lid to crisp up the skin right inside the Instant Pot. After pressure cooking, use an air fryer lid on your pressure cooker to crisp up the skin. Set to 400 degrees F and air fry for 3-4 minutes or until the skin is crispy.
Instant Pot Frozen Whole Chicken
You CAN cook a whole frozen chicken in the Instant Pot if your frozen chicken already has the innards/gizzards removed and has no plastic ties around the feet. You will not be able to remove a plastic insert or bag of gizzards from a frozen chicken. Therefore, you can not put a frozen chicken with either of those items into your pressure cooker.
If you have a chicken that comes without the gizzards or plastic clamp around the legs, you would need to increase the time by 5 minutes per pound, for a total of 11 minutes per pound, with a natural pressure release of 20 minutes.
Air Fryer Roast Chicken | How long to cook whole chicken in air fryer
FAQ
How long does it take to cook a 6 lb chicken in an air fryer?
Air-fry at 370 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Using tongs, carefully flip the chicken, breast-side up, and continue to air-fry until skin is crisp and brown, 15 more minutes. Tent aluminum foil over the chicken and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
How long should chicken be cooked in an air fryer?