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I guarantee that this moist, succulent Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken will have you skipping the grocery store version from now on. A whole chicken is rubbed with a flavorful seasoning blend and roasted to perfection in just over one hour! This easy air fryer recipe is a great way to enjoy no-fuss, healthy rotisserie chicken made at home, that’s perfect for leftovers!
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The Easiest Rotisserie Chicken Recipe Ever
Some might say that nothing beats the convenience of a grocery store rotisserie chicken. I hereby challenge that statement to a duel: grab your air fryers, we ride at dawn!
All joking aside, this air fryer recipe is by far the easiest way to make moist, juicy homemade rotisserie chicken. It’s so easy, you’ll never want to buy a chicken from the store again! This roasted chicken recipe turns out incredibly tender, and the skin crisps up all perfect and delicious in the air fryer in just over an hour.
I’m officially an air fryer rotisserie chicken convert. Weeknight dinners are a breeze, I have leftovers for days, and I can even make a wholesome bone broth from the leftover chicken bones! Plus, a whole bird looks impressive at the table whenever I’m entertaining. Winner, winner, chicken dinner, indeed.
What You’ll Need
Chicken recipes don’t get more simple than a perfectly seasoned, perfectly roasted rotisserie chicken in the air fryer! Here’s a quick run-down but be sure to scroll to the recipe card for specific amounts:
- Olive Oil: It’s always worth investing in a good quality extra virgin olive oil.
- Seasoning: I use a blend of paprika, dried thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
- Whole Chicken: One 4- to 5-pound chicken fits perfectly in most air fryers.
How to Make Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Here’s how to make your homemade rotisserie chicken in just a little over an hour:
Make a Rub: While your air fryer is preheating (some models don’t require it), combine your herbs and spices in a bowl with olive oil.
Prepare the Chicken: Remove any giblets and then pat the inside and outside of the chicken dry with a paper towel. Give the whole chicken a good rub over with your seasoned oil, inside and out. I even like to tuck a bit of the oil rub in between the chicken skin and meat layers for extra crispiness and flavor.
Cook: Place your prepped chicken into the air fryer, breast side down. Flip the chicken about half way through the cooking time. The exact cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer and the size of your chicken. Begin checking it after the first hour, and leave it in a bit longer as needed.
Let your chicken rest a little, and then carve and serve!
Tips for the Best Roast Chicken
- Don’t Forget the Giblets: Some whole chickens come with them, some don’t – but it’s always a good idea to check and remove any innards from the chicken cavity before you get started! Plus, you can save the neck, gizzard, and heart to flavor chicken stock for gravy.
- Dry the Chicken: An important step, don’t skip it! Drying the chicken with a paper towel ensures that the oil rub goes on evenly.
- Check the Temperature: Chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches a safe-to-eat 165ºF. Use a meat thermometer to make sure that your chicken hits this temperature, or check that the juices run clear before taking it out of the air fryer.
- Rest the Chicken: Be sure to leave about 10 minutes for resting after the chicken is finished cooking. This lets all the juices redistribute for the most juicy, flavorful chicken.
- Save the Bones: Like the giblets, instead of tossing the chicken carcass away, boil it into a homemade chicken broth to use in chicken soups and stews!
Variation Ideas
The beauty of making rotisserie chicken at home is that you can season it however you like! Here are just some ideas to change up your next chicken dinner:
- Lemon and Herb Chicken: Rather than a classic rotisserie seasoning, blend together lemon juice and zest with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and a few pinches of your favorite fresh or dried herb blend (thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano). Or choose a store-bought blend from the spice aisle!
- BBQ Chicken: Swap out the oil rub for your favorite brand of BBQ sauce. Or make your own!
- Orange Saffron Chicken: Give your air fryer whole chicken a rub with a savory and citrusy Orange Saffron Seasoning.
- Tandoori Chicken: Make an ultra flavorful, Indian-inspired homemade seasoning for Tandoori Chicken.
- Rosemary Balsamic Chicken: Season your chicken with a zesty rub of Rosemary and Balsamic Vinegar.
- Cajun Chicken: Give your chicken a rub with Cajun seasoning for a spicier kick. Or try my Homemade Blackened Seasoning!
- Stuffed Chicken: Stuffing a whole chicken is one way to really amp up the flavors. Try filling the cavity with lemon halves, thyme sprigs, and onion quarters. Or go full Thanksgiving-style and fill your chicken with savory Homemade Gluten-Free Stuffing!
Serving Suggestions
Rotisserie chicken is an effortless main dish to serve alongside basics like Roasted Vegetables and French Fries or Baked Sweet Potato Fries on a busy weeknight. Or make it a meal…
- Sunday Roast Chicken Dinner: Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, slather it all with Gluten Free Gravy, and add a side of Lemon Parmesan Roasted Broccoli.
- Keep it Classic: You can’t go wrong with Air Fryer Roasted Carrots or Ratatouille cooked while you carve the chicken, plus some Roasted Potatoes.
- BBQ Dinner: Whip up some Quick and Easy Coleslaw, bake Easy Gluten-Free Cornbread, and give it a drizzle of Bourbon BBQ Sauce.
Storage and Reheating
Store any leftover chicken airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftover chicken for up to 3 months (see below).
Reheat your chicken in the microwave, oven, or air fryer, or use the leftovers in tons of easy meals such as sandwiches, soups, stews, etc. See the next section for even more ideas!
Ways to Use Leftovers
A whole chicken goes a long way in our household. I love to shred my rotisserie chicken leftovers to combine with salsa for an easy shortcut to Salsa Chicken! It’s the perfect ingredient to throw into Chicken Tacos, Chicken Burrito Bowls, and Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos.
Another way to use chicken leftovers is in an easy homemade Chicken Salad to pile onto sandwiches, over greens, or into gluten free pita or wraps. Or try one of these other easy chicken recipes:
- Gluten-Free Chicken Rice Casserole
- Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Easy BBQ Chicken Tostadas
- Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas Skillet
Check out my post on 35+ Easy Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Recipes for even more ideas!
Can I Freeze This?
Cooked rotisserie chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months! I love to air fry a whole chicken and then portion it out for easy meals, or freeze the whole cooked chicken for another occasion.
Seal the chicken in a freezer-safe bag or container to freeze, and thaw the chicken overnight in the fridge before reheating and serving.
What Air Fryer Do I Recommend?
The Cosori XL 5.8 Qt air fryer has a regular spot on my countertop because I use it several times a week. It has a nice, large and deep basket. I can fit lots of veggies, potatoes, and yes, even this whole chicken!
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Gluten Free Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Prosciutto-Wrapped Pesto Chicken Tenders
- Gluten Free Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 4-5 pound whole chicken
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F.
- In a small bowl, combine the oil, salt, paprika, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir it together until combined.
- Remove the giblets from the chicken, if present and dry the inside and outside with a paper towel. Rub the seasoned oil all over the outside and inside of the chicken, pouring a little in between the skin and the meat, if desired.
- Spray the air fryer with cooking spray and place the prepared chicken into the air fryer basket breast side down. Cook at 360°F for 30 minutes. Flip the chicken breast side up, and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Check temperature, cook for an additional 10-20 minutes, if needed. Let rest 10 minutes before carving and serving.
Can this recipe be used for 6 skinless bone-in chicken breasts in the airfryer?
You can definitely use the spice rub, but the cooking time will be different. You can try 370°F for 25-30 minutes, being sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
can this be done in the oven??
Sure, you can use this seasoning and roast it like in this recipe – https://cupcakesandkalechips.com/rosemary-balsamic-roast-chicken/