Making rotisserie chicken in an air fryer is not only possible, but I must say, it resulted in the best homemade rotisserie chicken I’ve ever had. It even stands up to many of the mouthwatering street food versions! It achieves that coveted crispy skin while keeping the inside moist and juicy, and you can season it to your liking.

This recipe promises divinely juicy, perfectly tender chicken with deliciously crispy skin, all with minimal effort and easy cleanup, thanks to the air fryer.

Cooking Time and Temperature

This recipe is calibrated for a 3.3-pound chicken cooked in an air fryer. I don’t recommend cooking a larger one; see the tips for why.

Cooking temperature: 390 F (200 C).
Cooking time: 65 minutes.

Follow the directions in the tips and this recipe for best results!

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken Tips

Remove the chicken from the fridge at least 30 minutes before cooking to bring it closer to room temperature for more even cooking.
Dry the chicken thoroughly with paper towels before cooking and trim off any excess fat.
Stick to a 3.3 lb chicken; larger chickens cook unevenly and the spices won’t penetrate as well.
Generously season the chicken. It absorbs more salt and spices than you might think.
Opt for the highest quality chicken you can find—the quality really impacts the final taste. Organic or farm-raised chickens are best. If unavailable, look for any free-range variety.
Preheat your air fryer before cooking.

Cooking Steps

Start by placing the chicken breast-side down in the preheated air fryer and cook for 30 minutes. This helps the chicken to cook evenly.
Halfway through, pour out any accumulated fat from the air fryer basket to avoid excessive greasiness.
After 30 minutes, flip the chicken so the breast is facing up. From this point, baste the chicken every 10 minutes with its own juices to ensure it stays moist and gets crispy.
Also, halfway through, drain any internal juices to ensure the chicken cooks thoroughly inside and out.
The chicken is ready when clear juice flows out upon inserting a skewer or knife between the thigh and the body.

Seasoning Tips

Salt and ground black pepper are essential; they’re often enough to flavor the chicken beautifully. In these photos, I used only these two spices.
A rotisserie chicken spice blend is a simple and tasty choice.
You can also experiment with spices like paprika, garlic powder, or a Provençal mix for variety. Remember, a rotisserie chicken can handle more seasoning, particularly salt, than you might expect!

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

Perfect Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken with Crispy Skin

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 1 5

Total Time 1 10

Course Dinner, Lunch

Servings people

Ingredients

whole chicken 3-3.5 pounds or 1.5 kg
10 g salt
2 g ground black pepper

Instructions

Take the chicken out of the fridge at least half an hour before cooking. Dry it thoroughly with paper towels and trim any excess fat. Preheat the air fryer.
Generously season the chicken with salt and pepper. Don't hesitate to use other spices to taste. Remember, the chicken can handle more seasoning than you might think.
Place the chicken breast-side down in the hot air fryer, and cook for 30 minutes at 390°F or 200 C.
After half an hour, turn the chicken breast-side up and continue cooking at 390°F or 200 C. During this time, pour out the fat and internal juices collected in the basket.
Cook for another 35 minutes, basting the chicken every 10 minutes with its own fat to ensure it stays juicy and crisps up nicely.
The chicken is done when clear juice runs out upon inserting a skewer or knife between the thigh and the body.