When you want a tender cooked chicken with crispy skin, you’ve got to try this recipe for Air Fryer Whole Chicken! This Costco copycat roasted rotisserie-style chicken is so easy to make and delicious, too. This is a protein-rich, healthy recipe perfect for Sunday dinner or for meal prepping.

air fryer whole roasted chicken rotisserie style in basket.

Rotisserie-Style Chicken

The air fryer really can do it all! If you love rotisserie chickens from Costco, you are going to love this easy air fryer whole chicken recipe. The inside is moist and juicy while the outside is crispy. Plus, the cooked chicken can be used for so many recipes just like a rotisserie chicken.

And, the best part is the only ingredients you need are lemons, oil, and seasonings – besides the chicken of course!

roasted air fryer whole chicken on serving platter.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken Benefits

  • You can serve it with anything! A whole roast chicken tastes good with pretty much any side dish. Pair it with leftovers or steamed veggies and baked potatoes for a no-fuss but satisfying dinner.
  • It makes great leftovers. The best part of a whole chicken is the leftover meat can be thrown into soups, chicken salad, enchiladas, or sandwiches for a completely different meal the next day.
  • You don’t have to deal with the hassle of a real rotisserie set-up. An air fryer replicates the rotisserie and essentially makes this a recipe for air fryer rotisserie chicken.

Ingredients

Ingredients to cook air fryer chicken.
  • Whole chicken – Make sure to purchase the right size chicken for your air fryer. A 3.5 lb. chicken will fit perfectly in a small 5-quart air fryer but if yours is larger you can purchase a larger chicken. See notes under the recipe. Chicken is a great source of lean protein and is naturally low carb.
  • Olive oil will help the seasonings stick to the chicken skin and will crisp it up nicely. You can also use avocado oil (see my list of the safest cooking oils).
  • Spices including oregano, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper add lots of flavor to the chicken. You can also use Italian seasoning or whatever you like.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

How to cook a chicken in an air fryer.

Step One

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. This will help the skin crisp up.

Step Two

Stir together the olive oil and spice mixture in a small bowl.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Three

Rub half of the seasoning mixture onto the outside of the chicken and then turn it over and rub the other half on.

Step Four

Place the lemon slices into the cavity then transfer it chicken breast side down to the basket of the air fryer.

Cook for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit then turn the chicken over and cook for 20 more minutes. Be careful when you flip the chicken that you don’t burn yourself.

Use tongs to remove the entire chicken to a serving platter. Let sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

I hope you love this amazing juicy chicken recipe! It’s the best way to get crispy skin that the whole family will enjoy.

Air fryer roast chicken in a serving dish.

Recipe Tips

  • For a 5-quart air fryer basket, choose a chicken up to 3.5 pounds (this tends to be a smaller chicken). For a 6-quart air-fryer, choose a 4 pound chicken. For an 8-quart air-fryer (the most common size), you can go up to a 5 pound chicken. For each pound of chicken larger than 3 pounds, add an extra 3 minutes of cooking time to the total cooking time.
  • Store any leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • If you have a favorite rub or premade seasoning you can use that in place of the spices called for in the recipe.
  • Make sure to season both sides of the chicken to ensure maximum flavor.

Whole Chicken Recipe FAQs

How do you know if the whole chicken is cooked all the way through?

You will know the chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer or meat thermometer inserted into the chicken breast reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit internal temperature.

Can can I serve with my air fried chicken?

It’s traditional to serve cooked chicken with vegetables and potatoes. You can feel free to get creative. Serve your chicken on top of a salad or slice it and toss it with cooked pasta. The possibilities are endless!

What makes a rotisserie style chicken?

Crispy skin and juicy meat are the hallmarks of a chicken cooked on a rotisserie. The air fryer helps replicate these flavors and textures by using the convection oven to cook the chicken.

Can I cook a whole chicken in an Instant Pot instead of an air fryer?

Yes, but the chicken will not have crispy skin like the air fryer chicken does. See my recipe for Instant Pot Whole Chicken and Potatoes.

air fried chicken served with with veggies and lemon on plate.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You Might Like

You might also like my recipe for Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin.

Don’t Miss These Delicious Copycat Recipes!

Costco Stuffed Salmon (Copycat Recipe)

Costco Chicken Salad (Copycat Recipe)

Costco Quinoa Salad (Copycat Recipe)

Copycat Panera Chicken Noodle Soup (Authentic!)

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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air fryer chicken

Air Fryer Whole Chicken (Costco Rotisserie Copycat)

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5 from 1 review

Print Recipe

When you want a tender cooked chicken with crispy skin, you’ve got to try this recipe for Air Fryer Whole Chicken! This Costco copycat roasted chicken is so easy to make and delicious, too.

  • Total Time: 70 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 3.5–pound to 5 pound whole chicken, neck and giblets removed (see the notes to help determine which size of chicken is best for your air fryer)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 lemon, quartered

Instructions

  1. Prepare your chicken by placing it breast-side up on a flat surface. Pat it dry with paper towels.
  2. Then, in a small bowl, combine the oil, paprika, oregano, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Stir to combine.
  3. Drizzle half the oil and seasoning mixture onto the chicken, using your hands or a brush to cover the chicken.
  4. Then, turn the chicken over and pour the remainder of the oil and seasoning over it. Again, use your hands or a brush to make sure the surface of the chicken is coated.
  5. Place the lemon slices into the cavity of the chicken.
  6. Then, transfer the chicken (breast-side down) to the basket of the air fryer.
  7. Set the time to 30 minutes at 350°F.
  8. Use tongs to turn the chicken over (breast-side up) and cook it for an additional 20 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into one of the chicken breasts reads 165°F.
  9. Use clean tongs to remove the chicken to a serving plate. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving hot.

Notes

  1. For a 5-quart air fryer, choose a chicken up to 3.5 pounds. For a 6-quart air-fryer, choose a 4 pound chicken. For an 8-quart air-fryer, you can go up to a 5 pound chicken. For each pound of chicken larger than 3.5 pounds, add an extra 3 minutes of cooking time to the total cooking time.
  2. If you have a favorite rub or premade seasoning you can use that in place of the spices called for in the recipe.
  3. Make sure to season both sides of the chicken to ensure maximum flavor.
  4. Store any leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
  • Calories: 225
  • Sugar: 0.1 g
  • Sodium: 262.4 mg
  • Fat: 8.7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0.7 g
  • Fiber: 0.3 g
  • Protein: 34.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 110.3 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is a certified holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.