Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Ninja Foodi air fryer whole chicken is amazing! Copycat rotisserie chicken with super crispy skin outside and tender meat inside. Way better than store bought and makes the best dinner. Give this easy air fryer recipe a try. 

Ninja Air Fryer Whole Chicken

We made a Ninja Foodi rotisserie chicken since that is the machine we have, but you can use any brand of air fryer for this. As long as it fits in the basket when you close it you’re good. Choose a smaller bird if you need to in order to try this, I guarantee you’ll never buy one bagged again at the store.

All of these handy small kitchen appliances work basically the same, except the Foodi uses the lid that is attached. The biggest difference is the size and shape of the basket. In this case it does make a difference.

You will need at least a 6 quart pot to make this well, bigger is better. Mine is 5.6 qt. or something shy of 6 and it’s just fine. Grab some olive oil and the seasonings of your choice to start. Just choose a smaller bird and get going y’all!

Ninja Foodi Rotisserie Chicken

In case you aren’t familiar with the Ninja Foodi pressure cooker and air fryer we will tell you why we love it! I have the 6 quart air fryer version, any brand including the xl air fryer works with these instructions and

• Our Ninja Foodi chicken is specific to this pot.
• But you can also follow directions in our Instant Pot whole chicken with this pot.

No need to heat up your oven and cook at 350 degrees anymore. This is the BEST way to cook a chicken now. A great way to do it if you’re in a hurry for sure OR you love rotisserie chicken at the store but want it super fresh and ultra crispy on the outside.

Now you can leave it in an extra few minutes so your legs, wings and chicken skin all over is super golden brown and crisp to your liking. Store bought ones can become soft as they sit, and I like that I can choose to cook organic birds which in our opinion have leaner and more flavorful meat.

How Long to Cook Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

You are looking at 1 hour, which will vary slightly depending on the weight of course. For a 3-4 pound bird 50-60 minutes is about right. I will say that organic sometimes takes a bit longer since it is lower in fat and has more protein but it is a very slight difference. Use a meat thermometer and stop once the thickest part reaches 165F.

This is the goal right? You are used to just grabbing one of those in a bag at the store with tender meat but a bit of crisp on the skins. But then by the time you eat it that gets soft and isn’t as good as if you had it right out of the oven. THIS is how you do just that.

We make Ninja Foodi chicken breast like a lot during the week. It is way cheaper to buy the whole bird though y’all. Accessories you will need aren’t much. Just the basket is basically it, and something to prep it on of course.

I chose to use the air fryer basket that comes with the Ninja Foodi machine. (seen below) You can also use an air fryer trivet so the top skin doesn’t get as brown.

How big of a chicken can you cook in an air fryer?

3-4 Quart Air Fryer would be best for cornish hen in air fryer, or a very small whole chicken like 2-3 pounds is max. This size is typically best suited for cooking smaller cuts, like wings, thighs, or breasts, rather than a whole bird.

5-6 Quart Air Fryer works for up to 4-5 pounds. This is usually spacious enough to cook a decently sized whole one, but it may require you to check frequently or flip halfway through to ensure even cooking because it’s closer to the heating element.

8 Quart and Larger Air Fryer can cook a whole chicken up to 6 pounds actually. Larger models that are 8+ quarts can usually fit a standard-sized whole chicken, especially if the model has a more square or roomy basket.

With Ninja Foodi air fryer recipes it is on the rather large size since you can pressure cook with it too. I still like keeping to 4 lbs. myself as you can see below how it fits snug. Refer to the detailed ingredient list and instructions below in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here is a quick step by step though so you can get the general idea.

Ingredients

• 4 pound whole chicken, ours was 4.5 lbs. this time (3-4 lbs. is ideal I say)
• Garlic salt, basil, onion powder and oregano is what we used for seasonings
• Olive oil will allow herbs to stick and crisp the skin too

How to choose the best whole chicken

Let’s talk about whole birds just a bit shall we? You should have a few choices at the store to choose from. Typically they’ll have organic, store brand, and if you dig further you can find some without the bag of “stuff” inside. I prefer about 4 pounds, organic and free range. These have more meat, less fat and the texture isn’t as chewy. Just my opinion……

How to Cook a Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

1. Wash your chicken and remove bag from inside cavity.
2. Pat dry with paper towels.
3. Rub or spray with olive oil cooking spray on both sides.
4. Season both sides and put in air fry basket with breast side facing down.
5. Close air crisp lid and set to 360 degrees for 30 minutes.
6. Flip to the other side
7. Reset to 360 degrees for another 30 minutes. Check internal temp, should be 165F.
8. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before slicing.

Do you have to flip a whole chicken in the air fryer?

You do not have to. I prefer to cook for 30 minutes with the breast facing down first and the rest of the cook time with it facing up to crisp as much as possible but that isn’t necessary. You can set inside the basket with the breasts up at the beginning and it will turn out juicy too.

1. Put chicken breast side up into your air fryer basket.
2. Rub with olive oil. Season.
3. Close air fryer lid, set to air crisp, 360 degrees for 60 minutes.
4. Remove, allow to sit for 5 min., slice and enjoy!
5. Rotating is best if you can so you get a more even crisp on the outside though

For the size I purchased 75 minutes seemed too long so I set it to 60 instead. I wouldn’t cook it any longer than that. It was absolutely perfect.

Can you air fry a whole chicken from frozen?

Yes and this has been a game changer. You can even cook it right out of the freezer if you have had a forgetful moment. That is right, we have figured out how long to cook a frozen whole chicken in air fryer this way so don’t fret.

Yes the very top skin does get quite brown but believe it or not it still tastes amazing. Looks quite similar to a rotisserie you would buy at the store except that it is much crispier on the outside and the bottom isn’t soggy like those are sitting up against that bag all day long.

What to do with leftovers

Our favorite leftover chicken recipe is our pressure cooker chicken and rice. We’ve also made this simple chicken pot pie with it too. Add some vegetables and it’s a creamy dinner everyone will rave

When reheating chicken in air fryer there are a few tips you should remember too, we go over them in the above post.

How long before cooked chicken goes bad?

Some bacteria such as salmonella may exist if the chicken was not cooked properly. This could potentially cause food poisoning. It’s best to discard your chicken if it has been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If it’s been sitting in the fridge for more than 4 days, it’s probably not good either. Always ensure the internal temperature of your chicken is at least 165 degrees when done to be safe. 

Other easy air fryer chicken recipes you’ll love

1. Things to serve with your Ninja Foodi chicken breast, legs and thighs are many but we usually go with a vegetable of some kind of course.
2. Buttermilk air fryer chicken legs are great