• Recipe Box
    • All Recipes
    • Low Carb & Keto
    • Whole30
    • Paleo
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Ninja Foodi
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Drinks
    • Dips, Salad Dressings & Sauces
    • Web Stories
  • Cooking Tips
  • About
    • Work With Dr. Davinah’s Eats
    • Contact
  • Keto Blog
    • Product Reviews & Guides
    • Recipe Collections
    • Keto Guide for Dummies: A Introduction to Keto
    • Get Exclusive Discounts
    • 360 Cookware
    • Amazon Favorites
    • Shop

↑

Dr. Davinah's Eats

Keto, Low Carb & Air Fryer Recipes for Foodies

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Cast Iron Skillet Recipes
    • Cauliflower Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
      • Chicken Breast Recipes
      • Chicken Leg Recipes
      • Chicken Thigh Recipes
      • Chicken Wing Recipes
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Sauce Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Five Ingredient Recipes or Less
    • Keto & Low Carb Recipes
      • 30 Minutes or Less
      • Dessert Recipes
      • Pizza Recipes
      • Breakfast Recipes
      • Game Day Recipes
      • Lunch & Dinner Recipes
      • Drink Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas Recipes
      • Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Spice Mixes & Blends
    • Ninja Foodi Recipes
    • Paleo Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
      • Salmon Recipes
      • Scallops Recipes
      • Shrimp Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Whole30 Recipes
    • Web Stories
  • Keto Blog
    • Product Reviews & Guides
    • Recipe Meal Idea Lists
  • Shop
    • Exclusive Coupon Codes
    • 360 Cookware
    • Amazon Shop
  • Cooking Tips
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact Us
Home » Healthy Recipes » Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe (Keto & Whole30)

Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe (Keto & Whole30)

Last Updated July 5, 2022. Published January 8, 2019 By Davinah Cenou Montezuma

1.2K shares
  • Share618
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links to products I use and highly recommend. You can read my full disclosure .

Whole chickens are one of the easiest ways to meal prep because they provide a lot of meat. They are also super cheap when compared to buying the meat sections (wings, breasts, etc). For me, the only problem with making whole chickens is that they usually take forever to cook. You also often have to make the choice between having juicy meat and crispy skin. When cooking whole chickens in an air fryer, you no longer have to make that choice. This recipe for Air Fryer Whole Chicken has juicy, tender and flavorful meat with crispy skin. Another plus is that this recipe is perfect for those following Whole30.

Air Fryer Chicken breast and wing on a bed of collard greens with slices of lemon on a white plate

How do you make a whole chicken in an air fryer?

This Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe will take less than one hour to cook. You cook the meat at 400 degrees and 25-30 minutes per side. It’s important to flip the meat after 25-30 minutes so that the chicken can cook evenly. I have an XL Air Fryer and find that this is exactly enough space for a 4lb whole chicken.

How much salt do you use on a whole chicken?

One of the challenges when cooking whole chickens (and even turkeys) is knowing how much salt to use. By not salting properly, it’s quite possible to make a pretty bland dish. I recommend using about 3/4 tsp of sea salt per pound of meat. In this recipe, I used 1 tbsp and it was more than enough to bring out the flavors of the other spices.

A Pinterest image for Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Can I make an Air Fryer Whole Chicken without letting it marinate?

I recommend planning ahead with this because cooking the meat without marinating it will result in noticeably less flavor. The skin will be tasty, but the actual meat will be quite bland. Add the spices to the whole chicken and store it in an airtight bowl overnight. I’ve let the meat marinate for 36 hours so no worries if you decide to make this on the 2nd day (as to the next day).

Want other keto family-friendly meals?

Try this Low Carb Turkey Meatloaf, any of these Kid-approved Keto Meals, or these Keto Ground Beef Recipes. 

Air Fryer Whole Chicken on a blue serving dish with two lemon halves.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

A quick, keto-friendly, Whole30, and paleo recipe for whole chicken that was prepared in an hour using an air fryer.
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 1 hr
Marinate Meat: 4 hrs
Ready in: 1 hr 20 mins
Cuisine: American
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Servings: 6
Calories: 318kcal
Author: Davinah
Pin Rate Print

Use DRDAVINAHS at checkout to save on some equipment & ingredients!

Recommended Equipment

Ninja Foodi

Ingredients

  • 4 lb Whole Chicken, thawed
  • 1 tbsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
  • 1/2 tbsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1/2 tbsp Onion Powder
  • 1/2 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Herbes de Provence or Italian Seasoning

Key Tool

  • Air Fryer

Instructions

  • Mix all of the seasonings in a small bowl.
  • Rub the seasonings on the outside and inside of the meat. Allow the meat to become infused with flavor by marinating it overnight. 
  • Take the chicken out of the refrigerator ~20 minutes before you want to cook it. Meat tends to cook more evenly when it’s not straight from the refrigerator.
  • Add parchment paper or foil to the air fryer pan
  • Cook the meat on 400 degrees (or the chicken setting on your air fryer) for 30 minutes.
  • Flip the chicken and cook it for an additional 25-30 minutes. I prefer my chicken skin to be dark and crispy so I tend to leave mine in for 30 minutes.
  • Allow the chicken to rest (I pull the cooking pan out of the air fryer and sit it on a trivet on the counter or on top of the stove) for ~10 minutes before cutting into it.

Nutrition Details

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 1265mg | Potassium: 297mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 2.3mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1.7mg

The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!

Share this RecipeIf you enjoy this recipe, share a link to it via email or Facebook, pin it, or leave a rating. Please don’t copy/paste the instructions to other websites. Thanks for helping the website grow!

Related Posts

  • air fryer chicken legs recipe on a plate
    Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) [+VIDEO]
  • crispy air fryer whole chicken wings and sauce on a plate
    Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]
  • 55 Keto Air Fryer Recipes for Easy Meals
  • a close-up photo of a garlic parmesan wing on a plate
    Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings [+VIDEO]

Filed Under: Air Fryer Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Clean Eating Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Keto Dinner Recipes, Keto Recipes, Ninja Foodi Recipes, Paleo Recipes, Whole30 Recipes

close up photo of Davinah - the blogger behind Dr. Davinah\'s Eats welcome text that reads, \"I\'m Davinah\" I'm an educator & hardcore foodie who realized eating "all the things" couldn’t last forever. After getting my PhD in Education, I decided to make eating healthier my next big goal. Here, you'll find my collection of keto, low-carb and whole food comfort food recipes. Read More

Search this Website

Free Keto & Low Carb Recipes Delivered Weekly!

Subscribe for amazing recipes, giveaways, discounts and more.

Holiday Favorites

cabbage cooked in a crockpot

Easy Crockpot Cabbage Recipe

getting a slice of strawberry cheesecake

Best Keto Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe

close up of slow cooker turkey tenderloin recipe on a plate with gravy

Crockpot Turkey Tenderloin

Keto Stuffed French Toast topped with blueberries and maple syrup

Healthy Stuffed French Toast with Cream Cheese

a close up of surf and turf with steak and shrimp scampi on a plate

Surf and Turf (Steak & Shrimp) Recipe [+ Video]

close-up shot of Turkey Tenderloin

Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin [+VIDEO]

Most Popular Recipes

Shrimp Scampi on a white oblong plate

Keto Garlic Shrimp Scampi Recipe [+VIDEO]

a close-up photo of a garlic parmesan wing on a plate

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings [+VIDEO]

keto coleslaw in a bowl with a fork

Easy Low Carb & Keto Coleslaw Recipe [+VIDEO]

a close-up of Keto Bang Bang shrimp in a bowl

Low-Carb Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe (Grain-free, No-Added Sugar)

air fryer chicken legs recipe on a plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) [+VIDEO]

pan seared scallops in a bowl with cauliflower risotto

Seared Scallops and Cauliflower Rice Risotto

two air fryer salmon filets on a plate topped with garlic butter

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Herbed Salmon Recipe

close-up of Pressure Cooker Pot Roast in a bowl

Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

crispy air fryer whole chicken wings and sauce on a plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

Menu Planning Ideas

  • Chicken Recipes
  • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Side Dishes
Close up of a roast chicken on a plate with a lemon slice

Air Fryer Roasted Whole Chicken [4 Ingredients]

air fried chicken sausage on a cutting board

Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Sausages

crispy baked chicken wings on a parchment lined baking sheet

Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

frozen wings cooked in an air fryer on a plate with celery and bbq sauce

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

A plate of baked wings, celery, carrots, and a ramekin of ranch dressing.

Spicy Dry Rub Chicken Wings Recipe [+Video]

buffalo chicken pizza

Keto Low Carb Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe

Seared Scallops with lemon on a plate

Easy Pan Seared Scallops Recipe

Chicken Sausages with fried eggs on the side

Easy Homemade Chicken Breakfast Sausages

Keto Meatballs in a bowl

Easy Keto Italian Sausage Meatballs Recipe [+VIDEO]

air fryer chicken legs recipe on a plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) [+VIDEO]

instant pot southern green beans with bacon in a white bowl

Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

cabbage in a pressure cooker cooking pot

Instant Pot Cabbage Recipe [+VIDEO]

air fryer mushrooms with roasted garlic butter sauce and roasted garlic

Air Fryer Mushrooms

close up of browned air fryer sausage patties on a plate

Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Patties [+Video]

cabbage cooked in a crockpot

Easy Crockpot Cabbage Recipe

Featured on:

list of magazines and online blogs that feature Dr. Davinah\'s Eats recipes

@DrDavinahs Follow On Instagram

Free Keto & Low Carb Recipes Delivered Weekly!

Subscribe for amazing recipes, giveaways, discounts and more.

By using this website, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures

Browse by Category

Recipes by Course

  • Recipe Index
  • Breakfast
  • Main Course
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Dip, Salad Dressing & Sauces

Recipes by Diet

  • Keto & Low-Carb Recipes
  • Paleo Recipes
  • Whole30 Recipes

About Davinah Policies Work With Us

Search this Website

Copyright ©2023, Dr. Davinah's Eats. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • Pin
  • 618Share