• Recipe Box
    • All Recipes
    • Low Carb & Keto
    • Whole30
    • Paleo
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Ninja Foodi
    • Air Fryer
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Side Dishes
    • Drinks
    • Dips, Salad Dressings & Sauces
    • Web Stories
  • Cooking Tips
  • About
    • Work With Dr. Davinah’s Eats
    • Contact
  • My 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

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

Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe (Keto & Whole30)

Last Updated February 22, 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!

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

  • crispy air fryer chicken drumsticks on a black board
    Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) [+VIDEO]
  • a close-up of an air fryer fried chicken wing on a white plate
    Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]
  • 52 Keto Air Fryer Recipes for Easy Meals
  • a close-up photo of a garlic parmesan wing on a plate
    Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings [+VIDEO]

Subscribe for Free Recipes, Meal Ideas & Tips!

Join more than 8,000 people who get my top recipes, meal ideas & tips to their inboxes each week.

* indicates required

Filed Under: All Keto Recipes, All Paleo Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Clean Eating Recipes, Keto Lunch & Dinner Recipes, Ninja Foodi Recipes, 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.

Spring Favorites

keto chicken tenders in a small pan with keto dipping sauce on the side

Keto Chicken Tenders [+VIDEO]

a close-up of six air fryer crab cakes in a metal bowl with lemon, dill, parsley, and homemade tartar sauce

Air Fryer Keto Crab Cakes [+VIDEO]

a close up of keto lemon cake with lemons topped with a sugar-free white chocolate glaze on top of a brown cutting board

Keto Lemon Pound Cake [+VIDEO]

double layer low carb strawberry shortcake on a cake stand

Low Carb Strawberry Shortcake [+VIDEO]

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bites on a white plate with lemon slices

Keto Lemon Cheesecake Bites with Blueberry Sauce

Double layer Low Carb Carrot Cake on a white plate with a mint leaf on top

The Best Keto Low Carb Carrot Cake Recipe [+VIDEO]

Most Popular Recipes

keto coleslaw in a bowl with a fork

Easy Low Carb & Keto Coleslaw Recipe [+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

Shrimp Scampi on a white oblong plate

Keto Garlic Shrimp Scampi Recipe [+VIDEO]

crispy air fryer chicken drumsticks on a black board

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

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

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

crispy baked chicken wings on a parchment lined baking sheet

Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

a close-up of an air fryer fried chicken wing on a white plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

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

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings [+VIDEO]

Menu Planning Ideas

  • Ninja Foodi Recipes
  • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Side Dishes
Chicken Tenders on a large plate

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (No Breading)

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans on a plate

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans

fall off the bone ribs on a plate with bbq sauce

Fall Off the Bone Ribs [+VIDEO]

shrimp marinara in a bowl

The Best Air Fryer Shrimp Marinara Recipe

air fryer ribs on a plate

Air Fryer Ribs Recipe

air fryer surf and turf on a black plate

Air Fryer Surf & Turf [+VIDEO]

close-up of pan-seared shrimp in a bowl with lemons

Easy Cast Iron Pan-Seared Shrimp

close up of browned air fryer sausage patties on a plate

Video: How to Make Sausage Patties in an Air Fryer

brats sausage on a plate

Air Fryer Brats [+VIDEO]

a plate of air fryer sausage and peppers

Air Fryer Italian Sausages [+VIDEO]

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans on a plate

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans

air fryer frozen Brussels sprouts in a white bowl

Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts

ninja foodi air fryer spaghetti squash on a plate

Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash

keto potato salad with radishes in a bowl

Keto Potato Salad (No Cauliflower)

Air Fryer Turkey Bacon (The Easiest 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 Dishes
  • 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 ©2022, Dr. Davinah's Eats. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • Pin
  • 618Share