Is there anything better than coming home to the smell of rotisserie chicken? Here I show you how to make an Air Fryer Rotisserie chicken right in your own kitchen.
Why you will love this recipe
This air fryer adapted recipe is simple and yields a moist, flavorful bird that's perfect for any night of the week. So ditch the take-out and give this easy recipe a try tonight!
Air Fryer rotisserie chicken is ready to serve in less time than conventional ovens. An air fryer also frees up your main kitchen oven if you are juggling several dishes to serve at the same time. And best of all, you still get that crispy skin that rotisserie chickens are famous for!
You also are in control of what the chicken is marinated, injected with, or basted with. This is not rotisserie chicken from huge commercial food packs holding 10 raw birds all marinating in the same flavor sauce (yes, that IS how it is shipped to the stores deli departments).
Jump to:
- Why you will love this recipe
- Ingredients
- How to rotisserie a chicken
- Serving suggestions
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Top Tips
- Frequently asked questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
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Ingredients
Choose a whole chicken, one that is about 4 to 5 lbs maximum. Costo rotisserie chickens average this weight, and they fit nicely on a large air fryer rotisserie spit without getting stuck turning.
- a whole chicken, fresh or defrosted
- fresh or dried herbs of your choice (try Tarragon, Oregano, or Thyme)
- lemon zest
- onion, quarter or chop
- garlic, peeled and crushed
- olive oil
- salt & pepper
Choose fresh ingredients whenever possible, as they will give the best flavors to your chicken. The lemon, onion, garlic, and even the herbs can be whatever you have available, as they will be tucked inside the chicken cavity to steam their aromas through the meat as the chicken turn on the spit.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to rotisserie a chicken
You will need an Air Fryer in the 13 quart minimum range, that also has a rotating spit for rotisserie cooking. Some have side swing doors, most have drop down oven style doors. Either will work.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prepare the chicken
Buy a fresh or frozen fryer chicken, not a large roasting chicken. Aim for a chicken weighing about 4 to 5 lbs.
Tuck the fresh herbs and other ingredients listed in the recipe below into the cavity. Tie the legs.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post
Skewer the chicken
You will skewer the chicken neck to tail. Use the pronged spit clips to stabilize the chicken to the spit.
Set the rotisserie spit into the air fryer, and set the cook time. Check to make sure it rotates properly.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Serving suggestions
Rotisserie chicken is perfect for a Friday night feast. Just set up the chicken to cook and make a green or fruit salad. Serving suggestions would be our Summer Berry Salad, Minted Cantaloupe Salad, Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus or Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice for a quick and easy end of week dinner.
Finish your meal off with some Bailey's Irish Cream Ganache drizzled over vanilla ice cream, or use your air fryer and make Air Fry S'mores, and you will have rave reviews!
Substitutions
Small Cornish Game Hens are amazing cooked on an air fryer rotisserie. They are small enough that you can even cook two!
Try substituting shallots for onions, lime or orange, or another fruit inside the bird.
Variations
- Rosemary & Garlic Rotisserie Chicken - Tuck some fresh rosemary and crushed garlic into the chicken cavity before setting to roast in the air fryer.
- Tarragon Rotisserie Chicken - Tarragon is so underrated and is such a perfect flavor pairing with roasting chicken. Tuck a nice bundle in the chicken before setting it to roast in the air fryer. Serve with our Roasted Rainbow Carrots for perfection.
- Barbecue Rotisserie Chicken - Tuck some dry barbecue rub inside the cavity, then rub the uncooked chicken with the dry barbecue seasoning on the outside. Set the chicken to rotisserie roast in the air fryer.
Equipment
- Air Fryer with a Rotisserie Spit
- Twine or string for trussing or roasting.
A large capacity air fryer will allow you to not only make shallow pan recipes like our Air Fried Buttermilk Ranch Potato Wedges, but also large items such as rotisserie chickens, pork roasts, and baked goods like muffins or cookies.
The roasting or trussing string will allow you to bind tenderloins that you stuff. It will let you tie the legs at the lower drumstick ends so that the leg quarters don't dangle while turning on the rotisserie spit.
Top Tips
- Keep the chicken under 5 lbs so that it can rotate on the spit completely.
- Always keep a drip pan or aluminum foil underneath the roasting chicken so it catches the drips and does not catch fire. It also makes it easier to clean up later.
Frequently asked questions
Allow for 30 minutes for two rotisserie Cornish Game hens to fully cook.
Yes, but you will need to run the spit skewer through parts of the turkey breast meat so that it is secured. Be sure to use the rotisserie spit clips to stabilize it so it turns with the spit.
Food Safety
- Don't use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat or seafood
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Ingredients
- 4-5 lb chicken fryer
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 2 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Remove any racks from your air fryer. Test the placement of the rotisserie spit.
- Wash your raw chicken, inside and out. Dry off the chicken on the outside.4-5 lb chicken fryer
- Add the onion, chopped thyme, lemon zest, salt, and pepper to the chicken cavity.1 small onion, quartered, 2 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Tie the chicken legs together with twine or string so they won't dangle about when on the spit. Tuck the wings behind the chicken's back, if possible.
- Run the spit through the chicken lengthwise, skewering it through part of the body cavity at both ends of the chicken cavity. This will secure the chicken in place so it turn with the spit. Use the spit clips at each end of the spit, pushing them in as far as possible at both ends of the chicken body. Brush with the olive oil.3 tablespoon olive oil
- Carefully place the spit holding the chicken into the air fryer rotisserie spit holder one end at a time until the spit locks into place. Make sure you have a drip tray or aluminum foil underneath during the cooking.
- Set at 375 degrees F and cook for 40 minutes, or until it is golden brown on the outside and interior temperature measures 160 degrees F. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Keep the chicken under 5 lbs so that it can rotate on the spit completely.
- You can marinate a chicken overnight in your favorite marinade before skewing on the rotisserie spit.
- Instead of using olive oil, you can baste with barbecue sauce.
Nutrition
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