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Fried chicken is one of America's favorite comfort foods because it's golden, crispy, and delicious. Thanks to the air fryer, it can be healthier than ever. With the air fryer, you'll be sure to have delicious, perfectly cooked Air Fryer Half Chicken with this recipe!
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Check out my Air Fryer Pizza and my Air Fryer Banana Bread for more easy air fryer recipes!
Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken because they give it a crispy outer crust while keeping the meat moist and juicy on the inside. This recipe will show you how to make a delicious air fryer half chicken.
Of course, once you find out how easy it is to make chicken in an air fryer, you'll want to try it with other cuts of chicken as well. Feel free to experiment and find your favorite way to prepare air fryer chicken.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Healthier option. Because less oil is used in the cooking process, there are fewer calories and less fat overall. This means that you can enjoy your favorite comfort food without guilt.
- Crispy and delicious. The hot air circulating in the air fryer cooks the chicken skin to perfection, resulting in a crunchy exterior. And, because the chicken is cooked in its own juices, it's juicy and delicious on the inside.
- Easy to make. Simply season your chicken as desired and place it in the air fryer basket. In just minutes, you'll have a hot, delicious meal that's sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Butter Potatoes: Chopped in 1” cubes and parboiled for faster cooking.
- Yellow Onion: These onions will need to be chopped into 1” pieces.
- Baby Carrots: These can also be parboiled for faster cooking
- Halved Chicken: You will need halved chicken for the air fryer.
- Olive Oil: If you're going to fry anything, you need a little olive oil.
- Thyme: This is a great herb to add to chicken.
- Paprika: This will give your chicken a little bit of spice.
- Kosher Salt: This is needed to season the chicken.
- Pepper: You will also need this to season the chicken.
- Garlic Powder: This is another seasoning that will add great flavor to the chicken.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1:
Add vegetables to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2:
Add 1 tablespoon of oil and half of the spices. Mix and fully coat.
Step 3:
Add the half chicken and use the remaining oil and spices to coat. Let rest for 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats at 350 degrees F.
Step 4:
Add vegetables to the air fryer basket and place chicken on top.
Step 5:
Cook at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Recipe Tips
Cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer is a great way to get a crispy, juicy bird with minimal effort. However, if you're short on time or space, cooking a half chicken is a great option.
- Season the chicken well before cooking. This will help to ensure that the flavors penetrate into the meat.
- Cut the chicken into even pieces so that it cooks evenly.
- Use an air fryer basket liner to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
Variations
The following are three variations on the classic air fryer half chicken recipe.
- The first variation is to add some spice to the chicken. To do this, simply add some cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic powder to the chicken before cooking. This will give the chicken a nice kick of flavor.
- The second option is to add some lemon juice and herbs to the chicken before cooking. This will give the chicken a fresh and flavorful taste.
- Add some BBQ sauce to the chicken before cooking. This will give the chicken a nice smoky flavor. Whichever variation you choose, you're sure to enjoy delicious and healthy air fried chicken!
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Freezing: Place the chicken in a freezer safe airtight container for up to three months. When ready to eat, simply thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight and reheat in the air fryer.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in the air fryer. To do this, simply season the chicken as desired and place it in the air fryer basket. Then set the timer and temperature according to the manufacturer's instructions. In just minutes, you'll have a hot, delicious meal that's sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
The key to keeping air fryer chicken from drying out is to ensure that it's properly seasoned and cooked at the correct temperature. Be sure to flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking.
Yes, you can make air fryer chicken without oil. Simply coat the chicken in a light layer of cooking spray before cooking. This will help to prevent sticking and ensure that the chicken doesn't dry out.
More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
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Air Fryer Half Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 butter potatoes chopped in 1” cubes, parboiled for faster cooking
- ½ yellow onion chopped into 1” pieces
- 2 cups baby carrots parboiled for faster cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided in half
- 1 tablespoon thyme divided in half
- 1 tablespoon paprika divided in half
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder divided in half
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided in half
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper divided in half
- Half chicken raw
Instructions
- Add vegetables to a large mixing bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil and half of the spices. Mix and fully coat.
- Add the half chicken and use the remaining oil and spices to coat. Let rest for 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats at 350°F.
- Add vegetables to the air fryer basket and place chicken on top.
- Cook at 350°F for 30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking.
Notes
- Season the chicken well before cooking. This will help to ensure that the flavors penetrate into the meat.
- Cut the chicken into even pieces so that it cooks evenly.
- Use an air fryer basket liner to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
- Storing: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
- Freezing: Place the chicken in a freezer safe airtight container for up to three months. When ready to eat, simply thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight and reheat in the air fryer.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Enjoy!
Michele Cardneaux
I've been using and loving my air fryer for like 5 or so years...the BEST BBQ chicken I've EVER had was made in my air fryer!!
Regina L Rayburn
I love the recipe but this happens too often with air fryer recipes. The recipe addresses a basket style air fryer only, no instructions for an oven style air fryer I have adapted the recipes myself but a lot of less than stellar meals while adjusting, since they do cook very differently, just some food for thought for you. Definitely going to give it a shot though!