Air Fryer Half Chicken Recipe
Discover the joy of preparing a tender and flavorful half chicken with the convenience of an air fryer – a perfect solution for a speedy mid-week dinner. Whether paired with vegetables or a refreshing salad, this crispy air fryer half chicken recipe is guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds.
Cooking Guide For Air Fryer Half Chicken
For those seeking a swift and scrumptious roast chicken meal tailored for two, or even one, air frying a half chicken is the ideal choice. Derived from my air fryer whole chicken roast recipe, this method slashes cooking time while retaining deliciousness. If you’re keen on rapid and effortless air fryer roasts, explore other mouthwatering options like the succulent rack of lamb air fryer recipe or the tender air fryer pork roast.
Read on for the step-by-step instructions on crafting this delectable air fryer half chicken, seasoned with Cajun flair.
Ingredients:
Half chicken: You can acquire pre-split chicken halves at your local grocery store, or your friendly neighborhood butcher can skillfully halve a whole chicken upon request. Generally weighing around 1½ to 2 pounds, ensure to adjust the cooking duration if working with a larger portion.
Oil: A modest drizzle of oil is essential for achieving crispy skin. Opt for light olive oil or any cooking oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil or vegetable oil.
Seasoning: Keep seasoning simple with salt and pepper, or venture into a world of flavors with diverse spice rubs, blends, or mixes. Some favorite choices include classic salt and pepper, Cajun spices, traditional herb blends like rosemary and thyme, zesty lemon pepper, or the aromatic combination of garlic and rosemary.
Directions:
Preparation is minimal if you’re working with pre-split chicken halves. However, if you’re segmenting a whole chicken yourself, a robust kitchen knife or sturdy kitchen shears are indispensable. If in doubt, consult a helpful video guide like “How to Halve a Whole Chicken.” Utilizing a spatchcocked or butterflied chicken is even easier, as half the work is already accomplished.
Once you have your half chicken ready, pat it dry with care, preparing it for seasoning.
Drizzle the chicken with oil, followed by sprinkling salt and your chosen seasonings. Massage the seasoning into both sides, ensuring an even coat. Remember to season around the wings as well.
A nifty tip: If time is of the essence (as it often is), a quick solution is to mist the chicken with oil once it’s in the air fryer basket. Then, sprinkle your desired seasonings and salt, gently pressing them in with the back of a spoon for perfect adherence.
Begin by preheating the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Place the half chicken in the air fryer and roast for 15 minutes. Afterward, flip the chicken over and continue air frying for an additional 15 minutes. Generally, calculate around 10 minutes per half pound of chicken. However, for larger or thicker cuts, allow for additional time.
To ensure thorough cooking, insert a thermometer into the center of the thickest part of the chicken. The chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) or higher. If more time is needed, air fry in 5-minute intervals, rechecking the temperature until perfection is achieved.
NOTE: Bear in mind that cooking times are approximate and can vary based on the chicken’s thickness and the air fryer’s power.
Once the cooking is complete, transfer the chicken to a plate and cover it with aluminum foil. Allow the chicken to rest for approximately ten minutes. This resting period facilitates the reabsorption of succulent juices into the meat, enhancing the overall flavor.
Embrace the simplicity and speed of air frying with this delectable half chicken recipe. Serve it alongside your preferred vegetables or a delightful salad for an exceptional mid-week dinner experience. Enjoy the crispy texture and robust flavors, all achieved in a fraction of the time required for traditional roasting methods.
Ideas For Serving With Air Fried Chicken
One of the advantages of preparing a half chicken in an air fryer is the ample space it provides for simultaneously cooking vegetables alongside the chicken. When cooking an entire chicken, the air fryer’s capacity is nearly filled, making it necessary to cook vegetables in separate batches.
However, with a half chicken, there’s plenty of room, making it wonderfully convenient to prepare an entire meal using the air fryer. As the cooking time nears its end, typically around ten minutes remaining, it’s a good opportunity to add vegetables to the air fryer to roast. Once the chicken has completed its cooking cycle, it can be set aside to rest, allowing the vegetables to regain their crispness by returning them to the air fryer.
For a simple and flavorful accompaniment to this half chicken, you might consider trying a gravy made from stock. Alternatively, experiment with topping the chicken using a homemade tarragon butter for an extra burst of flavor.
Air Fried Half Chicken
AIR FRIED HALF CHICKEN
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Learn How To Perfectly Roast A Half Chicken Using An Air Fryer.
Ingredients:
- Half chicken (broiler)
- ½ tablespoon of light olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of chicken seasoning (optional)
- ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C).
- Pat the half chicken dry. Rub it with olive oil and season it with salt, pepper, and any optional seasoning you prefer.
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the chicken in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and continue cooking in the air fryer for an additional 15-20 minutes [See Note 3].
- To check for doneness, ensure that the chicken’s juices run clear when a knife is inserted into the thickest part. If uncertain, use a meat thermometer – the internal temperature should reach at least 165°F (75°C). Add extra 5-minute intervals of air frying if needed.
- Cover the cooked chicken with foil and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.
Notes:
A small broiler half chicken typically weighs around 1½ lb. Cooking times will be longer for larger chickens.
If your chicken seasoning contains salt, omit adding extra salt.
Cooking times usually average around 10-12 minutes per half pound, although they can vary based on the thickness of the half chicken and the air fryer’s power.
Nutrition Information Per Serving:
- Calories: 265
- Total Fat: 13.5g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
- Sodium: 275mg
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- Protein: 37g
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Air Fryer Half Chicken
Ingredients
- Half chicken (Broiler)
- ½ tablespoon of light olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of chicken seasoning optional
- ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C).
- Pat the half chicken dry. Rub it with olive oil and season it with salt, pepper, and any optional seasoning you prefer.
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the chicken in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and continue cooking in the air fryer for an additional 15-20 minutes [See Note 3].
- To check for doneness, ensure that the chicken's juices run clear when a knife is inserted into the thickest part. If uncertain, use a meat thermometer – the internal temperature should reach at least 165°F (75°C). Add extra 5-minute intervals of air frying if needed.
- Cover the cooked chicken with foil and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.
