Air Fried Spatchcock Chicken

It’s so easy to cook spatchcock chicken in the air fryer and the results are out of this world! The skin is perfectly crispy and the meat is tender and juicy. Ready to serve in about 45 minutes and made with 3 ingredients.

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A roasted chicken is one of my favorite comfort foods but I don’t always have the time to make it. This air fried spatchcock chicken is a great hassle-free way to cook a whole chicken and the results are amazing!

Super quick and easy to prep, this chicken is perfect for a family meal and the cooking time is pretty hands-off. I just know you will love this recipe!

Be sure to check out my other air fryer recipes like Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers and Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Shrimp.

How to make air fryer spatchcock chicken

Spatchcock the chicken by removing the backbone and any excess fat, cracking the breast bone, and flipping the chicken so it lays flat.  

Dry the chicken with paper towels. Season the chicken with oil and seasoning, making sure to cover the entire chicken and to season under the skin. 

• Place in air fryer basket, breast side up, making sure the chicken lays flat in your basket. 

Air fry on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes, until a quick read thermometer inserted on the thickest part of the thigh registers at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove from air fryer and allow to rest for 15 minutes before cutting. Serve and enjoy.

Why spatchcock a chicken?

By removing the backbone of the chicken, you are able to flatten it out so that the chicken cooks evenly all the way through and much quicker than if you were cooking it whole. It’s a great foolproof method to cook the breast and thigh meat at the same time so that nothing dries out.

Can you make this recipe in the oven?

I love to make this recipe in the air fryer as the skin gets super crispy with very little effort. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can roast it in the oven at 400F for around 40-45 minutes. To get the crispy skin you may need to place it under the broiler for a few minutes.

What do you serve it with?

This air fried spatchcock chicken is great to serve with so many veggie and potato side dishes, and leftovers are great the next day served over a fresh salad. Try it with:

• Buttery Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes
• Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Air Fryer Carrots (Sweet or Savory)
• Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Recipe

Recipe Notes and Tips

• The size of your chicken and air fryer brand will determine the cook time. For smaller chickens, start checking around 30 minutes. Larger chickens may need a longer cook time.
• Season all over the chicken including under the skin.
• I used a 5.8qt air fryer for this chicken.
• Let the chicken rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute.

More Air Fried Chicken Recipes

• 15 Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
• Crispy Korean Air Fried Chicken Wings
• Fried Chicken Tacos (Air Fryer)
• Air Fryer Fried Chicken
• Sticky BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Legs

Watch this video tutorial and see how I make this chicken from start to finish.

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4.55 from 11 votes

Air Fried Spatchcock Chicken

It's so easy to cook spatchcock chicken in the air fryer and the results are out of this world! The skin is perfectly crispy and the meat is tender and juicy. Ready to serve in about 45 minutes and made with 3 ingredients.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword air fried spatchcock chicken, how to air fry spatchcock chicken

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 590kcal

Author Tanya

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 4 lb whole chicken giblets removed
• 3- Tablespoon of oil
• 3-4 Tablespoon of chicken seasoning or another seasoning of your choice.

Instructions

• Spatchcock the chicken by removing the backbone and any excess fat, cracking the breast bone, and flipping the chicken so it lays flat.
• Dry the chicken with paper towels. Season the chicken with oil and seasoning, making sure to cover the entire chicken and to season under the skin.
• Place in air fryer basket, breast side up, making sure the chicken lays flat in your basket.
• Ait fry on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes, until a quick read thermometer inserted on the thickest part of the thigh registers at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove from air fryer and allow to rest for 15 minutes before cutting. Serve and enjoy

Suggested Tools

Large Air Fryer

Quick Read Thermometer

Notes

• The size of your chicken and air fryer brand will determine the cook time. For smaller chickens, start checking around 30 minutes. Larger chickens may need a longer cook time.
• I used a 5.8qt air fryer for this chicken recipe.
• Season all over the chicken including under the skin.
• Let the chicken rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute.

Nutrition

Calories: 590kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 551mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 493IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 201mg | Iron: 6mg

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