Ever wondered if you can cook spatchcocked chicken in an air fryer, yes, you can and it is very easy to do as well. Air fryer spatchcock chicken is delicious, tender, and moist and it is a great way of cooking a whole chicken without all the hassle.
Serve with some air fried peppers and potatoes for a complete meal.
Air fryer spatchcock chicken recipe
If you love roasted chicken then you will love this air fried spatchcock chicken recipe. It is simple to make and so delicious. The air fryer cooks the chicken perfectly, it is juicy and packed full of flavor.
The best part about this recipe is that it is very healthy, it is a great dish for any occasion, and it's also perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
More importantly, a butterflied chicken cooks faster and more evenly than a whole chicken. So, if you are looking for a quick and easy chicken meal or another way to cook a whole chicken, this is the perfect recipe for you.
Why you will love this recipe
- Easy to make and can be customized to taste.
- Healthy, dairy-free, low carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free.
- Delicious, tender, and moist chicken.
Ingredients
1 Whole chicken
Dried parsley
Dried tarragon
Garlic granules sub with garlic powder
Onion powder
Cayenne pepper
Chicken stock powder
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
What is spatchcock chicken
Spatchcock chicken is a method of preparing a whole chicken by removing the backbone and flattening the bird. This allows the chicken to cook faster and evenly.
How to spatchcock a chicken
If you have never spatchcocked or butterflied a chicken before, then don't worry, it is very easy to do. All you are doing is removing the backbone of the chicken.
Pat the chicken dry and place the chicken breast-side down on a chopping board over a sturdy work surface. Using a sharp knife or kitchen shear (scissors) carefully cut along each side backbone until completely detached from the bird.
Once the backbone has been removed, flip the chicken so that the breast side is facing you. Use the back of your palm to press in between the chicken breast to break the bone and cartilage. This will help flatten out the chicken. That is it, very easy, your butterflied chicken is ready to be seasoned and cooked.
How to cook air fryer spatchcock chicken
Preheat the air fryer to 180C/350F.
In a small bowl, mix together the dried herbs, garlic granules, onion powder, cayenne pepper, chicken stock powder, salt, and black pepper.
Place the spatchcocked chicken on a flat plate breast side and brush olive oil all over it. Sprinkle and rub the spice mix all over the chicken, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Place the chicken in the air fryer basket breast side down. Brush oil on the back of the chicken, sprinkle, and rub in the seasoning mix. Cook the spatchcocked chicken in the air fryer for 20 minutes. Flip and continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken registers 165F/74C.
Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and let it rest for 10 minutes for the juice to redistribute before carving. Serve with your favorite sides and enjoy!
What to serve it with
Here are some of our favorite sides to serve with air fryer spatchcock chicken.
Roasted vegetables
Sauteed zucchini, spinach, or peas
Tips
- Note that the size of the chicken and the wattage of your air fryer would determine how long you would cook it.
- If you want to crisp up the skin, even more, increase the temperature to 200C/400F then cook the chicken a little longer in the air fryer a little longer breast side up. Be careful so as to not burn the skin or dry out the chicken.
- Season the chicken however you like, here are a few homemade seasonings you can try all-purpose seasoning, Peri peri seasoning, herb de Provence, Italian seasoning, and many more.
- You can marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours if you prefer for a more infused flavor.
- If cooking a smaller bird then cook for a total of 30 minutes, check the internal temperature, and adjust the timing accordingly.
- Make sure to use the size of chicken that will fit into your air fryer basket conveniently.
Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 lb Whole chicken
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
- ½ Tablespoon garlic granules sub with garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoon chicken stock powder
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 180C/350F.
- In a small bowl, mix together the dried herbs, garlic granules, onion powder, cayenne pepper, chicken stock powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Place the spatchcocked chicken on a flat plate breast side and brush olive oil all over it. Sprinkle and rub the spice mix all over the chicken, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket breast side down. Brush oil on the back of the chicken, sprinkle, and rub in the seasoning mix. Cook the spatchcocked chicken in the air fryer for 20 minutes. Flip and continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken registers 165F/74C.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and let it rest for 10 minutes for the juice to redistribute before carving. Serve with your favorite sides and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
How to store
Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months, make sure to properly wrap and label it before freezing.
FAQs
How long to cook butterfly chicken in an air fryer
How long to cook butterfly chicken in an air fryer really depends on the size of your chicken and the wattage of your air fryer. I have a 6-quart air fryer, and my chicken was about 3 lbs. I cooked my chicken at 180C/350F for 20 minutes breast side down then flipped it over and continued to
Don't have an air fryer can I bake this chicken in the oven
No problem, you can bake the chicken in the oven. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F, place the spatchcock chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in the oven for 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
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