Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer – Brathendl in Luftfritteuse

by: Lydia Fulson  /  Writer, Artist, Traveler, Granddaughter & Ever-Learning German Cook

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This whole chicken in the Air Fryer, aka Brathendl in Luftfritteuse, is so delicious! It's so quick, flavorful, and done the easy way! There's something so lecker about the flavors and crispy textures on this chicken recipe.

Now, this is where your trusty rotisserie basket comes in handy! Just slide your basket in your fryer, wait, and out comes this wonderfully cooked chicken that will leave you reaching for seconds ... or thirds.

There are so many different ways to use the basket of the air fryer but in my opinion, this way is the best way.

Doesn't that look amazing? It sure does taste yummy. I made this whole roast chicken in the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven and it was so easy, really! If I could, I'd give this fryer a 5-star rating!

I know it may seem complicated-looking and sometimes it can be tricky to decide which spices to use. Or which ones are German. We all love to add some German flair to our dishes.

Follow my hints and tips to help you along the way as you make your own air fryer rotisserie chicken. If it doesn't turn out just how you want it to the first time around, don't sweat it! With time and practice, you'll have some yummy, tender, and juicy meat to share with the whole family.

So let's get our aprons on and head to the kitchen!

But first ... let's get to know our equipment.

How To Use The Rotisserie Basket

If you are using the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven, you'll notice that there aren't too many pieces to the basket, which makes this recipe even easier.

Rotisserie baskets work in the air fryer because they allow air to circulate all the way around as your food rotates in the basket. As it rolls around, the meat is basting in its own juices. This makes it the perfect tool for making chicken, leaving a golden, evenly cooked skin and juicy center from even air circulation. 

The long process of trussing a chicken to put it onto a rotisserie spit is the last thing you want to do after spending all that time prepping your yummy chicken. The second you finish getting that chicken ready, you just want to get it in the fryer as quickly as you can so you can enjoy it!

So, if your chicken is less than around 3 pounds, use that rotisserie basket. So easy! If you need a little extra help with this, no worries at all! In the video below, I'm showing you step by step how to put your basket together. :)

What Size Will Fit In The Rotisserie?

It can be difficult to gauge exactly what size chicken will fit in your rotisserie basket, but we figured it out ... (the hard way), so you don't have to. Whether you have a smaller air fryer or larger size air fryer, we've got you covered.

After trial and error, we learned pretty quickly that if your chicken is slightly too big for your basket, the lid won't securely stay on or fit in the fryer. We found that the best size is to keep it under 3 pounds. So, try to aim for the smaller chicken while shopping around to ensure that you will have enough room during the rotating and cooking time.

You can find these whole chickens at your local grocery store and they aren't too costly either. The picture at the top of the page is the chicken that I found locally. It weighed about 2.5 pounds and was the perfect amount for my parents and me.

Depending on how big your appetite is, you may want to aim more for the 3-pound mark, so you get more out of it.

But, if you don't want to use the rotisserie basket or your chicken is too big, just use your rotisserie spit! 

Using A Rotisserie Spit

What is a rotisserie spit? Well ...

It's this funky-looking contraption! It looks strange, but it does work! Because it can be cumbersome to get the chicken on the prongs, you may need an extra pair of hands to help with this one. 

You can get your chicken on your spit by adjusting those screws as needed to fit the size of your chicken, then poke those prongs through the front and back of the chicken. 

Using the spit will give you the same type of cook as the basket. Very juicy, golden, evenly cooked deliciousness! It also gives you a bit more room than the basket does, so don't be afraid to go up to a 4 or even a 5-pound chicken when using this tool.

Here is Oma's chicken made on the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven spit. Now that's making me hungry!

When you are using the spit, you'll need to truss your chicken with kitchen twine very tightly, so that the wings and legs don't start to dance around.

Don't want to use the rotisserie spit either? No problem! You can also make this chicken on one of the trays that came with your air fryer.

You'll need to turn the chicken over halfway through the roasting time. By doing it this way, you can get very crispy skin! YUM! 

What Can I Add to Make it More German?

There is a very colorful spice that we Germans LOVE and that is paprika! 

It has been a staple spice in German cuisine for years and it's no secret as to why that is. The flavors that it adds are so bold and delicious, and its beautiful red hue gives any bland-looking dish a lovely burst of color.

I wasn't too familiar with paprika until Oma introduced me to it. I was never too adventurous with spices ... then I tried paprika. I used paprika when making my chicken and was not left disappointed. 

Not only is it delicious, but it's beneficial as well. Did you know that paprika is full of vitamin A and antioxidants? That's right! It benefits your overall cholesterol and blood sugar.

Rosemary and nutmeg are also very German and give off wunderbar flavors. Garlic powder and onion powder are great options to add as well ... and don't forget, a little black pepper goes a long way!

There really are no rights and wrongs when it comes to spices. Don't be afraid to experiment with some to find the best combination to suit your taste!

As you can see in the picture above, I made sure to work my fingers between the skin and the meat. This is so I can get inside and get our yummy mixture right on the meat for extra flavor!

Start by sliding your fingers between the meat and the skin. Work slowly, separating as much of the skin from the meat as you can reach and massage in the mixture.

This part can get messy. Keep those paper towels handy! I do suggest wearing gloves so that the paprika doesn't stain your hands orange. I didn't remember this until it was too late ... 

Ready to air fry your chicken?

Print Recipe

Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer – Brathendl in Luftfritteuse

This whole roast chicken in the Air Fryer is so delicious! It's so quick, easy, and flavorful! There's something so lecker about the flavors and crispy textures on this chicken recipe.

I used the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven to make this delicious chicken. If you have something different, no problem. Simply adjust settings and cook time accordingly. 

I based this recipe on my Oma's Brathendl recipe from her German Meals at Oma's cookbook.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 60 minutes

Total Time 75 minutes

Servings:

Makes 1 chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, around 3 pounds
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 - 3 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat air fryer to 375°F on AirFry.
2. In a small bowl mix together olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Slide your fingers between the meat and the skin, and working slowly, separate as much of the skin from the meat as you can reach. Scoop in some of the oil mixture, while pushing under the skin with your fingers.
4. Massage and pat chicken with the remainder of the mixture. Covering the entire thing, including underneath.
5. Place chicken in basket or on to spit. Place into air fryer.
6. Air fry for about 1 hour or until the thighs internal temperature reaches 170°F. 
7. For a crispier skin, set roasted chicken on a tray and return to air fryer at 400°F. Cook for 5 minutes, flip, then return for another 5 minutes. Watch carefully so that it doesn't burn.
8. Cut, serve and enjoy!

Notes/Hints:

• When using rotisserie basket, make sure you put it in the air fryer with the lid facing the motor (left side).
• If you wish, instead of olive oil you can use melted butter for a more traditional flavor. However, the butter will quickly harden from the cold of the chicken and won't spread nicely. Olive oil will stay liquid, ensuring that the seasonings stick as you evenly coat the chicken.
• Getting in between the skin and meat with your fingers to spread the chicken seasoning mixture inside will add extra flavor and juiciness.
• A rotisserie chicken doesn't naturally have crispy skin since it is constantly being basted by its own juices. By putting the chicken on a tray just at the end and air frying for several more minutes, allows the skin to crisp up.
• Adding a baking tray to the bottom of the air fryer while cooking will collect all of that juicy goodness that drips off during the rotisserie process. After your chicken is finished, you can use that tasty juiciness to make a chicken broth for soup! What wundebar flavor that would add to a soup, don't you think? Catching all of that liquid also saves on clean up time afterward.
• Be sure to use a proper meat thermometer to check that the temperature is as it should be ... no one likes food poisoning!

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Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer ~ Brathendl in Luftfritteuse



By Lydia Fulson





You have got to try this whole chicken in the air fryer, aka Brathendl in Luftfritteuse, so crispy and delicious! It's so quick, easy, and flavorful! This recipe is sure to become family favorite.


Ingredients: chicken, olive oil, seasonings,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

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More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.