By Jheelum Basu
December 9, 2025
Being a popular centrepiece of the Christmas dinner buffet, Roast Chicken is known for its delicious taste and savoury flavour. While it is traditionally roasted in an oven, using an air fryer is actually more convenient. To save more energy and to keep the kitchen cool, this Christmas, try this Air Fryer Roast Chicken recipe.
1 whole chicken (around 1.5 kg) 1 tsp salt 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp paprika ½ tsp black pepper ½ tsp dried basil ½ tsp oregano ½ tsp thyme ½ tsp rosemary Half a lemon (for the cavity) Half an onion (for the cavity) 3-4 garlic cloves
Wash the chicken and remove giblets from the cavity. Pat the entire chicken dry with paper towels.
Whisk together the olive oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, dried basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary to form a paste in a small bowl. Rub the paste all over the outside of the chicken.
Take the lemon, onion, and garlic cloves and place them inside the chicken cavity for enhanced aroma. Tie the chicken legs and wings with strings to ensure even roasting.
Preheat the air fryer to 180°C and place the chicken in the basket (breast-side down). Air fry for 30 minutes.
Using a tong, flip the chicken over so that the breast-side is up now. Air fry for 20-30 minutes more.
Check for doneness with a meat thermometer. It is done if the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reads 74°C. Transfer the chicken to a serving board. Garnish with herbs and lemon juice before serving.