Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a perfectly roasted, juicy, and succulent whole chicken with minimal effort? Well, believe it or not, you can now accomplish this feat with ease using the Ninja Foodi! In this blog post, we will discuss how to use the Ninja Foodi pressure cooking/air fryer hybrid appliance to make a perfect roast-style Ninja Foodi whole chicken bursting with flavor. With just a few simple steps and minimal hands-on time required, this simple recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight.
If you love meals that save money, are great for meal prep, and have easy clean-up, you are going to love this Ninja Foodi roast chicken.
You get all of the flavors of a rotisserie chicken in the comfort of your own home.
Tender, succulent chicken with perfectly crispy skin doesn’t get any better than this. Once you make roast chicken in your Ninja Foodi, you will wonder why you ever made it any other way.
Serve it with slow cooker sweet potatoes, Instant Pot spaghetti squash, air fryer mac and cheese, Instant Pot green beans or buffalo potatoes.
Let's Talk Ingredients
I like using my homemade BBQ seasoning for this—it’s a simple mix of smoked paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, pepper, chili powder, and a little ground mustard. You can grab a store-bought version if that’s easier.
For the oil, I usually go with avocado oil, but any cooking oil you like will work fine.
Step by Step
For the full recipe with measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Tips & Tricks
- Most Ninja Foodi’s will fit up to a six-pound whole chicken, but make sure you test this before removing your chicken from its packaging. The models have changed through the years.
- Make sure your chicken is completely thawed before cooking. (Or follow the instructions below for cooking from frozen.)
- If you have time, season your chicken 12 to 24 hours in advance. Not only does this enhance flavors, but the salt will permeate the fibers of the chicken and yield juicer meat.
- When prepping the chicken, don’t forget to check the cavity and remove the giblets if they’re still inside.
- Save the chicken bones and drippings to make bone broth. Not only does this save money, but homemade broth tastes better than packaged.
- For additional flavor, you can place sprigs of fresh herbs underneath the skin of the chicken after you add the seasonings. Parsley and thyme are great options.
Cooking From Frozen
I recommend increasing the time under pressure to about 40 minutes and then air frying as directed.
Make sure you use an instant read thermometer before and during the air fryer time to make sure the chicken is cooked through but not overdone. Use the thermometer to guide you and adjust the cooking time as needed.
Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken (Roasted Chicken)
Equipment
- Ninja Foodi
Ingredients
- 2 ½ tablespoons BBQ seasoning
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 3 to 5 pound whole chicken
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the BBQ seasoning, salt, and oil.
- Rub the oil mixture all over the chicken, under the skin and over the meat. Place the chicken in the air-crisp basket.
- Pour the broth in the bottom of the inner pot to your Ninja Foodi, and place the basket on top.
- Set your Foodi to HIGH pressure, and set the time for 15 minutes.
- When the time is done, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, and then release. Carefully open the lid.
- Brush the chicken skin with the butter. Set the Ninja Foodi to Air Fry at 400° F for 20 minutes. Cook until the chicken is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 160° F. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Barbie says
This recipe is spot on perfection! I didn't change a thing and my chicken is not only beautiful, it tastes delicious! Thank you. This one is a keeper!
Wendy Polisi says
I am so glad that you enjoyed it! This is a favorite at our house too.
Beth N says
Thank you! My chicken was tender and juicy….scrumptious!
Wendy Polisi says
I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Madlyn Kissinger says
Hi! Love this super easy recipe! If I wanted to cook potatoes with this dish- is that an easy feat? At what point should I throw them in?