Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken Recipe (Ninja Foodi Roast Chicken) (2024)

Learn to make Ninja Foodi whole chicken! This Ninja Foodi roast chicken recipe is even better than grocery store rotisserie chicken. Plus, it’s so easy- make this Ninja Foodi roast chicken without pressure cooker or rotisserie spit. You’ll love this Ninja Foodi roasted whole chicken that’s cooked to moist perfection and drizzled with a delicious gravy. It’s a favorite for Sunday dinners with the family!

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My air fryer rotisserie chicken has long been a favorite recipe on the site. But did you know you can make Ninja Foodi rotisserie chicken as well?

The advantage of this whole chicken Ninja Foodi recipe is that the drippings collect at the bottom of the pot. You can use them to make a succulent gravy (or don’t, and keep the recipe low carb and gluten free). I mean, seriously though, why let those tasty chicken drippings go to waste?

Also, this recipe works without using an air fryer spit. It’s a great option if your cooker doesn’t have this feature.

One of the most important things to remember for this recipe is to get a chicken that fits. You may not be able to make a 6 lb Ninja Foodi whole chicken, as it may not fit in the Foodi! Be sure to test fitting the chicken in the Ninja Foodi before beginning the recipe.

If your chicken doesn’t fit, no worries. I’ve provided oven directions for roasting chicken as well!

⭐ Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken Benefits

Why make whole chicken in the Ninja Foodi? Here are some advantages of this recipe:

• Save money: Whole chickens are typically cheaper per pound than chicken pieces. Additionally, you can save the chicken carcass and make bone broth for soup.
• Great for meal prep: This leftover chicken can be used in salads, soups, casseroles, or other meals, just as you’d use leftover rotisserie chicken. The versatility of plain roasted chicken is one of its advantages; it can be incorporated into so many other dishes! It’s tender and perfect for shredding or chopping.
• Easy clean up: Ugh, I really hate scrubbing the roasting pan. Making Ninja Foodi roast chicken means I don’t have a pan to scrub. The Foodi has non-stick surfaces that clean up easily.
• Nutrition: Roast chicken (minus the gravy) is naturally low carb, keto, and gluten free. It’s packed with high-quality protein, as well as nutrients such as niacin and vitamin B12.
• Delicious: Chicken tends to be a hit even with picky eaters. It's simple and nourishing comfort food.

🥘 Ninja Foodi Roast Chicken Ingredients

To make roasted chicken in a Ninja Foodi, you need the following ingredients:

• One fresh whole chicken (4-5 lbs; 1.8-2.3 kg)
• Rosemary sprig
• Parsley sprig
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small shallot
• ½ lemon
• Salt and pepper

To make the baste and optional gravy, you’ll also need:

• 1 cup apple cider
• 2½ tablespoons butter (divided)
• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 1 cup chicken broth

You’ll also want to have a good knife, a pastry brush, tongs, meat thermometer and a Ninja Foodi for this recipe. The Ninja Foodi you use must be big enough to hold the chicken and have air frying capacity. I use a Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL 8-quart pressure cooker with air fryer crisping lid (AKA tendercrisp lid).

We’re roasting chicken in the air fryer basket, which is set inside the ceramic pot that is used for pressure cooking. This keeps the chicken up and out of the drippings during cooking, allowing it to crisp on all sides.

🔪 How to Make Whole Chicken in Ninja Foodi

Remove the giblets from the chicken and pat it dry on both sides with paper towels. Don’t truss it, it’s less work and will allow the chicken to brown nicely between the legs.

Juice half a lemon. Set the juice and rind aside.

Strip the leaves from the rosemary and parsley sprigs. Set the stems aside and chop the leaves finely.

Rub the chicken all over with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the lemon rind, rosemary and parsley stems, and a quartered shallot in the cavity.

Place the chicken (breast side down) in the Ninja Foodi air fryer basket, which is set inside the ceramic pot. Put the air fryer tendercrisp lid on the Foodi.

⏲️ Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken Cooking Time and Temperature

How long to cook whole chicken in the Ninja Foodi? What temperature to roast whole chicken in Ninja Foodi? The chicken takes a total of 60 minutes to air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177C).

Begin by air frying the chicken for 30 minutes. While the chicken roasts, combine the cider, ½ tablespoon butter, and lemon juice in a pan on the stovetop. Let it reduce for 30 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

After the chicken has air fried for 30 minutes, flip it and place it back in the Foodi. To flip the chicken, I carefully dumped it onto a plate, and then put it back in the Foodi with tongs. Close the lid and air fry an additional 20 minutes.

After the time is up, brush the top of the chicken with half of the cider reduction. Air fry 5 minutes.

Then brush with the rest of the cider reduction and air fry an additional 5 minutes.

Check the internal temperature of the chicken by sticking an instant read meat thermometer between the thigh and body of the chicken. The safe minimum internal temp for chicken is 165F (74C). Add additional air frying time as needed.

Remove the chicken from the Ninja Foodi and tent it in foil. Let it rest for 15 minutes before carving and serving. You can make gravy (if you wish) while it rests.

😋 How to Make Ninja Foodi Gravy

To make Ninja Foodi chicken gravy, begin by removing the air fryer basket from the ceramic pot. Pour out the chicken drippings and set them aside. (We’ll be using them in a little bit.)

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the flour on medium saute, stirring to make a roux (flour paste). Whisk in the chicken drippings, chicken broth, and the chopped rosemary and parsley leaves.

Keep whisking until it thickens. It will take approximately 5-10 minutes (or less if you have fewer chicken drippings).

Slice the chicken and serve with the warm gravy. So flavorful and comforting!

🔥 Roasted Chicken Oven Directions

You don’t need a Ninja Foodi to make this recipe. Begin by preheating the oven to 425F (218C). Prepare the chicken as described above (remove giblets, rub with oil, stuff with shallot, lemon rind, etc.).

Place the chicken in a roasting pan with a rack. The chicken should be placed breast side up. Fold the wing tips under the chicken so that they do not burn.

Bake the chicken for 35 minutes while you prepare the cider basting glaze as described above.

After the chicken has roasted for 35 minutes, brush it with half of the cider reduction and bake for 5 minutes. Remove it from the oven, brush it with the other half of the cider reduction, and bake for 5 minutes more.

Check the internal temperature of your chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached a minimum of 165F (74C). If it has, tent the chicken in foil and let it rest outside of the oven for 15 minutes. Make the gravy on the stovetop instead of in a Ninja Foodi.

🐔 How cook Ninja Foodi whole chicken from frozen?

To make Ninja Foodi frozen whole chicken, thaw the meat using the pressure cooker function before crisping the skin up with air frying. You can pressure cook a 4-5 lb frozen chicken on the trivet with 1-2 cups of water in 60-70 minutes. Quick release pressure, then air fry for 5 minutes to make the skin crispy.

️🌡️ Leftover Chicken Recipes

Leftover chicken keeps in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Here's how to reheat rotisserie chicken in air fryer (including the Ninja Foodi). Don't add the gravy until just before serving.

Leftover chicken also freezes well. Remove the skin and bones, and store it in freezer bags with the air pressed out. Here are a few recipes using leftover cooked chicken:

• Meal Prep Salads for Weight Loss
• Instant Pot Stir Fry
• Summer Berry Salad

🥗 What goes with roasted chicken?

Wondering what to serve with roasted chicken? Here are a few of my favorite side dishes for roast chicken:

• Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
• Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
• Rice (white rice or brown rice)
• Asparagus
• Air Fryer Frozen Dumplings

📋 Calories, Net Carbs, Protein

One serving of Ninja Foodi whole chicken has 253 calories, 0 grams net carbs, and 27 grams protein. Nutrition information is for a 4-ounce cooked portion (113g) including meat and skin and doesn’t include the gravy or cider-based baste.

💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian

This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Plain chicken without the skin is a low calorie and protein-dense food. When served with the chicken skin and with gravy, we’re adding a lot of fat and calories.

If I wanted a level 1 recipe, I would skip the gravy and enjoy the chicken breast without skin. Then I could easily make a chicken dinner under 500 calories by adding some (low oil) non-starchy veggies on the side. This chicken is extremely moist and delicious; even without the gravy I think that you’ll enjoy it.

The chicken plus gravy provides a lot of protein and fat. What’s missing here is the fluid and fiber-filled veggies to help fill you up. You could go the low carb route with side salads, or add some healthy carbs like a baked potato.

FAQs

How to make Ninja Foodi chicken wings?

You can make Ninja Foodi air fryer chicken wings using any regular air fryer recipe. Just keep in mind the Foodi may cook a little faster than other air fryers, so check on the food early. Here’s a super delish recipe to make Ninja Foodi Buffalo wings.

How to make Ninja Foodi chicken breast?

Use any of your favorite air fryer recipes to make Ninja Foodi chicken breast. Be sure to check the food early, in case there is a difference in air frying time. Here’s a BBQ chicken Ninja Foodi recipe, and here’s a recipe for Ninja Foodi marinated chicken.

How to make Ninja Foodi Grill roast chicken?

Here’s a Ninja Foodi Grill chicken breast recipe from Wendy Polisi that looks easy and delicious. It looks like a great alternative when you don’t have time to roast a whole chicken.

How to make Ninja Foodi whole chicken soup?

Simply Recipes has a pressure cooker chicken soup recipe using a whole chicken that looks amazing! Be sure to check it out if that’s how you want to use your chicken.

How long to pressure cook whole chicken in Ninja Foodi?

You can pressure cook a whole chicken in the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot in 15 minutes. Make sure to pressure cook the chicken with water, placing the chicken on a trivet above the water level. After quick releasing the pressure release valve, air fry the chicken until the skin is crisped to your liking.

👨🏾‍🍳‍ More Ninja Foodi Chicken Recipes

Looking for more chicken air fryer recipes for the Ninja Foodi? Try these:

• Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Thighs
• Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel
• Ground Chicken Air Fryer Recipe

You may also enjoy my entire collection of Air Fryer Recipes!

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