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Home » Air Fryer Recipes » Christmas Chicken  

Christmas Chicken  

Published on June 26, 2022 by Bintu. Leave a Comment

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Planning holiday meals can be overwhelming. There are extra people to feed, multiple dishes to coordinate and never enough oven space. This roast Christmas chicken cooks quickly in the air fryer, so it’s an ideal choice for a special meal.

Suitable for low carb, gluten free, keto, paleo, and Whole30 diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

top down view of the completed christmas chicken inside the air fryer basket

Chicken can seem a little plain jane and boring, so it may not be the first thing you think of when planning a holiday meal. But Christmas chicken air fryer is stuffed with citrus and rubbed with a warm blend of herbs and spices, making it stand out and feel extra special. Nutmeg, garlic, and rosemary give roasted Christmas chicken a warm and inviting flavor and aroma. 

This festive Christmas Chicken air fryer recipe is special enough to serve for Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving, or any holiday meal. It’s also simple enough that you will find yourself making this cozy dish throughout the year.

Christmas chicken roast is full of delicious flavor, incredibly juicy, and still has that golden brown crispy skin everyone loves. This chicken recipe truly is remarkable. 

close up view of the finished christmas chicken recipe

Why Make This Recipe

  • Convenient – You don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen when it’s a holiday. This roasted chicken recipe cooks quickly, and prep time is minimal, so it’s perfect for Christmas lunch. Plus, roasting in the air fryer frees up oven space so you can prepare your favorite side dishes. 
  • Fast – Holiday chicken cooks golden brown with crispy skin and perfectly juicy meat in under an hour.  
  • Simple – You won’t have to fuss over this Christmas chicken recipe. The herb paste is easy to make, and you have the flexibility to customize it to your tastes. The air frying process is primarily hands-off so that you can spend more time with friends and family. 

Ingredient Notes

  • Chicken – Use one whole chicken with the neck and giblets removed. 
  • Orange Juice – fresh squeezed orange juice gives the chicken a burst of citrus flavor. 
  • Olive Oil – or use your favorite light, neutral flavored oil.
  • Spices and Seasonings – Make a paste of nutmeg, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper, or substitute your favorite seasoning blends.
  • Fresh Herbs – Rosemary sprigs have a fresh, almost pine-scented aroma that is perfect for Christmas. You can also select fresh herbs like sprigs of fresh thyme or fresh sage.
  • Satsuma Orange – Add a bright flavor and aroma of citrus to the roast chicken by stuffing the chicken with half an orange. 
the ingredients for making christmas chicken in air fryer

How To Make Christmas Chicken

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C. Combine orange juice, olive oil, nutmeg, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper to form a wet paste.
  2. Apply the paste to the entire surface of the chicken including inside the cavity.
    Stuff one half of satsuma orange and one sprig of rosemary into the chicken cavity.
  3. Place the chicken, breast side down, into the air fryer basket.
  4. Place the rosemary sprig and another half of the clementine beside the chicken. 
  5. Cook the chicken for 30 minutes, then flip the chicken over and cook an additional 15-30 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees F / 76 degrees C.
  6. Remove the chicken from the air fryer, tent it with foil, and allow it to rest before slicing and serving.
image collage showing the steps for making christmas chicken in air fryer

Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken.

Tips For Success

  • Allow the chicken to come up to room temperature for approximately 30 minutes before cooking. 
  • Dry the chicken by patting it with paper towels or a kitchen towel before seasoning. This will help the herb paste to adhere to the chicken. 
  • Mix the herb paste in a small bowl. 
  • Replace the oil with cooled, melted butter for even more flavor. 
  • Always use fresh herbs and fresh citrus for the most flavor and aroma. 
  • Lay the chicken breast side up in the air fryer for the first 30 minutes of cooking. 
  • Adjust the cooking time based on the size of the chicken. 
  • Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. 
  • Collect the pan juices from the bottom of the air fryer to make a flavorful gravy. 
  • Air fryers can vary, so use the cooking times as a guide. 
  • Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. 
  • Use a sharp knife to carve and serve the roast chicken. 
  • Serve the roasted Christmas chicken with all of your favorite side dishes. 
the completed christmas chicken in air fryer ready to be served

Variations

  • Use A Compound Butter – Instead of using oil for the herb paste, use room temperature butter and make a compound butter mixture. 
  • Add More Citrus – Bump up the citrus flavor by adding orange zest to the herb paste. 
  • Swap The Herbs and Spices – You can customize the herb past by adding your favorite herbs and spices to the paste mixture. Try sage, thyme, parsley, cinnamon, paprika, or your favorite flavors. 
  • Add More Fruit – In addition to the satsuma orange, stuff the chicken cavity with apple or pear slices, lemon wedges, or a cranberry mixture. This will add flavor and aroma and make a beautiful presentation. 

Budget-Friendly Tips 

  • Purchase In Bulk – Chickens are often sold in two packs at a slightly lower price. Stock up on whole chicken and freeze them for later use. Whole chickens can be stored for 3-6 months in the freezer. 
  • Make Chicken Broth – Save the chicken carcass and boil it with herbs and vegetables to make homemade chicken stock. 
  • Plan For The Leftovers – Remove leftover chicken from the carcass to use in sandwiches, casseroles, salads, and more. 
close up view of the completed christmas chicken in the air fryer basket

Prep Ahead And Storage

  • Prep Ahead – Dry the chicken and season with salt and pepper 1 to 12 hours before you plan to cook it. 
  • Store – Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. Leftovers should be consumed within 4 days.  
  • Freeze – Pick off any remaining meat from the chicken carcass and freeze it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. 

Meal Prep

  • Prepare the herb paste up to 24 hours in advance.
  • Shred leftover chicken to use in casserole, soup, salads, and sandwiches. 
the finished christmas chicken with fresh orange and rosemary

FAQs

What Herbs Go With Christmas Chicken?

This delicious chicken is made with rosemary and a blend of spices you already have in your pantry. Feel free to include parsley, sage, thyme and orange zest in your herb paste. You can even add a touch of brown sugar for a light sweetness.

How Long To Roast A Chicken In Air Fryer?

A small chicken (3-4 pounds) will roast in the air fryer for approximately 45 minutes. It will take an hour for a larger 5-7 pound chicken. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. 

Why Do You Put An Orange In A Chicken?

Placing a piece of cut citrus into the cavity of the roast chicken will help to enhance all of the other flavors without being overly citrusy. 

christmas chicken inside the air fryer basket

More Recipes You May Like

  • How to Roast a Chicken.
  • Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breast.
  • Buttermilk Chicken Tenders.

Serving Suggestions

  • Smothered Green Beans.
  • Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
  • Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 8 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Get The Christmas Chicken Air Fryer Recipe:

close up view of the finished christmas chicken recipe

Christmas Chicken

Make delicious juicy roast chicken in the air fryer.
Print Pin Rate Save RecipeSaved!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6
Calories: 310kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy | Budget Delicious

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken giblets removed
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 rosemary sprigs
  • 1 satsuma orange cut in half

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
  • Combine orange juice, olive oil, nutmeg, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and ground black pepper to form a wet paste.
  • Apply the paste to the entire surface of the chicken including inside the cavity.
  • Stuff one half of a satsuma orange and one sprig of rosemary into the chicken cavity.
  • Place the chicken, breast side down, into the air fryer basket.
  • Place the rosemary sprig and other half of the clementine beside the chicken.
  • Cook the chicken for 30 minutes, then flip the chicken over and cook an additional 15-30 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees F / 76 degrees C.
  • Remove the chicken from the air fryer, tent it with foil, and allow it to rest before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Allow the chicken to come up to room temperature for approximately 30 minutes before cooking. 
  • Dry the chicken by patting it with paper towels or a kitchen towel before seasoning. This will help the herb paste to adhere to the chicken. 
  • Mix the herb paste in a small bowl. 
  • Replace the oil with cooled, melted butter for even more flavor. 
  • Always use fresh herbs and fresh citrus for the most flavor and aroma. 
  • Lay the chicken breast side up in the air fryer for the first 30 minutes of cooking. 
  • Adjust the cooking time based on the size of the chicken. 
  • Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. 
  • Collect the pan juices from the bottom of the air fryer to make a flavorful gravy. 
  • Air fryers can vary, so use the cooking times as a guide. 
  • Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. 
  • Use a sharp knife to carve and serve the roast chicken. 
  • Serve the roasted Christmas chicken with all of your favorite side dishes.
  • Storage – keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days.
  • There are 8 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 303mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
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