Quick and easy air fryer roast chicken recipe, cooked in a spicy lemon and yoghurt marinade and served with roast baby potatoes and vegetables.

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How to roast a chicken in an air fryer?

How long you roast your chicken in an air fryer depends on a number of factors. Packet instructions and your usual cooking times can’t be applied to air fryer recipes because air fryers cook so much quicker. Plus, the length of time it will take for your chicken to reach temperature will depend on how cold the meat is and how big it is.

The easiest way to ensure it's spot on is to test the temperature using a Thermapen instant-read thermometer. A fast and accurate cooking thermometer is essential for all your air fryer meals, from roasts and steaks to baked goods.

Your chicken should be 74 °C to be safe to eat but still nice and juicy. Probe the thickest part of the meat with your Thermapen, between the legs and the breast (avoiding bones and gristle). Spot-check a few other areas as well to be safe.

Equipment

• VersaZone Air Fryer
• Thermapen digital food thermometer

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken 1.3kg
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 cloves garlic
• 150g Greek yoghurt
• Zest of one lemon
• Vegetables
• 750g baby potatoes
• 500g carrots cut into big chunks
• 350ml water
• 200g broccoli or Tenderstem broccoli

Directions

• Prep the chicken by splaying the legs – to do this, place the bird on a chopping board breast-side up, then cut the skin connecting the legs to the breast meat using a sharp knife. Do not cut all the way through the leg joints and dark meat. Holding the legs of the bird, apply some pressure, splaying the thighs open until you feel the joint pop on both sides.
• Combine the spices, lemon and yoghurt to make the marinade, and place the chicken on to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes, ideally overnight or throughout the day.
• While the chicken is marinating, start preparing the vegetables.
• If you have an Instant Pot, place the potatoes and carrots into the inner pot with 350ml water, and Pressure Cook for 3 minutes. Alternatively, you can par boil on the hob.

• Place the chicken into the air fryer basket, divider removed. Select Air Fry and set the temperature to 165 °C and the time to 45 minutes.
• After 20 minutes of air frying, add in the carrots and potatoes. If you are cooking broccoli or softer greens like beans, there is no need to pre-boil them. Cook in the air fryer for the last 5 minutes.
• Check the chicken is fully cooked with a Thermapen meat thermometer. The internal temp of the thickest part will be 74 °C when cooked to perfection.
• Rest the chicken for 10 minutes in a warm spot, then serve with your favourite gravy.