Air Fryer Roast Chicken with Spring Vegetables and Crispy Croutons
Air fryer roast chicken is perfect to prepare one chicken you can use for three recipe – maximising meals and minimising waste.
The cornerstone of this recipe is air fryer roast chicken. I will show how you can easily achieve crispy, golden-brown chicken with juicy, tender meat using your air fryer (or oven). From cutting the chicken in halve to creating the perfect butter mixture and crafting homemade croutons, I’ll guide you through each step.
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The Easiest Way to Roast Chicken in the Air Fryer
Roasting chicken in the air fryer is a game-changer for busy cooks looking to whip up a delicious meal in no time. With the air fryer’s rapid air circulation, you can quickly achieve crispy, golden-brown skin and juicy, tender meat.
Choosing the Best Chicken for Roasting
When choosing the best chicken for roasting, several factors come into play, including the farming practices used to raise the chickens.
- Biodynamic Agriculture: Biodynamic agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that views the farm as a self-sustaining ecosystem. It emphasises biodiversity, soil health, and the integration of plants, animals, and natural cycles. Chickens raised in biodynamic systems typically have access to outdoor pasture and are fed a diet free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These chickens are often raised in small-scale, family-owned farms that prioritise animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
- Free-Range Chickens: Free-range chickens are raised in systems where they have access to outdoor pasture for at least part of the day. This allows them to engage in natural behaviours like scratching, pecking, and foraging for food. Free-range chickens may also be supplemented with feed free from antibiotics and hormones. Choosing free-range chickens ensures the birds have a more natural lifestyle and are less likely to experience overcrowding and stress.
- Corn-Fed Chickens from Your Local Butcher: Corn-fed chickens are raised on a diet that primarily consists of corn and other grains. This diet is often supplemented with soybeans, vitamins, and minerals to ensure the birds receive adequate nutrition. Chickens raised on a corn-fed diet tend to have a richer flavour and more tender meat due to the higher fat content. Purchasing corn-fed chickens from your local butcher ensures you’re supporting small-scale, independent farmers who prioritise quality and animal welfare. Additionally, buying local allows you to ask questions about the farming practices used and ensures you’re getting fresh, high-quality chicken.
How to Cut the Chicken in Half
To cut the chicken in half, use kitchen shears to remove the backbone, then flatten the chicken by pressing down firmly on the breastbone.
Making the Most Flavourful Butter Mixture
To infuse your air fryer roast chicken with maximum flavour, prepare a delicious butter mixture packed with herbs. Rub this mixture generously under the chicken skin for super moist, tender meat. Adding the butter under the skin instead of on top only prevents the herbs from burning and helps to crisp up the skin. Make sure to get the herb butter into every nook and cranny for irresistible flavour in every bite.
Crispy, Saucy Croutons from Scratch
This air fryer roast chicken salad is not complete without crispy, saucy croutons to soak up all the delicious juices. Making croutons from scratch is surprisingly easy and allows you to customise the flavours to your liking. Simply cube day-old bread and add it to the chicken drippings at the bottom of the tray and air fry until golden and crispy but still soft in the middle. The result is a topping that adds texture and flavour to your salad.
A Vibrant Spring Salad with Fresh Vegetables
Complement your air fryer roast chicken with a vibrant spring salad bursting with fresh vegetables. Blanching vegetables like asparagus, peas, and long-stem broccoli briefly in boiling water helps to preserve their vibrant colours and crisp textures while enhancing their natural sweetness. Make sure to blanch the different vegetables separately, as they’ll cook at different times. Toss the blanched vegetables with a light vinaigrette made from olive oil, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard for a refreshing and nutritious salad that perfectly balances the richness of the chicken and crispy croutons.
Loved the Air Fryer Roast Chicken with Spring Vegetables and Crispy Croutons?
As always, if you try this recipe let us know how it goes! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your photo #theculinarycartel on Instagram so we can see what you come up with. For more chicken inspiration, have a look at these recipes:
Chipotle and Pineapple Chicken
Air Fryer Citrus-Chipotle Wings
Asian-Inspired Sesame Miso Salad Dressing with Grains and Greens
Happy cooking!
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These are Amazon affiliate links of the products I personally love and recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken?
Absolutely! While the cooking time may vary, boneless, skinless chicken breasts can also be roasted in the air fryer for a quick and healthy meal.
How do I choose the best chicken?
When choosing the best chicken for roasting, several factors come into play, including the farming practices used to raise the chickens.
- Biodynamic Agriculture: Biodynamic agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that views the farm as a self-sustaining ecosystem. It emphasises biodiversity, soil health, and the integration of plants, animals, and natural cycles. Chickens raised in biodynamic systems typically have access to outdoor pasture and are fed a diet free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These chickens are often raised in small-scale, family-owned farms that prioritise animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
- Free-Range Chickens: Free-range chickens are raised in systems where they have access to outdoor pasture for at least part of the day. This allows them to engage in natural behaviours like scratching, pecking, and foraging for food. Free-range chickens may also be supplemented with feed free from antibiotics and hormones. Choosing free-range chickens ensures the birds have a more natural lifestyle and are less likely to experience overcrowding and stress.
- Corn-Fed Chickens from Your Local Butcher: Corn-fed chickens are raised on a diet that primarily consists of corn and other grains. This diet is often supplemented with soybeans, vitamins, and minerals to ensure the birds receive adequate nutrition. Chickens raised on a corn-fed diet tend to have a richer flavour and more tender meat due to the higher fat content. Purchasing corn-fed chickens from your local butcher ensures you’re supporting small-scale, independent farmers who prioritise quality and animal welfare. Additionally, buying local allows you to ask questions about the farming practices used and ensures you’re getting fresh, high-quality chicken.
Can I prepare the butter mixture in advance?
Yes, you can prepare the butter mixture in advance and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use. Just let it come to room temperature before rubbing it onto the chicken for even distribution of flavour.
Can I customise the vegetables in the spring salad?
Of course! Feel free to mix and match your favorite spring vegetables to create a salad that suits your taste preferences.
How do I know when the chicken is done cooking?
Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 75°C at the thickest part of the meat. This guarantees the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat without being overdone and dry.
Can I roast the chicken in the oven instead of the air fryer?
Yes! I’ve included both air fryer and oven times and temperatures in the recipe for your convenience.
Why do you recommend the Instant Vortex Plus VersaZone Dual Air Fryer?
This air fryer is wonderfully versatile! You can divide it into two cooking zones with different temperatures, or remove the divider to create one large cooking area.
What if I don’t have miso paste?
You can substitute with soy sauce or tamari.
Air Fryer Roast Chicken with Spring Vegetables and Crispy Croutons
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 2 portions
Description
Air fryer roast chicken is perfect to prepare one chicken you can use for three recipe – maximising meals and minimising waste.
Ingredients
- 1/2 chicken, split down the back bone
- 4 shallots, cut lengthwise
- 1 tbsp (15g) butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tsp miso
- 1 lemon
Salad
- 400–600g of your favourite spring greens: long-stem broccoli, beans, asparagus, sugar snap peas
- 25g or handful of fresh parsley (5g for the chicken, the rest for the salad)
- 200g cherry tomatoes
- 400g sourdough bread
Dressing
- Small handful of chives, or 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 generous tsp honey
- 1 generous tsp dijon mustard
- 15 ml olive oil
Instructions
- Start by cutting your chicken in half down the backbone, using kitchen scissors if handy. You can also ask your butcher to do this for you or purchase a half chicken if you prefer.
- Chop a handful of parsley.
- In a small bowl, combine a small handful or 5g of finely chopped parsley with the butter, miso and a tablespoon of olive oil. Finely grate in the garlic, and mix to combine. The oil will make it easier to spread the butter mixture on the chicken and help make it even more crispy.
- Season your chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Using your fingers, lift up the skin on the chicken breast and legs, rubbing the butter mixture under the skin. Drizzle the top of the skin with olive oil. Try tp ensure that no herby butter is on top of your chicken skin, as the herbs will burn.
- Halve your lemon. Place your shallot halves and two lemon halves on the bottom of your roasting tray, and nestle your chicken in the middle.
- Roast in the oven or air fryer.Air fryer
Air fry at 160ºC for 25-35 minutes or until cooked through check the chicken after 20 minutes. For the last 5-10 minutes, turn onto the other side, to ensure even cooking. Chickens will vary in size, so adjust the cooking time as needed.Oven:
Roast on the fan setting at 180ºC for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through check the chicken after 20 minutes. Chickens will vary in size, so adjust the cooking time as needed.Checking the chicken: Check that the chicken is cooked through by piercing the thickest part of the chicken thigh and check that the juices run clear. If you have a thermometer, pierce the thigh close to the bone and check that the thermometer reads 70ºC.Thigh meat is most juicy and tender at 75ºC, resting the chicken from 70ºC up to 75ºC will yield the best results. - While your chicken is roasting, start preparing your spring vegetables, washing and trimming as appropriate. Bring a large pot of salty water to boil. Blanch your spring greens, boiling them for 30 seconds to 1 minute depending on the thickness of the vegetable. Remove them from the boiling water once just cooked with a slight bite (taste as you go for best results).
- Drop your blanched vegetables in ice water to stop the cooking process and keep them green, vibrant and crunchy. If using different kinds of spring vegetables, blanch them separately as they will cook at different times.
- After blanching your vegetables, prepare your croutons by slicing your sourdough bread into 3 thick slices, about 2 ½ fingers. Carefully slice off the crust with a serrated knife, then tear the fluffy middle into large chunks.
- Once cooked through, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest in a warm spot. (Top tip: place the skin back into your air fryer or cooling oven to crisp up the skin, adding an extra crunch to your salad).
- While the chicken is resting, prepare your croutons by dipping your sourdough bread chunks into the chicken drippings. Remove the grate from the air fryer and add the coated bread chunks directly into the air fryer basket. Air fry at 165ºC for 5-10 minutes until the croutons are golden but still soft in the middle.
- While the bread is cooking, prepare your dressing. Finely chop your chives, if using, or parsley if preferred, and add to a small bowl. Scoop out the roasted lemon flesh into the bowl, and to it add the honey, dijon mustard and olive oil.
- Once rested, shred the chicken and toss it with the dressing and salad vegetables. Add the croutons on top to prevent them from going soggy from the dressing. Serve warm or at room temp.
Top Tip: Save the chicken bones after shredding the meat off to cook chicken stock
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Category: Mains
- Method: Air fryer
