Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken (Thighs or Breasts)
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This Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken delivers big flavor with minimal fuss. It is chicken with bright citrus, fresh cilantro, and savory spices cooked in your air fryer.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken is full of flavor with vibrant spices and fresh ingredients.
- Marinating the chicken enhances its taste and ensures juiciness during cooking.
- This dish is versatile, perfect for meal prep, and pairs well with various sides like rice and veggies.
- Customizable cooking tips include adjusting time for chicken thickness and using different citrus if needed.
- Serve with toppings like Greek yogurt or parsley for a refreshing finish.
🔪Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken
This dish is a good source of protein. It is lower in carbs and works with many eating plans. Pairing it with vegetables or rice keeps the meal filling and stretches your budget.
Marinating the meat for a couple of hours lets those bold flavors really soak into the chicken.
Whether you’re meal-prepping or feeding a crowd, this recipe is always delicious.
The air fryer cooks the chicken evenly and keeps it juicy inside.
This recipe works well for busy nights and meal prep days.
Why you’ll ❤️ this recipe.
🍋🟩Flavorful: A vibrant blend of cilantro, lime, garlic, and spices gives the chicken bold, refreshing flavor.
🌶️Customizable Spice: Leave the jalapeño seeds in for heat, or take them out for a milder touch.
🥣Easy Meal Prep: Makes about 6 servings and pairs beautifully with rice, veggies, bowls, tacos, or salads.
🕜Quick Cook Time: Once marinated, the chicken cooks in about 20 minutes in the air fryer.
👩🍳Cooking tips and substitutions
Adjust the cook time based on the thickness of your chicken. Thicker pieces need a few extra minutes.
Chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs, but should be checked early to avoid drying out.
Lime juice can be replaced with lemon juice if needed.
Fresh herbs give the best result, but dried herbs can work in a pinch with reduced amounts.
🔥 How to Grill Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Remove the chicken breasts from the refrigerator and allow to sit on the countertop for 20 minutes before grilling.
- Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat, or until you can hold your hand about an inch over the grates for 1 second.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade.
- Soak a paper towel in a little oil and use tongs to wipe the grill grates.
- When the grill is hot, place the chicken breasts on the grill. Grill the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side, basting each side during the final turn. Once each side is seared, if the chicken pieces are getting too charred, move them to the cooler side of the grill to finish cooking.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and allow it to rest for 10 minutes to redistribute the juices.
🍽️Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken Serving Ideas
Top with fresh parsley, extra jalapeño slices, or a spoonful of Greek yogurt or sour cream to cool things down. This chicken is terrific served with:
- Cilantro lime rice
- Carrot salad or roasted potatoes
- Burrito bowls, tacos, or simply over a fresh salad
✨ Tips for Success
- Marinate at least 2 hours. Don’t skip this — it’s the secret to juicy, flavorful meat!
- Use a meat thermometer. Check the thickest piece to ensure your chicken is safely cooked through.
- Don’t overcrowd. Air-fry in batches if needed to ensure the chicken has crispy edges and cooks evenly.
Conclusion
Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken is an easy chicken dinner recipe that’s full of flavor. It’s marinated in yogurt, garlic, lime, and cumin, then cooked quickly in an air-fryer or grill pan.
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Air Fryer Yogurt Cilantro Lime Chicken (Thighs or Breasts)
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Ingredients
- 1 and ½ pounds chicken breasts skinless and boneless, or thighs (680 g)
- 1 small red onion sliced
For the marinade
- 1 cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
- ½ cup Greek yogurt plain, or sour cream
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 medium lime juiced. about 2 tbsp | 30 mL
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoons ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine cilantro, yogurt, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, onion, cumin, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.1 cup fresh cilantro, ½ cup Greek yogurt, 3 cloves garlic, 1 medium lime, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoons ground cumin, Salt and black pepper, 1 small red onion
- Add chicken to a bowl or zip-top bag, and pour ¾ of the green marinade over it. Toss to coat evenly. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 12 hours for deeper flavor).1 and ½ pounds chicken breasts
- Preheat the air-fryer to 425°F (220°C). Arrange marinated chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Air-Fry for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through (internal temp: 165°F | 74°C).
- Serve warm with rice, quinoa, or flatbread. Drizzle with any more sauce for extra flavor.