Healthy Recipes 101

The Heart of The Home Beats in The Kitchen

  • Recipe Index
  • Courses
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Beverages
  • Method
    • Air Frying
    • Boiling
    • Broiling
    • Frying
    • Grilling
    • Oven Baked
    • One-Pan
  • About

Hot Tags

  • Juices
  • Chicken
  • Salmon Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Salads
Fact-checked
Chicken

Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Recipe

  • Air Fryer
  • Chicken
  • Main Dishes
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Servings 4 servings
Calories 457 kcal
Marinated Chicken In Air Fryer Recipe
Jump to Recipe
facebook pinterest twitter Print Recipe

With simple steps and common ingredients, today’s air fryer marinated chicken recipe guarantees a mouth-watering tasting experience without making a mess.

The chicken is soaked up in a perfect blend of olive oil, mustard, honey, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce to make the meat juicy and delicious. It is then cooked in an air fryer to golden perfection, bursting with flavor.

Is Air-Fried Marinated Chicken Healthy?

Yes, our air fryer marinated chicken recipe is healthy.

By using the air fryer to cook the chicken, we reduce the amount of added fat in the recipe. To be specific, there is only 0.5 tablespoon of olive oil used for each serving, keeping the saturated fat content at 3.6 grams.

Furthermore, we tried to use as little salt and honey as possible, while still ensuring the dish delivers a great balance of flavors. As a result, the chicken comes out tasty and the nutritional content, including fat, sodium, and calories is in line with the USDA Dietary Guidelines.

Is Marinated Chicken In Air Fryer recipe healthy

We also recommend serving the dish with some green salad and juice, which provides extra fiber and micronutrients.

If you are interested in other healthy air-fried chicken ideas, check out our air fryer chicken tenders and air fryer buttermilk fried chicken recipe.

Ingredients for our Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Recipe

Chicken: This recipe will work for any cut of chicken, though it is especially great with chicken breast since the citrus-based marinade acts as a flavor injector providing extra juiciness to the lean cut of meat.

Marinade: A great marinade should have a balanced flavor and combine three basic components: fat, acid, and seasoning. Vinegar, citrus juice, or enzyme-rich fruits like pineapple will soften the meat’s surface and allow the flavor to be absorbed more easily. Fat acts as a moistening agent while the seasoning imparts flavor.

Marinating is a wonderful way to experiment with ingredients while still using the cooking techniques that you are familiar with. Read on for details about the marinade we used in this recipe. 

Ingredients

Marinated Chicken Sauce 

Common ingredients are sometimes the hardest ones to prep and cook, and chicken breast is a perfect example. Since the meat is so lean, once cooked, it easily turns out hard, dry, and bland.

A simple trick to save your chicken breasts from drying out is to marinate your chicken in a flavorful sauce before cooking it. The marinade ensures tender and juicy meat everytime and the recipe is quick and easy.

Lemon juice is the key element in our marinade. Besides tenderizing the lean meat, it gives the chicken a slight lemon flavor without overpowering the other spices in the sauce.

The olive oil keeps the chicken moist and juicy while the Worcestershire sauce gives it a savory depth. Honey adds sweetness and gives the meat an irresistible golden brown crust once cooked.

And finally, a touch of herbs and spices beautifully rounds off the perfect chicken dish.

If this marinated chicken is of interest to you, you may also find this air fryer chicken recipes helpful. Or, simply have a look at our air fryer dinner roundup for more air fryer ideas.

How To Cook Marinated Chicken

1. Can You Cook Marinated Chicken From Frozen?

Technically, you can cook marinated chicken from frozen but the result might not be satisfying. 

 Frozen chicken will release water into the marinade as it thaws, leaving the sauce watery and bland. Therefore, we recommend you let the meat thaw completely before marinating it. That way, the meat will be able to absorb all the goodness from your marinade.

How to cook Marinated Chicken In Air Fryer

2. What Happens If You Marinate Chicken Too Long?

You might think that the longer you marinate the chicken the more delicious it will be but that’s not always the case. The citrus element in the marinade could essentially break down the proteins in the meat, turning your chicken soft and mushy.

The size of the cut and the ingredients in the marinade also make a huge difference in the marinating time, so don’t assume that all marinades need the same length of time. For this skinless chicken breast recipe, it’s possible to add decent flavoring in 10 – 30 minutes.

Tips

The chicken thickness: Usually, one end of the chicken breast is thicker than the other. Once cooked in the air fryer, the breast could end up drying out at the thinner end while still being raw in the thicker part.

To solve this, place the meat in a plastic bag or wrap it in a plastic wrapper and pound it with a rolling pin. The more evenly shaped your chicken breasts are, the easier they will cook through at the same time.

The temperature: Your chicken breast is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This is where an instant thermometer comes in handy. It is not an expensive kitchen tool but will ensure your chicken is cooked through without any guesswork.

Tips for making Marinated Chicken In Air Fryer

While food safety experts recommend home cooks use a thermometer to check if the food is done, we understand that not everyone has a one to hand. But there are other ways to do the job, a simple one being to pierce the chicken and see what color juice comes out.

When chicken is cooked properly, the juice will run clear. This means that it is fully cooked and ready to be served. If the juice is red or pink, your chicken may need to be cooked a bit longer.

Can You Freeze Marinated Chicken?

Yes, marinated chicken can be easily frozen and can last for up to 3 months. However, to avoid multiple pieces of chicken getting stuck together once frozen, wrap each chicken piece in an individual wrapper before placing them in an airtight container or Ziplock bag. This also allows you to defrost only the desired amount of chicken instead of thawing the whole container.

What To Serve With Air-Fried Marinated Chicken

Because the chicken sucks up the marinade and traps all the moist goodness inside, making it extra juicy, you are not going to need any sauce or soup here. Some salad, mashed potatoes and lemon watermelon juice to wash it down are all you’ll need for this filling and nutritious dinner.

Recipes Course Calories Saturated fat Sodium
Marinated Air Fryer Chicken Main Dish 457 3.6 g 531 mg
Mashed Potatoes Side Dish 195 3.9 g 309 mg
Lemon Watermelon Juice Beverage 95 0.0 g 5 mg
Total 747 7.5 g 845 mg
Nutritional values in this table vary somewhat to those below due to different app calculations. Read more...
what to serve with

For more delicious chicken recipes, check out our healthy chicken roundup and the best of chicken thigh recipes.

More Healthy & Delicious Air Fryer Chicken Breast Ideas

These favorite air fryer chicken breast recipes are as comforting and healthy as this marinated air fryer chicken recipe:

  • Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Recipe
  • Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Recipe
  • Longhorn Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe
  • Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas Recipe
Is Marinated Chicken In Air Fryer recipe healthy

Marinated Air Fryer Chicken Recipe

PRINT RATE Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest
Say goodbye to dry and bland chicken breast with our marinated air fryer chicken recipe. This tasty, juicy dish is ready in just 35 minutes.
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Inactive Time 10 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Global
Servings 4 servings
Calories 457kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1 1/2 tbsp honey divided
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/4 tsp ground pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic chopped
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp traditional Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice divided
  • 26 oz skinless boneless chicken breast 4 breasts
  • 2 tbsp cilantro
  • 2 oz arugula
  • 6 oz canned chickpeas
  • 6 oz fennel
  • 0.5 oz radishes sliced
  • 0.5 oz shredded parmesan cheese
  • 2 oz pistachio

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the marinade sauce: whisk together 1 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp of honey, 1 tsp thyme, ½ tsp oregano, ¼ tsp ground pepper, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, and ½ tbsp of lemon juice in a small bowl.
  • Place the chicken on a plate and pour the marinade over the top of the chicken, making sure it is covered. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.
  • Add chicken breast to the air fryer and brush it with the remaining marinade from the plate. Cook at 360°F for 15 minutes.
  • While the chicken is in the air fryer, make the salad. For the salad dressing: Stir together 1 tbsp olive oil, ½ tbsp honey,1 tbsp lemon juice, and 2 tbsp cilantro.
  • In a big bowl, add 2 oz arugula, 6 oz chickpeas, 6 oz fennel, 0.5 oz radishes, and the dressing. Gently stir until well combined.
  • Then sprinkle 2 oz pistachio and 0.5 oz parmesan cheese over the salad.
  • When the chicken is done, transfer it from the air fryer to a plate. Serve the chicken with salad.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Marinated Air Fryer Chicken Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 457 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 137mg46%
Sodium 534mg23%
Potassium 1060mg30%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 49g98%
Vitamin A 690IU14%
Vitamin C 12mg15%
Calcium 131mg13%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Homemade Marinated Chicken In Air Fryer Recipe
Longhorn Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe
Previous Recipe
Longhorn Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Recipe
Next Recipe
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Recipe
Luna Regina

Luna Regina

facebook instagram pinterest youtube twitter linkedin
Luna is the founder and chief recipe developer of Healthy Recipes 101. Apart from cooking, she also loves reading, programming, exploring the outdoors, and collecting useless facts about everything.

Comments/ Reviews

Cancel reply
Marinated Chicken In Air Fryer Recipe
Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Recipe
Recipe Rating




Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Recipe developed by Luna Regina on July 28, 2021 Nutritionally reviewed by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD

Latest Recipes

Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Satay Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Satay Recipe

Air Fryer Mongolian Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Mongolian Chicken Recipe

Top Pinterest

Banana Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Banana Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Strawberry Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Strawberry Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie Recipe

Pineapple Carrot Juice Recipe

Carrot Juice
Pineapple Carrot Juice Recipe

Strawberry Carrot Juice Recipe

Carrot Juice
Strawberry Carrot Juice Recipe

AS SEEN ON
eatthis
parade
bustle
insider
buzzfeed
forbes
cnn
msn
Healthy Recipes 101
We do not offer medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice. Please seek consultation from a qualified health care professional prior to any decision to alter your current diet. Learn more See additional information.
  • Recipe Index
  • Course
  • Method
  • About
  • Cooking Challenge
  • Nutrition Guidelines
  • Recipe Development
  • Cooking Tips
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

facebook instagram pinterest youtube twitter linkedin

Get our latest healthy recipes

Stay up-to-date with our latest RDN-approved recipes, kitchen tips, and healthy eating challenges.

Opt-out at any time by clicking the 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of our email.

Visit our other Healthy101 sites:

Healthykitchen101
© 2021 Healthy Kitchen 101, LLC - All Rights Reserved
Return to Top