This air fryer lemon chicken recipe is a foolproof how-to guide for an easy-peasy dish that tastes out-of-this-world delicious. Air-fried marinated succulent pieces of chicken breast are served alongside fresh salad. They are bursting with fresh flavors and easily fit into either weekday meals or stylish get-togethers.
Is Air Fryer Lemon Chicken Healthy?
One serving of this lemon chicken provides only 449 calories, just enough to keep you full and satisfied while still leaving room for the side dishes to fill in. We also use reasonable amounts of olive oil, unsalted butter, Greek yogurt, and various seasonings to ensure the flavor of the dish without loading on the saturated fat or sodium. Moreover, it's also:
- Protein-rich: Using skinless boneless chicken thighs, these meat skewers provide 37.9 grams of protein per serving. Chicken is also a great source of various vitamins and minerals that may help to build muscle, support heart health and bone health, and maintain a healthy weight.
- Nutritionally balanced: Served with a side of crystal lettuce and dried cranberries, our lemon chicken promises a wholesome meal with a healthy source of fiber and water-soluble vitamins B and C, giving the dish a balanced nutritional profile.
Main Ingredients
- Chicken breast
We use chicken breasts for this recipe but feel free to opt for any other meat cut that you prefer. You can tell the meat’s doneness by checking its internal temperature. It should reach at least 165 °F with no pinkish tinge in either the meat or juices.
- Lemon
With this recipe, we'll be using both lemon juice and lemon zest to thoroughly infuse the meat with that bright, zesty spark.
- White wine
Any variety of cooking wine would work in this recipe. Here, we've opted for Sauvignon Blanc since it offers a nice, crisp, and mutely floral scent that fares very well with the zesty lemon and the meat's savory taste.
- Heavy cream
Simmering side by side with the white wine and citrus fruit is the heavy cream, which sets a thick, rich base texture as well as creamy, tangy flavors to make the sauce all the more satisfying.
- Seasonings
This recipe calls for a spice mix of pepper, salt, Italian seasoning, oregano, paprika, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, and Cajun seasoning. The chicken pieces are coated in this marinade to infuse rich, spicy, and savory flavors into the meat.
- The side salad
Keeping the savory chicken company is a small serving of crystal lettuce, orange slices, and dried cranberries sprinkled with feta cheese. It's just enough to diversify the profile without overwhelming the main course
Storage and Reheating
This air fryer lemon chicken is best enjoyed immediately or within the same day of cooking. That being said, you can still store the leftovers in an airtight container and they can last for up to 3 days in the fridge. Transfer them to the freezer and they can last for up to 2 months.
When reheating, first, thaw the leftover portions overnight (if they were frozen previously). Heat them in the air fryer or simply pop them in the microwave until warmed through.
Side Dishes
This dish already comes with a light salad on the side, so it can hit the table solo and still make for a fantastic meal. That said, you can also include some rice, noodles, or pasta on the side to make the meal a bit more filling, or air fry some potatoes (like this Air Fryer Potato Wedges Recipe) while you're at it! Either way, the meal will come together seamlessly with barely any time or effort.
How to make Air Fryer Lemon Chicken
This air fryer lemon chicken recipe is a foolproof how-to guide for an easy-peasy dish that tastes out-of-this-world delicious. Air-fried marinated succulent pieces of chicken breast are served alongside fresh salad. They are bursting with fresh flavors and easily fit into either weekday meals or stylish get-togethers.
- by Luna Regina, Gracey Le, 2024-03-09
- cook TIME 25 mins
- prep TIME 5 mins
- total TIME 30 mins
- COURSE Main dish
- CUISINE Global
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 449 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 28 oz skinless boneless chicken breast
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 oz lemon (sliced)
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp white wine
- 1 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 fl oz chicken broth
- 3 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp parsley (chopped)
- 1 oz feta cheese
- 0.5 oz dried Cranberries
- 4 oz orange (segmented)
- 4 oz crystal lettuce
INSTRUCTIONS
Butterfly cut 28 oz skinless boneless chicken breast.
Rub 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning all over the chicken and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the sauce: add 2 tbsp white wine to cook for 30 seconds until it evaporates, then add 1 fl oz chicken broth and switch to boiling, then turn off the heat.
Stir in 3 1/2 tbsp butter, then continue to add 1 tbsp heavy cream, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp lemon zest.
Put the chicken and lemon slices into the air fryer at 375 °F for around 17 minutes.
When done, transfer the chicken onto serving plates, sprinkle with 2 tbsp parsley.
Serve with a salad consisting of 0.5 oz dried Cranberries, 4 oz crystal lettuce, 4 oz orange, and 1 oz feta cheese.
NUTRITION
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
Gracey Le
Food Writer