Our air fryer Peruvian chicken recipe is an amazing way to add more international flair to your weeknight meals and next BBQ.
Burnished-skin, deep-flavor chicken served with a rich green sauce gives this dish multiple layers of complexity and delicious Peruvian flavors. The combination of tangy, savory, spicy, creamy, and citrusy tastes is sure to become an obsession for even the pickiest eaters.
What Is Peruvian Chicken?
Peruvian chicken (aka Pollo a la Brasa) is considered a staple in Peruvian cuisine. This famous Peruvian chicken is marinated and roasted to achieve that robust smoky flavor.
What makes this chicken extra special is the creamy-spicy green sauce served with it. It perfectly complements the chicken with intricate flavors from various herbs and spices.
Is Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken Recipe Healthy?
The short answer is yes, our air fryer Peruvian chicken is healthy.
Using the chicken breast as the main ingredient, our dish provides up to 37 g of protein per serving. When served with a green salad, potato wedges, and a juice drink, our air fryer Peruvian chicken promises a whole meal with a healthy source of carbs, fiber, and other micronutrients.
One serving of this Peruvian chicken provides only 480 calories, allowing for the addition of side dishes, keeping you fulfilled and satisfied.
We also use reasonable amounts of olive oil, salt, and mayonnaise to ensure the flavor of the dish without loading on the saturated fat. The dish ends up having 7.2 g of saturated fat and 526 mg of sodium per serving, which aligns with our healthy limits.
Main Ingredients
Peruvian chicken features big flavors thanks to the spicy marinade and vibrant, creamy green sauce. Despite calling for only simple ingredients, the dish could easily end up tasting like restaurant quality.
- Chicken
This air fryer Peruvian chicken recipe is versatile and you don’t have to use chicken breast only. You can use your favorite cut of chicken like thighs or drumsticks, or even the whole chicken, and adapt the recipe to suit.
Whatever the cut, it’s best to keep the skin on. While slowly roasted, the fat will render out from the skin and drip around and through the meat, contributing to the texture and flavor of your chicken.
- Marinade
The original recipes call for two kinds of Peruvian chile pastes — aji amarillo and aji panca — to add the signature complexity and heat. However, we’ve found that it can be challenging to buy them at local stores.
As such, we substitute a red chili paste like sriracha or ground chili powder such as paprika, Cajun seasoning, or red pepper flakes. The flavor won’t be traditional, but the chicken will still be delicious with deep flavor, especially slathered in the creamy-spicy green sauce alongside.
- Sauce
The green sauce for this Peruvian chicken packs big flavors thanks to the combination of cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, olive oil, mayonnaise, and lime juice. Not only a perfect dipping sauce for chicken, the sauce can also be used on tacos, salads, and roasted veggies.
Storage and Reheat
- Storage
To store the Peruvian chicken, allow the meat to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or Ziplock bag. Place the chicken and green sauce in different containers and keep them in the fridge for about 3 days.
For longer storage, we suggest putting this air fryer Peruvian chicken in a freezer-safe bag to save space in the freezer and for easy thawing later. The dish will stay fresh for up to 3 months in the freezer.
- Reheat
Place the leftover chicken in a baking dish and pour a few tablespoons of chicken broth into it; it will help keep the chicken moist in the oven.
Cover the baking dish with foil and roast the chicken for 10 – 15 minutes at 350℉ in a preheated oven. Uncover the baking sheet and roast the chicken for another 3-5 minutes to crisp up the skin.
What to Serve with This Dish
The Peruvian chicken is often dipped in the green sauce and eaten right after it comes out of the air fryer. We decided to enjoy the chicken with our air-fryer potato wedges and simply orange juice to make it a nutritious and well-rounded meal.
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Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken Recipe
Our air fryer Peruvian chicken recipe delivers a flavor-packed, Peruvian-style roasted chicken with a creamy, spicy green sauce.
- by Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina, 2022-08-20
- cook TIME 20 mins
- prep TIME 15 mins
- total TIME 35 mins
- COURSE Main Course
- CUISINE Peruvian
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 480 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 24 oz boneless skin-on chicken breast
- 4 oz crystal lettuce (chopped)
- 4 oz cucumber (sliced)
- 1 oz yellow bell pepper (sliced)
- 1 oz radish (sliced)
- 0.5 oz jalapeno (chopped)
- 3 tbsp olive oil (divided to 1/2 tbsp, 2 1/2 tbsp)
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 2 tsp garlic (minced)
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt (divided)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 3 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp parsley
INSTRUCTIONS
Butterfly 24 oz chicken breast.
Rub the chicken breast evenly with 2 tsp garlic, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1/2 tsp oregano, and 1 tsp lemon juice. Marinate for 5 minutes.
Air fry the chicken at 375 ℉ for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the sauce: Add 1/2 cup cilantro, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp lime juice, 1 garlic clove, 0.5 oz jalapeno, and 3 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise into a food processor. Blend until smooth.
Remove the chicken from the air fryer. Assemble 1 oz radish, 1 oz yellow bell pepper, 4 oz crystal lettuce, and 4 oz cucumber onto a plate. Sprinkle parsley. Serve the chicken with prepared sauce and the salad.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary ConsultantLuna Regina
Writer, AuthorNatalie Butler, RD, LD
Nutrition Reviewer- RobertFlavorful with a juicy and crispy texture that would satisfy any chicken lover.