These air fryer lemon chicken breasts are tender, juicy, and bursting with citrus flavor. With just a few ingredients, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. The air fryer locks in flavor without the need for extra oil.
Having quality protein foods on hand to grab when you’re having a busy day is an important part of maintaining a healthy diet and meeting nutrition goals. Lean proteins help keep you satiated in between meals, and aids with building muscle.
This recipe for air fryer chicken breasts is so simple and easy that you’ll love having it your recipe arsenal. Customize the method based on whatever flavor profile you’re craving that day, or based on what ingredients you have on hand. This recipe uses a really simple lemon citrus marinade, but feel free to play around with a variety of flavors!
Jump to:
ingredients for air fryer lemon chicken
- 2 pounds of chicken breasts, which will be 3-4 breasts. Most chicken breasts are about 2-2.5″ thick, and the recipe times here take that into account. Sometimes, organic and/or pastured chicken breasts will be a lot thinner, so air frying time will have to be reduced.
- ⅓ cup olive oil for the base of the marinade. Most of this will be discarded, so keep that in mind when looking at the nutrition estimates below.
- 2 large lemons, using all the zest and juice from both, and then thinly sliced.
- 4 garlic cloves, either minced or thinly sliced.
- About 2 teaspoons of salt and a pinch or two of red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you’d like the marinade to be.
how to air fry chicken breasts
Prep the marinade
Begin by mixing the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. With a fork, pierce the chicken breasts to allow for extra absorption of the marinade.
marinate the chicken
In a plastic Ziploc bag or some other deep dish container, add the chicken and marinade, along with the lemon slices. Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour up to overnight.
Airfry
Preheat air fryer at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes. Once preheated, lower heat to 375 degrees f and add chicken breasts as well as lemon slices to the air fryer basket. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, making sure to flip halfway between cooking.
Rest and serve
With the help of an instant read thermometer, ensure doneness before removing from the air fryer. The air fryer lemon chicken breasts should be at 160 degrees f. Once cooking is done, remove from the air fryer basket and place on a plate, cover with foil and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
how long to air fry chicken breasts?
This recipe was tested at multiple cooking temperatures and time frames. Our test kitchen found air frying at 375 degrees f for 10-12 minutes, resulted in the juiciest and most tender chicken breasts. The chicken breasts tested were about 1.5″ – 2″ in thickness and 6-8 ounces in weight.
How long to air fry thin chicken breasts?
Conventionally raised chicken breasts tend to be on the larger side, weighing about 8 ounces each and measuring as much as 2″ thick. If air frying chicken breasts on the thinner side, often found with organic chicken breasts, we recommend reducing the cook time to 8-10 minutes.
Usually organic chickens or even chicken labeled as “tenders” or “breast thins” will be about 1″ thick and cook up quicker, so start with the lower air fry time of 8 minutes, and add time if needed.
recipe tips and variations
For Air Fryer Chicken Bites: Use this same marinade to make tasty air fryer chicken bites that work great for an on-the-go high protein snack. Simply cut up chicken breasts into 2″ square pieces and marinate as directed. Reduce cooking time to 5-6 minutes, making sure to toss the basket halfway through air frying.
Easy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken: Use the easy homemade marinade used in my BBQ grilled chicken thighs. Marinate for a couple of hours. Air fry as directed for delicious and tangy homemade air fryer BBQ chicken breasts.
Zingy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken: For easy buffalo chicken, marinate in your favorite buffalo sauce and air fry as directed. Slice up and serve in a salad along with carrots and celery, for a healthy lunch or dinner!
Air Fryer Lemon Chicken
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Chicken breasts 3-5 breasts, depending on their size
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 Lemons zested and juiced
- 4 Garlic cloves minced or sliced thin
- 1-2 teaspoon Salt
- Red pepper flakes a pinch
Instructions
- Juice and zest 2 lemons, then cut into ½' slices.2 Lemons
- Combine all ingredients, except chicken, in a large bowl or Ziploc bag. Mix well, then add the chicken. Let marinate in the fridge for 2 hours or up to overnight.⅓ cup olive oil, 4 Garlic cloves, 1-2 teaspoon Salt, Red pepper flakes, 2 lbs Chicken breasts
- When ready to air fry your chicken, remove the breasts from the marinade and place in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 375 degrees f for 10-12 minutes depending on the thickness of each breast. Internal temperature should reach 160 degrees f with an instant read thermometer.
- Let chicken rest for at least 5 minutes and the slice to serve.
Leave a Comment