This air fryer lemon pepper chicken breast recipe in the air fryer takes chicken breast to an entirely new level. It's loaded with classic lemon pepper flavor but cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer.
I love lemon pepper chicken, but after a while making the same thing over and over can get boring. I decided to give things a simple twist by cubing and cooking my lemon pepper chicken breast in the air fryer.
Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken
This was inspired by my other lemon pepper chicken recipe on this site and pairs well with this amazing cheesy rice side dish recipe.
Why You Will Love this Recipe
- It uses simple ingredients.
- It's an easy recipe that's ready in no time.
- The flavor is fantastic, and the air fryer delivers the perfect texture.
Top Tip:
Always preheat your air fryer for even cooking. We don't know who started the myth that air fryers don't have to be preheated, but it IS a myth.
Ingredients
This recipe only takes a few simple ingredients that you'll find easily at your local store. The major flavors are listed below, but you'll find the complete list of ingredients along with amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Chicken breast
- Lemon juice
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Italian seasoning
- Parsley
Substitutions and Variations
- Chicken breast - Thighs are great as well.
- Olive oil - Vegetable, olive, avocado, or coconut oil work.
- Lemon juice - Fresh-squeezed is best, but any will work. Try lime juice or white wine vinegar.
- Pepper - Use cayenne pepper or a blend of pepper instead.
- Italian seasoning - Use oregano, sage, basil, rosemary, thyme, chili powder, cumin, or marjoram instead.
- Parsley - Use cilantro, chives, chervil, green onions, or celery leaves instead.
- Make it Sweeter - Add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a hint of sweetness.
- Spicy - Add a teaspoon of chili pepper flakes, smoked paprika, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the marinade to imbue heat into the dish. I will also occasionally add a teaspoon of our homemade hot pepper sauce, or use your favorite hot sauce, to the marinade.
Instructions
This recipe only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps to make. It's super simple. The overview is below, but you'll find the full instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
1: Combine all the ingredients and marinade the chicken.
2: Air fry until golden and cooked through.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Store in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Place the chicken in a baking dish with a bit of water or liquid and bake at 350 covered until heated through.
What to Serve with Lemon Pepper Chicken
This air fryer lemon pepper chicken is great for any occasion! It’s flavorful enough for dinner parties yet simple enough for weeknight meals. Serve over rice or with a side salad for an easy and delicious dinner option. We love our ranch or our Buffalo ranch dip but we have so many for you to choose from.
Tips
- Marinate the chicken before air frying for an added depth of flavor for at least ten minutes if not an hour.
- Make sure to spray the basket with cooking oil or use parchment paper so that your chcen does not stick.
- Preheat your air fryer before adding in ingredients.
- Adjust times and temperatures accordingly depending on how thick or thin. you have cut up your pieces of meat. Each air fryer cooks differently, so make sure to check your chicken cooking progress the first time you make this recipe.
- Turn chicken over once halfway through cooking time to promote even cooking.
- Serve immediately.
FAQ
You can change up the flavor profile of your lemon pepper marinade; you can feel free to add any additional herbs and spices that you like! For example, adding cumin, oregano, rosemary, thyme or basil would all be delicious additions!
To prepare the chicken for this recipe, start by cutting all of the fat off the chicken breasts and then cut it into bite-sized pieces. Then pour the marinade over the chicken before adding in the seasonings. Finally, mix everything together until all of the pieces are evenly coated.
Yes! This is a healthy, low-calorie dish that is packed with flavor. The olive oil and lemon juice provide healthy fats while the herbs and spices add lots of flavor without added sugars or sodium.
Yes! Boneless skinless chicken thighs are a great substitution for this recipe and will give you even more delicious results. Just make sure that they are cut into small pieces before marinating and cooking.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Bites
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pepper or cayene pepper
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon parsley minced
Instructions
- Cut all the fat off the chicken breasts and cut into bite sized pieces.
- Using a resealable bag or a bowl with a cover, pour the oil and lemon juice over the chicken, then add the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 10 minutes or up to 1 hour.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and add enough chicken to cover the bottom of the basket. Place in the air fryer and set for 400° for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Check the chicken for doneness after 8 minutes. Continue frying for an additional minute or 2 as needed.
- Remove and sprinkle with parsley and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken before air frying for an added depth of flavor for at least ten minutes if not an hour.
- Make sure to spray the basket with cooking oil or use parchment paper so that your chcen does not stick.
- Preheat your air fryer before adding in ingredients.
- Adjust times and temperatures accordingly depending on how thick or thin. you have cut up your pieces of meat. Each air fryer cooks differently, so make sure to check your chicken cooking progress the first time you make this recipe.
- Turn chicken over once halfway through cooking time to promote even cooking.
- Serve immediately.
- For serving, we love our ranch or our Buffalo ranch dip but we have so many for you to choose from.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
May be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
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