Home » Blog » Course » Main Dish » Air Fryer Lemon ChickenAir Fryer Lemon Chicken Pin RecipeRate RecipePublished: Mar 16, 2022 · Modified: Jun 13, 2023 by Andrea + Stef · This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our full Disclosure Policy for details. These perfectly spiced chicken thighs combine lemon, garlic and Italian flavors and are cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Jump to Recipe Nice and crispy on the outside and juicy and delicious on the inside, this quick and easy air fryer lemon chicken will be your new favorite way to cook chicken thighs. Table of Contents POSSIBLE VARIATIONSAIR FRYER LEMON CHICKEN INGREDIENTSSERVING SUGGESTIONSINSTRUCTIONSSTORAGE TIPSRELATED RECIPESFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSAir Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinate your meat with a homemade spice blend, lemon juice and oil, and your work is already done. After only 25 minutes in the air fryer, you are ready to enjoy the best air fryer chicken you have ever tasted. In case you don’t have an air fryer, we have also included instructions on how to bake this dish in the oven. This incredible lemon chicken recipe is best served with some baked potatoes, roasted vegetables and garlic French bread. Your family will love this fabulous weeknight meal. Air fryer lemon pepper chicken is also a great choice for a dinner party in case any of your guest follow a special diet, as it is both dairy free and gluten free. POSSIBLE VARIATIONS AIR FRYER LEMON GARLIC SALMON – Perfectly cooked salmon with crispy edges and a tender and flaky middle that is bursting with Mediterranean flavors. CHIPOTLE CHICKEN WINGS– Crispy and flavorful, these air fryer wings come out great every time and only take 30 minutes. AIR FRYER LEMON CHICKEN INGREDIENTS You may have all of these crispy lemon pepper chicken thighs ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts. Jump to Recipe GarlicOnion PowderItalian seasoningBlack PepperSaltPaprika: We used regular paprika, but if you are a big fan of smoky flavor you can also try smoked paprika. Lemon Zest: For best results use fresh and bright yellow lemons. Make sure you only use the yellow part of the lemon peel and not the white one. The white part, also called pith, tastes bitter and might ruin the flavor of your lemon chicken.Oil: We use olive or avocado oil. Lemon Juice: For best flavor use fresh lemon juice.Chicken Thighs: We use bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe. SERVING SUGGESTIONS Enjoy this great recipe as a great addition to a full meal with these other recipes: Crispy air fryer baked potatoes – With a crispy skin and a fluffy interior, these baked potatoes are the perfect, easy side dish. Parmesan roasted broccoli – This tasty and healthy broccoli side will be a new favorite with your family. Garlic French Bread – This quick and easy recipe uses store-bought French bread and you can even add some cheesy flavor by adding Parmesan cheese. INSTRUCTIONS If you’d like to print this recipe, scroll down to the recipe card where you can print the recipe or have it scaled to double or triple. You’ll also find nutrition information. Jump to Recipe TOOLS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED: mixing bowlslemon zester or box graterair fryerknife and cutting board BLEND SPICES: In a small bowl, combine garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper, salt, paprika, and lemon zest. Whisk together and set aside. KITCHEN TIPIf you don’t own a lemon zester, you can also use the fine side of a box grater to rub off the lemon zest or a vegetable peeler. First, peel off very thin slices of lemon peel (avoid the white part) and then chop the lemon peel finely on a cutting board with a knife. COMBINE OIL AND LEMON JUICE: In a separate bowl, combine oil and lemon juice. Whisk well. RUB WITH OIL MIXTURE: Rub the lemon oil mixture all over the skin and underside of the chicken thighs. RUB WITH SPICE BLEND: Rub the spices onto the chicken thighs. Make sure to rub the spice blend into skin and chicken really well. KITCHEN TIPFor more flavorful chicken meat, rub some spices under the chicken skin as well. Then pull the skin back over the chicken and rub spices on the outside. KITCHEN TIPTo marinate the chicken ahead of time, you can allow it to sit in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. RESTING TIME: Let the chicken thighs rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. AIR FRY: Cook the thighs in the air fryer at 380ºF for 25 minutes or until chicken reached an internal temperature of 165ºF at the thickest part. Flip halfway though. KITCHEN TIPAir fryer cooking times will vary depending on the size of the air fryer, the size of the chicken and how many pieces of chicken are in the air fryer. If you’re cooking less chicken, boneless skinless chicken breasts, or in a larger air fryer you will want to start checking the chicken temperature at 15 minutes. SERVE: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and lemon slices. STORAGE TIPS Storing your food properly is important to prevent spoiling or food poisoning. Refrigerate: Store air fryer lemon chicken in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze: Lemon chicken thighs are best eaten fresh. However, you can freeze them in an airtight and freezer safe container or ziploc freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. We do recommend freezing uncooked chicken thighs rather than cooked ones. Defrosting: A great way to defrost is in the refrigerator overnight. RELATED RECIPES While we love https://familydinners.com/tag/air-fryer/air fryer lemon pepper chicken we also love some of these other recipes and think you will as well. LEMON GARLIC SALMON – Seasoned with lemon, garlic, and Italian herbs, this salmon is quick and easy to prepare and cooks up perfectly in the air fryer. AIR FRYER BROCCOLI – Ready in less than 15 minutes, this will be your new favorite way of cooking broccoli. AIR FRYER GREEN BEANS – A quick and easy way to cook tender and delicious green beans. A classic American side that goes with almost everything. AIR FRYER CAULIFLOWER – Use two different colored cauliflowers to create a flavorful and colorful vegetable dish everyone will love. ITALIAN SALAD – This crispy and nutritious salad with a homemade dressing is absolutely delicious and a perfect way to add some greens to your meal. FRIED CHICKEN – One of America’s most loved comfort foods, this crispy and juicy fried chicken is completely irresistible. Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken Wings and Legs Bursting with flavor, these spicy chicken legs are perfect as an appetizer or a meal. See Recipe FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Can I marinate the chicken thighs overnight?Yes, you can rub the chicken thighs with oil and spices and then keep them in the refrigerator overnight. (Not longer than 24 hours) Do not leave them on the counter, as it is not food safe. Is it Ok to freeze uncooked marinated chicken?Yes. We actually recommend freezing the chicken raw rather than cooked. When you are ready to cook the meat, let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then cook following the recipe instructions. I don’t have an air fryer. Is it possible to cook lemon pepper chicken in the oven ?Yes. Marinate the chicken as described in the recipe, then bake in the oven at 400ºF for about 35 minutes until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF at the thickest part. chicken thighs 5 from 9 votes Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Author Andrea + Stef Course Main Dish Cuisine American, Italian Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Cook Time 25 minutes minutes Print Pin Rate 6 pieces These perfectly spiced chicken thighs combine lemon, garlic and Italian flavors and are cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark Equipmentmixing bowlslemon zester or box graterwhiskAir Fryerknife and cutting board Ingredients 1x2x3xChicken ingredients:▢ 4 cloves garlic (4 teaspoons) minced▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder▢ 1½ teaspoon Italian seasoning▢ 1 tsp black pepper▢ ½ tsp salt▢ ½ teaspoon paprika▢ 1 tablespoon lemon zest (about 1 large lemon)▢ 2 tablespoon oil (olive oil or avocado oil)▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed▢ 6 chicken thighs bone in with skinGarnish:▢ Parsley chopped fresh▢ Lemon slices InstructionsIn a small bowl, combine garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper, salt, paprika, and lemon zest. Whisk together and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine oil and lemon juice. Whisk well. Rub the lemon oil mixture all over the skin and underside of the chicken thighs. Rub the spices onto the chicken thighs. Make sure to rub the spice blend into skin and chicken really well. Let the chicken thighs rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. Cook the thighs in the air fryer at 380ºF for 25 minutes or until chicken is 165ºF. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and lemon slices. NotesFor more flavorful chicken meat, rub some spices under the chicken skin as well. Then pull the skin back over the chicken and rub spices on the outside. Air fryer cooking times will vary depending on the size of the air fryer, the size of the chicken and how many pieces of chicken are in the air fryer. If you’re cooking less chicken, boneless skinless chicken, or in a larger air fryer you will want to start checking the chicken temperature at 15 minutes. Serve with baked potatoes, roasted broccoli and garlic french bread. NutritionCalories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 282mg | Potassium: 257mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg Did you create this? 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