This Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken is juicy, flavorful, and delicious. Marinating the chicken in cilantro lime chicken marinade for two hours before cooking helps lock in the flavor. Serve this recipe with rice and veggies for a complete meal.
I love creating this air fryer cilantro lime chicken when I'm craving a bold, tasty meal that's ready to eat in 20 minutes (not including prep/marinade time). This spicy, creamy recipe is easy to toss into the air fryer, though you can also cook it in the oven or slow cooker if you desire. This air fryer recipe is perfect for meal prep during the week.
If you're craving other chicken air fryer recipes, consider making Frozen Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken, or Crispy Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Flavorful – The fresh herbs, garlic cloves, fresh lime juice, and seasoning combine to create a delicious air fryer chicken recipe.
- Spicy – Adding a jalapeño helps create a mouth-warming heat in this air fryer cilantro lime chicken dish.
- Creamy – The Greek yogurt in the cilantro lime chicken sauce helps cool the heat from the jalapeño and adds creaminess.
- Versatile – This creamy cilantro lime chicken recipe pairs well with many side dishes, from salads to mashed potatoes.
- Great for meal prep – This recipe creates six servings, which you can space out for lunches or dinners during the week. Simply pair it with your desired side dishes, and you'll have satiating meals throughout the week.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Jalapeño: Use half of the jalapeño or remove the seeds and membrane for less heat.
- Honey: White sugar also works in this air fryer cilantro lime chicken recipe if you don't have honey at home.
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Chicken Thighs: Instead of chicken thighs, turn this dish into a cilantro lime chicken breast dish. Chicken drums will also work in this recipe.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
How to Make Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken
Quick Overview
- Add all ingredients (not butter or chicken) to a food processor.
- Blend.
- Set 2 tbs of marinade to the side.
- Add chicken to a bag with marinade.
- Let sit in the fridge.
- Combine melted butter and leftover marinade.
- Lay chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer.
- Cook in batches.
- Brush with butter marinade mixture.
Step by Step Instructions
Marinate chicken for at least two hours to infuse the flavors into the meat.
Cook chicken in batches to ensure even cooking.
Step 1: Add all of the ingredients EXCEPT the butter and chicken to a large food processor. Blend until smooth.
Step 2: In a small bowl, reserve about 2 Tablespoons of the marinade. Set aside in the fridge.
Step 3: Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl or zip-top bag. Add all of the remaining marinade to the chicken and toss well. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight).
Step 4: Mix together the reserved marinade and the melted butter. Set aside.
Step 5: Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. I can usually fit about 4.
Step 6: Air fry at 380 degrees for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway through. The internal temperature should be around 170 degrees. Brush cooked chicken with the cilantro lime butter before serving.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Garnish the cooked air fryer cilantro lime chicken with fresh parsley, jalapeño slices, and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt (to cool the heat).
This air fryer chicken is great as a main protein for recipes like tacos, burrito bowls, salads, and burritos. It also works well with Mexican-inspired side dishes like the following:
Expert Tips
- Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours. Marinating the air fryer cilantro lime chicken for at least two hours ensures the meat absorbs all the flavor from the cilantro lime marinade. Do not remove the chicken from the marinade before two hours, or it will not be as flavorful as expected.
- Don’t skip the cilantro lime butter. Adding an extra swipe of cilantro lime butter helps boost the flavor at the end.
- Use a meat thermometer. It’s necessary to ensure chicken is cooked through to kill any bad bacteria. You can ensure it’s cooked fully by checking the center of the thighs with a meat thermometer. The chicken is ready when the thermometer reads 165°F.
Additions & Variations
- Grill: You can also grill this air fryer cilantro lime chicken. Preheat the grill to 350°F, then cook the chicken thighs for about seven minutes on each side. Depending on the size of the thighs, they may need to cook longer.
- Slow Cooker: Creating this recipe in a slow cooker will help keep the chicken moist. Allow slow cooker cilantro lime chicken to cook on low for about four hours. It is done when the internal temperature is 165°F.
- Oven: Make baked cilantro lime chicken in an oven preheated to 400°F. It will take about 40 minutes for bone-in chicken thighs to be done with this method.
Recipe FAQs
This air fryer cilantro lime chicken pairs well with sides like mashed potatoes, roasted or steamed vegetables, grilled veggies, corn, polenta, etc. You can also turn this recipe into a cilantro lime chicken and rice in the slow cooker by adding extra liquid and rice.
The amount of time chicken should cook in the air fryer depends on how large the pieces are and what chicken part you're cooking (thighs, chicken breasts, etc.). The cooking time ranges from seven to 22 minutes, depending on the above factors. It's best to check the doneness of the chicken with a meat thermometer.
Using a too-high temperature can cause dried-out, rubbery chicken. Ensure you don't overcook chicken when making it in the air fryer by checking it halfway through and a few minutes before the timer goes off.
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Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients:
- 3-4 cups loosely packed cilantro stems & leaves, rinsed & pat dry
- 1 jalapeño*
- 6-7 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 limes, juiced & zested
- 1 Tablespoon honey*
- 1 ½ teaspoons Morton kosher salt*
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 8 chicken thighs (about 2.5 pounds*)
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients EXCEPT the butter and chicken to a large food processor. Blend until smooth.3-4 cups loosely packed cilantro stems & leaves, rinsed & pat dry, 1 jalapeño*, 6-7 cloves garlic, ¼ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 2 limes, juiced & zested, 1 Tablespoon honey*, 1 ½ teaspoons Morton kosher salt*, 1 teaspoon cumin
- In a small bowl, reserve about 2 Tablespoons of the marinade. Set aside in the fridge.
- Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl or zip-top bag. Add all of the remaining marinade to the chicken and toss well. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight).8 chicken thighs (about 2.5 pounds*)
- Mix together the reserved marinade and the melted butter. Set aside.2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. I can usually fit about 4.
- Air fry at 380 degrees for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway through. The internal temperature should be around 170 degrees. Brush cooked chicken with the cilantro lime butter before serving.
Notes:
- Jalapeño: Use half of the jalapeño or remove the seeds and membrane for less heat.
- Honey: White sugar also works in this air fryer cilantro lime chicken recipe if you don't have honey at home.
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Chicken Thighs: Instead of chicken thighs, turn this dish into a cilantro lime chicken breast dish. Chicken drums will also work in this recipe.
- Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours. Marinating the air fryer cilantro lime chicken for at least two hours ensures the meat absorbs all the flavor from the cilantro lime marinade. Do not remove the chicken from the marinade before two hours, or it will not be as flavorful as expected.
- Don’t skip the cilantro lime butter. Adding an extra swipe of cilantro lime butter helps boost the flavor at the end.
- Use a meat thermometer. It’s necessary to ensure chicken is cooked through to kill any bad bacteria. You can ensure it’s cooked fully by checking the center of the thighs with a meat thermometer. The chicken is ready when the thermometer reads 165°F.
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