Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken

5 from 33 votes

Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken

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.

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Marinating Time2

Total Time2 25

Course: Main

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: people

Calories: 527kcal

Author: Brianna May

Equipment

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.

Nutrition