Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Chicken
on Jul 07, 2026
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
We’ve been making this Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Chicken on repeat for weeks now, and my family still isn’t tired of it. It’s lemony, garlicky, and takes about 20 minutes to get on the table.
We eat a lot of chicken at home, and this air fryer lemon garlic chicken has quickly joined the ranks of one of the most loved recipes in our kitchen. The marinade is simple, but the lemon zest in it brings this beautiful citrusy aroma that fills the whole room. And the chicken turns out juicy and tender every single time.
Our air fryer chicken tikka and air fryer chicken tenders have been family favourites for a while, and this lemon garlic chicken is now part of the list. If your family loves chicken as much as mine does, I think this one’s going to earn a permanent spot in your kitchen too.
jump to section: lemon garlic chicken
Ingredients for Lemon Garlic Chicken
Chicken: I’ve used 350 grams of boneless thigh pieces here, cut into 1.5-inch pieces. I wouldn’t recommend breast pieces for this recipe as it comes out dry and chewy.
Lemon zest: Used in the marinade and herb butter. Adds a beautiful aroma and a lovely lemon-y flavor that’s hard to achieve with just lemon juice.
Other Marinade Ingredients: Lemon juice, grated garlic, crushed pepper, kashmiri chilli powder, honey, salt, and olive oil.
Herb Butter: Soft butter (I have used regular salted butter) mixed with lemon zest and freshly chopped coriander.
Skewers: For threading the chicken pieces before air frying.
Oil: Groundnut or any neutral cooking oil for brushing the basket and the chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can grill the skewers on a hot pan or tawa for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or bake them in the oven at 200°C for about 15-18 minutes. The air fryer gives you the best char with the least oil, but both alternatives work well.
You can, but thighs are recommended because they stay juicier in the air fryer. Breast tends to dry out quickly, especially at high heat. If you do use breast, reduce the air frying time by a couple of minutes and keep an eye on it.
The pieces should be slightly browned around the edges and cooked through with no pink in the centre. For boneless thigh pieces this size, 6-8 minutes total at 200°C is usually enough.
Bell peppers, onion chunks, and zucchini all work well threaded between the chicken pieces. Just make sure they’re cut to a similar size so everything cooks evenly.
You can skip the skewers entirely and lay the marinated pieces directly in the basket. The skewers just make it easier to flip and serve, but the chicken tastes the same either way.
Richa’s Top Tips
- Marinate for at least an hour. The lemon juice and garlic need time to work into the chicken. The longer it sits, the more flavour each piece absorbs. If you have time, you can also marinate it overnight and keep it refrigerated.
- Don’t skip the lemon zest in the marinade. The zest carries the concentrated citrus oils that give this chicken its signature aroma. Lemon juice alone won’t give you the same result.
- Leave a gap between the skewers in the air fryer basket. If the pieces are touching, the hot air can’t circulate properly, and the chicken won’t get that golden, slightly charred finish on all sides.
- Brush with oil before and after flipping. This helps the chicken brown evenly and keeps the surface from drying out during air frying.
- Brush the herb butter on while the chicken is still hot. The heat melts the butter instantly, and it seeps into every piece, carrying the lemon zest and coriander flavour with it.
Storage Tips
- In the fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. The lemon and garlic flavours hold up well overnight.
- Freezing: You can freeze the marinated, uncooked chicken for up to two weeks. Thaw overnight in the fridge, thread onto skewers, and air fry fresh. Make the herb butter fresh when you’re ready to serve.
- Reheating tip: Pop the chicken back in the air fryer at 180°C for 2-3 minutes to warm through. Brush with fresh herb butter before serving to bring back that just-cooked flavour.
Serving Ideas
This air fryer lemon garlic chicken is versatile enough to work as a starter or as part of a meal. Here are a few ways we enjoy it:
- With Hummus and Whole Wheat Pita Bread: Slide the chicken off the skewers, tuck it into a warm pita with some hummus, and you’ve got a proper Mediterranean style lunch.
- With Mediterranean Chickpea Salad: The lemony chicken with this fresh, crunchy salad makes for a really light and satisfying meal.
- With Egg Fried Rice: If you want something more filling, a plate of fried rice with these skewers on the side works really well.
- On its own: With a squeeze of lemon and a cold drink. Sometimes the simplest way is the best way.
Did You Know?
Lemon zest contains five to ten times more concentrated citrus flavour than lemon juice. The zest is packed with essential oils, primarily limonene, which is where that intense, bright lemon aroma comes from. Lemon juice gives you acidity and tanginess, but the zest gives you fragrance. That’s why this recipe uses zest in both the marinade and the herb butter.
This air fryer lemon garlic chicken deserves a spot in every kitchen that loves good chicken. Try it, and I have a feeling the words ‘can we have that lemon chicken again?’ will follow very soon. Find me on Instagram @my_foodstory and tell me how it went.
Watch Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe Video
Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
For marination
- 350 grams boneless chicken thighs cut into 1.5 inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons grated garlic
- ¼ teaspoon crushed pepper
- 1 teaspoon kashmiri chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ + ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Other
- 3 skewers
- 1 – 2 teaspoons groundnut or any cooking oil for brushing
- 1 ½ tablespoons soft butter
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped coriander leaves
Instructions
- Take chicken in a bowl, add rest of the ingredients for marinade, toss until all chicken pieces get well coated with the marinade and set aside for at least an hour.350 grams boneless chicken thighs cut into 1.5 inch pieces, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons grated garlic, ¼ teaspoon crushed pepper, 1 teaspoon kashmiri chilli powder, 1 teaspoon honey, ¼ + ⅛ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons olive oil
- Herb butter: Take soft butter in a bowl, add lemon zest, coriander leaves, mix well and set aside.1 ½ tablespoons soft butter, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, 2 teaspoons finely chopped coriander leaves
- Preheat the airfryer to 200C. Brush the airfryer basket with oil. Thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers and place them on the airfryer basket with some gap in between. Brush the chicken with a teaspoon of oil and air fry at 200C for 3 minutes, flip once, brush with oil & air fry at 200 C for another 3-5 minutes or until they are cooked through & slightly browned around the edges.3 skewers, 1 – 2 teaspoons groundnut or any cooking oil for brushing
- Brush the fried chicken with herb butter and serve.
Video
Nutrition
This article was researched and written by Harita Odedra.
