Description
This honey lime chicken air fryer recipe creates perfectly crispy, sweet and tangy chicken in just 25 minutes. The combination of fresh lime juice, honey, and aromatic spices creates a restaurant-quality meal that’s healthier than traditional frying. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep!
Ingredients
- For the Honey Lime Marinade:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or preferred cut)
- 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 3–4 medium limes)
- 1/4 cup honey (raw honey preferred)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- For the Coating:
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For Serving:
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Lime wedges
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey, soy sauce, olive oil, minced garlic, lime zest, ground ginger, smoked paprika, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Mix until well combined.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels. Cut larger pieces into uniform sizes for even cooking. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Marinate: Place chicken in the marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for best flavor.
- Prepare Coating: In a shallow dish, combine cornstarch, flour, garlic powder, and salt.
- Coat Chicken: Remove chicken from marinade (reserve marinade). Dredge each piece in coating mixture, pressing gently to ensure adherence.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
- Cook: Lightly spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place chicken in single layer, not touching. Cook 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Make Glaze: While chicken cooks, pour reserved marinade into small saucepan. Boil, then simmer 5-7 minutes until thickened and reduced by half.
- Final Glaze: During last 2 minutes of cooking, brush chicken with reduced glaze.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and green onions. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Always use fresh lime juice for brightest flavor
- Pat chicken completely dry before coating for maximum crispiness
- Don’t overcrowd air fryer basket – cook in batches if needed
- Use meat thermometer to ensure 165°F internal temperature
- Save some marinade before adding raw chicken for the glaze
Storage: Store leftovers in refrigerator up to 4 days. Reheat in air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes to restore crispiness.
Variations: Try with chicken breasts (reduce cook time to 10-12 minutes), wings (increase to 18-20 minutes), or tenders (8-10 minutes).
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian-Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
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