Air fryer recipe · Starters
Lemon-Pepper Chicken
Zesty, peppery chicken bites with bright lemon and a clean buttery finish.
- 35 minTotal time
- 200°CAir fryer
- 6Serves
- Non-vegetarianDiet
Nutrition per serving
- 120kcal
- 14.6 gprotein
- 3.0 gcarbs
- 5.7 gfat
- 0.3 gfibre
Per serving, about 6 servings. Figures are estimates from standard ingredient databases, not medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice.
Ingredients
- Chicken thigh, cubed450 g
- Lemon zest and juice1 lemon
- Cracked black pepper1.5 tsp
- Garlic, minced1 tbsp
- Butter, melted1.5 tbsp
- Cornflour1 tbsp
Method
Make the zesty rub
Mix the lemon zest, lemon juice, cracked pepper, minced garlic, salt and melted butter into a fragrant slurry. Plenty of fresh cracked pepper is the heart of this dish, so be generous with it for a bold, zingy flavour.
Toss the chicken
Coat the cubes in the rub, then dust them lightly with cornflour for a thin, crisp edge. Rest for 20 minutes so the lemon and pepper sink into the meat and the flavour reaches past the surface.
Spread out evenly
Arrange the cubes in a single layer with room around each one. Space keeps them roasting and browning in the dry heat instead of steaming in their own juices, which is what gives you those crisp edges.
Air-fry and finish
Spray with a little oil and brush the leftover butter over the cubes at the end for shine. Air fry at 200°C for 15 min, shaking once midway, until golden with crisp edges and opaque through with no pink at the centre.
