Description
This Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken recipe features tender, juicy boneless chicken thighs marinated in a smoky and spicy chipotle adobo sauce blend. Ready in just 25 minutes including marinating, it’s perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner or a tasty rice bowl topping. The air fryer locks in moisture while giving the chicken a deliciously charred texture without excess oil.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lb boneless chicken thighs
Marinade
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 99 g chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 15 g fresh cilantro
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the marinade: Add chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, olive oil, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, fresh cilantro, salt, and black pepper to a blender. Blend until smooth and fully combined.
- Marinate the chicken: Place chicken thighs in a large bowl. Pour ⅓ cup of the marinade over them. Toss to coat evenly, ensuring every piece is well covered. Cover the bowl with clingfilm.
- Refrigerate: Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours to develop flavor.
- Preheat the air fryer: Set the air fryer to 400°F (200 °C) and preheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Arrange chicken: Place the marinated chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket to allow even cooking.
- Air fry the chicken: Cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F (74 °C) and slightly charred on the edges.
- Rest the chicken: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes so juices redistribute, making it juicy and flavorful.
- Serve and enjoy: Use the air fryer chipotle chicken in rice bowls or alongside your preferred sides like mango salsa or black beans.
Notes
- This recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and takes about 5 minutes to prep.
- Boneless chicken thighs provide tender and juicy texture perfect for air frying.
- Marinating time can be extended up to 24 hours for more intense flavor.
- Serve with mango salsa, black beans, and cilantro lime rice for a complete meal.
- Ensure chicken is arranged in a single layer to cook evenly in the air fryer.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken is cooked to safe internal temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 337 kcal
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 213 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.04 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 215 mg
