Air Fryer Greek Chicken

Air fryer Greek chicken is quick, easy and packed with flavor! Ready in under 20 minutes, this healthy Greek chicken is the perfect weeknight dinner idea! Pair the chicken with salad, rice, potatoes or vegetables for a quick and simple meal that everyone will love.

Why you will love this recipe

• Quick and easy – this air fryer Greek chicken can be ready in as little as 15 minutes (30 minutes if you choose to marinate the chicken first). It’s so simple to make, just combine the marinade ingredients, coat the chicken and cook. So easy – perfect for beginners!
• Simple ingredients – you likely have everything you need to make this Greek chicken in the air fryer in the fridge/pantry right now! No special ingredients needed! This recipe is naturally gluten free, dairy free, paleo, Whole30 and low carb!
• Versatile –the air fryer Greek chicken thighs can be used in so many ways. Cut into small cubes or strips after cooking and serve over Greek salad or serve the chicken thighs with rice, cauliflower rice (low carb), potatoes or my favorite Greek style veggies for a simple and delicious meal! You can even cut into cubes and use the chicken in pitas/wraps for a simple lunch idea!

Ingredients

• Dijon mustard – Dijon mustard is typically used to help emulsify dressings and I find that it also makes the best marinades! It adds a distinct flavor that really amplifies the flavor of the dish.
• Coconut aminos – coconut aminos helps to create a umami flavor and really help give the chicken so much flavor. They are rich and savory (taste a little sweeter than soy sauce) and help to add a salty bite to the chicken as well.
• Spices: Salt, Italian seasoning and oregano – I love to use the combination of Italian seasoning and Oregano when making Greek inspired meals. The italian seasoning has so many great flavors and the additional oregano really helps to give the dish that distinctive Greek flavor.
• Red wine vinegar (or lemon juice) – red wine vinegar is my go to acid when making Greek inspired meals. It’s what I always use in my Greek dressing recipes and is often what kalamata olives are soaked in. If you prefer a more lemony Greek dish, you can use lemon juice instead.
• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – boneless, skinless chicken thighs work best for this recipe. Chicken thighs are super forgiving (they don’t dry out as quickly as chicken breast) and they cook up quickly (especially in the air fryer). If you decide you want to use boneless, skinless chicken breast, you will likely want to cut them in half (butterfly) so that they aren’t so thick. This way they will cook in the same amount of time and not dry out.

• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are the best for this recipe. They stay super juicy and are so forgiving (they rarely ever dry out). If you want to use chicken breast, you will want to cut them in half (butterfly them) so that they aren’t as thick and can cook in a short time without drying out.
• If you are short on time, you don’t need to marinade the chicken, as the marinade sticks to the chicken well and it will still be super flavorful.
• Be sure to check the internal temperature of the thickest thigh at the thickest point to ensure everything is well cooked. You want a temperature of at least 165F.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket! The air fryer that we have allows me to cook about 1-1.5 pounds of chicken at a time without the chicken thighs overlapping too much. It is better to cook the Greek chicken in the air fryer in batches than to overcrowd the air fryer.
• Each air fryer will require slightly different cooking time based on the wattage and size. This recipe provides a baseline but you should monitor your chicken around the 11 minute mark. It may need 2-5 more minutes than written depending on your air fryer.

What to serve with air fryer Greek chicken

• Cut into strip or cubes and add to Greek salad
• Serve with rice (or cauliflower rice for a low carb meal) and Mediterranean vegetables for a delicious and simple meal ready in 15 minutes.
• Serve with roasted potatoes and breadcrumb broccoli or balsamic mushrooms and kale for a yummy weeknight meal.
• Make Greek chicken bowls with quinoa, chopped cucumber, tomato and olives. Add tzatziki sauce or your favorite lemony dressing.
• Cut into cubes or slices and make pitas (or wraps) with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickled red onions and hummus.

Common questions

Can you use bone in chicken thighs with the skin on?

Yes, you can use bone in chicken thighs. However, anytime you cook chicken with the bone in, it requires more time. For this recipe you will want to cook the chicken for about 10-15 minutes on each side. The cooking time will depend on the size of the thighs and the wattage of your air fryer. I would start with 12 minutes per side and go from there.

Do you need to preheat the air fryer?

No, you don’t need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe. The convection air will quickly heat up the air fryer so unless you are over-filling the basket or you put down parchment paper or foil (which will slow down the convection cooking), you do not need to preheat the air fryer.

Can you make Greek chicken in the oven?

Yes if you don’t have an air fryer or would like to make a larger batch at once, you can use the oven instead.

To make Greek chicken thighs in the oven:

• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• Coat the chicken in the marinade and let rest 5 minutes.
• Place the chicken in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet and cook for 25 minutes. Check internal temperature (at least 165F) before serving.

Can you make Greek chicken on the stove?

Yes! I would recommend that you follow the steps and directions (including troubleshooting tips) to make 10 minute Italian chicken.

You will want to adjust this recipe for greek chicken by adding 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil to the chicken marinade to help ensure the chicken doesn’t stick as it’s being cooked on the stove.

It’s important to allow the skillet to get hot before adding the chicken and to not touch the chicken for at least 5 minutes to allow it to get a nice crust on the chicken before turning.

Is air fryer Greek chicken healthy?

Yes! Packed with protein, this air fryer Greek chicken is a healthy option. The marinade is Whole30 and low carb and has no added sugar or unnecessary ingredients.

Because the chicken is cooked in the air fryer, it has less fat than cooking it on the stove in oil. If you want to make this with boneless, skinless chicken breast, the air fryer Greek chicken will be even lower in calories and fat.

Storing leftovers

Fridge: Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. Reheat in the air fryer 350F for 4-5 minutes or in the microwave 1-1:30.

Freezer: You can freeze leftover air fryer Greek chicken for up to 3 months in a freezer safe bag or container. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat the same as you would from the fridge.

Substitutions

• Dijon mustard – the Dijon mustard adds a unique flavor that would be hard to replicate. You could add 1-2 tablespoons of unsweetened plain yogurt (regular or Greek style) in place of the Dijon mustard if needed.
• Coconut aminos – coconut aminos are a gluten free, soy free alternative to soy sauce. You could also use tamari (gluten free soy sauce) or soy sauce if you can tolerate gluten and soy.
• Spices: I would not recommend substituting the salt for anything (salt helps to amplify all the flavors. If you are salt sensitive, use your favorite replacement. If you don’t have italian seasoning on hand, make your own using my go-to recipe or you can use herbs de provence or equal parts dried basil and dried parsley to replace the italian seasoning. If you don’t have oregano on hand, you can simply just add more italian seasoning.
• Red wine vinegar – you can use lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar in place of the red wine vinegar.
• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – you could also use boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut in half – butterfly) so that the chicken breast is not as thick. You could also cut the breast down into tenders. You can also use bone-in, skin on chicken thighs, but you will need to increase the cooking time to 20-30 minutes (depending on the size and your air fryer).

If you love this recipe, you should try

Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken

Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Burgers

Air Fryer Chicken Bites