This air fryer lemongrass chicken recipe uses one of my favorite marinades, giving it a tangy, citrusy, minty flavor that's fabulously fresh and light.
Combine the lemongrass powder, olive oil, soy sauce, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and lemon pepper in a small bowl.
¼ cup lemongrass powder, ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup lime juice, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
Stir until everything is well-mixed and then transfer the sauce to a large Ziplock bag.
Add the chicken thighs into the Ziplock bag and then seal the bag, removing as much air as possible.
4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Slosh the chicken around in the marinade and then set in the refrigerator to marinate for 30-60 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
Once the chicken is done marinating, transfer the chicken skin side down to the air fryer basket and cook in the air fryer for 10 minutes.
Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 7-8 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes.
Plate and serve the chicken with minced scallions as a garnish, optional.
minced scallions
Notes
Lemongrass Powder: This is one of those ingredients that you will likely have to order online or buy in a health food store. You can also use 3 lemongrass stalks if you have them available instead. Just mince the tender inside leaves of the stalks as small as possible and use them in the marinade instead of the power. Another option is to use about 3 tablespoons of lemongrass paste.
Soy Sauce: For a gluten-free alternative, use tamari or coconut aminos.
Feel free to use vegetable, canola, or grapeseed oil in the marinade instead of olive oil.
Lemon juice works just as well as lime juice. You can use either fresh limes or lemons, or juice from concentrate.
You can also make this with chicken breasts, but be careful not to overcook them, since they aren’t as forgiving as chicken thighs.
Like most chicken, this dish works great with a starchy side, like mashed potatoes, fries, rice, or noodles.
You can also add a vegetable side, like a salad, steamed broccoli, creamed corn, etc.
To use this lemongrass chicken in other ways, you can shred it (or any leftovers) and add it to a salad, a pasta, a bowl, or any meal that calls for shredded chicken.
You can also add sauces and/or spices to this chicken. There are a lot of delicious sauces that this chicken can be dipped into, since it has a rather neutral flavor.
You can also add some cayenne pepper or jalapeños to the recipe for some heat.
Storage: Store lemongrass chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.