Tired of dry, bland chicken nights? All you need is a squeeze of lemon, a splash of soy sauce, a hint of oregano, and a drizzle of olive oil to transform your chicken into a flavorful favorite recipe. This is perfect for beginner cooks and busy weeknights, requiring minimal prep and maximum flavor. Let's marinate and get cooking!
This is my go-to quick and easy marinade when life is busy. You can even marinate your chicken for as little as 30 minutes while you are prepping the rest of your meal. Then air fry this to quickly get your meal on the table.
Roasted broccoli is such an easy, delicious, and healthy side, to this chicken recipe.
My Easy Pork Chop marinade is similar to this one. My kids weren't fans of pork chops until we started using this!
Table of contents
Why I love this recipe
Simple Ingredients, Maximum Flavor: Only 4 pantry staples needed for restaurant-worthy taste!
Effortless Prep: Whip up the marinade in minutes, leaving more time for you.
Use any cooking method: grill, bake, pan-fry, or air fry—this marinade works flawlessly for any method.
Flavor Powerhouse: The lemon, soy sauce, oregano, and olive oil combo creates a depth that elevates your chicken.
Beginner-Friendly: No fancy techniques, just easy flavor – perfect for new cooks or those of us just in a hurry.
Customizable - add a touch of garlic, honey, or red pepper flakes for a unique twist!
Ingredients
- Two large chicken breasts, sliced, make a total of four thin chicken filets. Chicken thighs are also a great alternative. I don't cut those, but I pound them just a little so they are a little more flat.
- Juice of ½ a lemon. I have also used a lime if I didn't have a lemon handy.
- Soy Sauce - this adds salt to the recipe. Using a
- Olive oil or any neutral oil (do not use extra virgin olive oil)
- Oregano - You can substitute any other seasoning you and your family love. If you want the chicken just mildly flavored, use only salt and pepper.
Instructions
Step 1
Add the 4 chicken filets to a freezer bag. Add olive oil, soy sauce, oregano, and lemon juice. Allow to marinate for at least ½ an hour, ideally 2-4 hours. This is a quick and simple marinade.
Step 2
Preheat your air fryer a couple of minutes at 400°F
In an air fryer rack, cook for 8 minutes. If your chicken breasts are thicker or not filleted in ½, then it will take longer. I always cut into a thick part to ensure the meat is no longer pink.
Flip the chicken halfway through cooking (at 4 minutes). Using an air fryer tray like I have, it isn't an issue if you don't flip the chicken.
Tip about even cooking Having the thinner filets ensures even cooking. If you cook a regular chicken breast, by the time the center of the thicker part is cooked, the thinner parts are overcooked and dry.
The two chicken breasts I used weighed around 11 oz each. Cut in half, they are a more reasonable portion of approximately 5.5oz (uncooked) each.
Step 3
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Then serve with easy sides. When making a quick meal, I usually just serve it with vegetables.
FAQs
Absolutely! Heat your grill to medium-high and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. The time will vary depending on the grill's temperature and the thickness of the meat.
This can be made using lemon, soy, oil, and just a bit of salt. The soy contains some salt, so use a limited amount. The chicken will be tender and moist without the seasoned taste.
I usually make a small cut into a thicker area to ensure the juices run clear and that the chicken is no longer pink.
If checking with a thermometer, the internal temperature should be 165°F.
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Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate either wrapped or in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
If well wrapped, these will freeze well. Use within 3 months.
To reheat, allow frozen chicken to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. I prefer reheating in my air fryer at 400°F for a few minutes (4-5 minutes usually works). Watch closely not to overcook.
What to serve with chicken and other marinades
Easy Air Fryer Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast fillet in half
- ½ lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or other neutral oil (not extra virgin oil)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce use lower sodium type if watching salt levels
- 1 tablespoon oregano dried
Instructions
- In a plastic bag, add chicken and all other ingredients. Massage marinade and seasoning onto chicken. Allow to marinade for 30 minutes.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F for a couple of minutes then place chicken breasts on air fryer rack. Cook 4 minutes on each side. Cut into a piece to check if juices run clear and if chicken is no longer pink. Cooked internal temperature of chicken should be 165°F
- Rest chicken for 3-5 minutes, then serve with easy sides.
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