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Home ยป Air Fryer ยป Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken

Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken

Published: Jun 1, 2022 ยท Modified: Jun 1, 2022 by Justin Coit

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Crispy, juicy, and smoky, this Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken paired with a creamy cilantro lime crema makes for a mouthwatering weeknight dinner. This chicken recipe is bursting with flavor thanks to the simple herbs and spices in the marinade. You will love the fresh, bold taste of this recipe.

A plate of air fryer Peruvian chicken with sauce drizzled over top with fresh cilantro.
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Pinterest graphic of a plate of four air fryer Peruvian chicken
Pinterest graphic of an air fryer Peruvian chicken thigh cut open, showing the inside.
Pinterest graphic of a close up view of one crispy Peruvian chicken thigh with cilantro lime crema and cilantro on top.

I am obsessed with how easy and delicious this Peruvian chicken is! It is so crispy and cooks quickly with the air fryer. Plus, itโ€™s perfect for the summer as the air fryer makes for such crispy chicken without heating up the kitchen as an oven does. 

The Peruvian chicken is smoky, savory, and juicy, and when served with cilantro lime sauce, everyone will ask for seconds! Thanks to the simple but scrumptious marinade, this tender and moist chicken is full of bold flavors. Even better, all you need are some simple pantry staples to whip up the marinade. Try my air fryer fish tacos recipe and air fryer fried chicken recipe for another delicious air fryer recipe.

Key Ingredients You Need

Ingredients needed to make air fryer Peruvian chicken.
  • Lime โ€” Always use fresh lime juice instead of bottled lime juice as the flavor is more fresh and bright.
  • Chicken โ€” Feel free to use either chicken thighs or chicken breasts for this recipe. I like using chicken with the skin as I love the crispy skin, and it helps the chicken stay moist.
  • Cilantro โ€” Pick cilantro that is brightly colored and has fresh, fragrant leaves. To keep your cilantro fresh longer, fill a jar with an inch of water, and place the stem ends of the cilantro into the water. Then cover the top loosely with a plastic bag and keep the cilantro in the fridge. 
  • Greek yogurt โ€” Make sure you purchase plain Greek yogurt for the cilantro lime crema and not flavored yogurt. For the creamiest and richest results, use full-fat yogurt. You can also add some mayonnaise for additional creaminess.  

How to Make Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken

Set of two photos showing chicken added to a plastic bag and lime juiced into it.

Step 1: Add the chicken to a zip lock bag.

Step 2: Add the garlic, lime juice, paprika, salt, pepper, cumin, and olive oil and let it marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour to 3 hours.

Set of two photos showing crema blended and chicken lifted into an air fryer basket.

Step 3: To a food processor, add the jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, honey, olive oil, Greek yogurt, and salt. Blend on high until smooth. 

Step 4: Add the chicken to the air fryer basket once finished marinating.

Set of two photos showing the timer set on the air fryer and the crema added onto the chicken thighs.

Step 5: Air fry chicken thighs for 18 to 25 minutes or 15 to 20 minutes for chicken breasts. Let the chicken rest before serving.

Step 6: Drizzle the sauce on top of the chicken and garnish it with fresh chopped cilantro.

Close up view of a Peruvian chicken thigh with cilantro lime crema sauce on top.

Tips For This Recipe

  • The easiest way to make sure the chicken is ready is by using an instant-read thermometer. The chicken should have an internal temperature of 165F.
  • Make sure to remove the seeds and membrane from the jalapeno before adding it to the food processor.
  • Bring the lime to room temperature and roll it on the counter to make juicing it easier.
  • If you have time, marinating the chicken overnight makes the Peruvian chicken even more flavorful.
  • When making Peruvian chicken in the air fryer, make sure thereโ€™s space between the pieces of chicken in the air fryer basket so the hot air can reach every part of the chicken. Itโ€™ll help make sure your chicken crisps up nicely. 
Close up of Peruvian chicken cut open with a piece on a fork, showing the moisture inside the chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will this recipe keep?

If you plan to have leftovers, you can store the chicken and cilantro lime crema separately to keep the chicken from getting soggy. When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, everything should keep for up to 4 days.

Can I freeze this?

Once cooled, you can freeze the air fried Peruvian chicken in an airtight container for up to 2 months. I do not recommend freezing the cilantro lime crema.ย 

How do I reheat leftovers?

You can reheat the chicken in the air fryer at 350F for 5 minutes or until reheated. The air fryer will keep the Peruvian chicken crispy.ย 

Can I cook frozen chicken in the air fryer?ย 

I highly recommend you thaw the chicken before marinating it and air frying it. Itโ€™s difficult for the marinade to penetrate the frozen chicken.ย 

IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE TRY THESE OUT!

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If youโ€™ve tried this Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken Recipe, then donโ€™t forget to leave me a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

Overhead view of four chicken thighs with cilantro lime crema poured over top.
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken

Crispy, juicy, and smoky, this Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken paired with a creamy cilantro lime crema makes for a mouthwatering weeknight dinner. This chicken recipe is bursting with flavor thanks to the simple herbs and spices in the marinade. You will love the fresh, bold taste of this recipe.
Prep Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Peruvian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 428kcal
Author: Justin Coit

Ingredients

For the Chicken

  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ยผ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs or breasts

To Garnish:

  • fresh chopped cilantro.

For the Cilantro Lime Crema Sauce

  • ยฝ jalapeno with seeds and membranes removed
  • 1 cup cilantro
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ยฝ lime juiced
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ยฝ cup Greek Yogurt
  • ยฝ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise or veganaise optional

Instructions

  • Add the garlic, lime juice, paprika, salt, pepper, cumin, and olive oil into a zip lock bag with the chicken and let it marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour to 3 hours.
  • While the chicken is marinating, make the sauce: add all of the sauce ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend on high until smooth. Optional: Add the mayonnaise or veganaise for an even creamier sauce. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
  • Once the chicken has finished marinating, add the chicken pieces into the air fryer and cook at 370 F for: chicken thighs- 18 to 25 minutes (depending on thickness of the pieces), chicken breasts 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 F. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  • Drizzle the sauce on top the chicken and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.

Video

Notes

  • The easiest way to make sure the chicken is ready is by using an instant-read thermometer. The chicken should have an internal temperature of 165F.
  • Make sure to remove the seeds and membrane from the jalapeno before adding it to the food processor.
  • Bring the lime to room temperature and roll it on the counter to make juicing it easier.
  • If you have time, marinating the chicken overnight makes the Peruvian chicken even more flavorful.
  • When making Peruvian chicken in the air fryer, make sure thereโ€™s space between the pieces of chicken in the air fryer basket so the hot air can reach every part of the chicken. Itโ€™ll help make sure your chicken crisps up nicely.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 963mg | Potassium: 349mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1090IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2mg
*Nutrition Disclaimer
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« Air Fryer Fish Tacos
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. pam says

    June 04, 2022 at 3:25 pm

    Hello Friend! I have just recently purchased my first air fryer and I just recently found you on youtube! The first recipe that I tried was your whole chicken in air fryer and it turned out wonderful! You will not believe me when I tell you that after dinner that night I wondered if by chance you had a recipe for Peruvian chicken and I about fell off my chair when I just ran across your latest recipe... Peruvian Chicken! LOL! I hesitate to mention that in your youtube video you did not add the lime juice to your Crema sauce, so I am glad to see how much to add to the sauce here in your recipe. I will try this recipe in the coming days. Thank you so much! Tonight, I am fixing chicken tacos with the leftover chicken.

    Reply
    • Justin Coit says

      July 11, 2022 at 10:10 am

      Hi Pam- You are definitely going to love my Peruvian Chicken recipe, it's so good. Let me know how it turns out for you. Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Samantha says

    June 27, 2022 at 3:56 pm

    5 stars
    Iโ€™m a beginner chef and made this tonight! Oh my goodness! I already shared the recipe with everyone I know! It was so easy to prepare, tasted AMAZING, and made me feel like a real gourmet! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Justin Coit says

      July 11, 2022 at 10:06 am

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it Samantha!

      Reply
  3. David K says

    July 21, 2022 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    Made this with boneless skinless chicken breasts โ€” was still super tasty and a bit healthier (although I do want to try it bone-in with skin sometime). Second time around, I replaced the optional mayo with a whole avocado โ€” turned out creamy and delicious!

    Reply
    • Justin Coit says

      August 29, 2022 at 10:25 am

      That's great David! Nice additions too ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Jennifer says

    July 29, 2022 at 5:18 pm

    Hi there new subscriber here, just got the Cosori air fryer and am going to make this chicken tomorrow. Should I use regular paprika or smoked paprika? What are your thoughts?

    Reply
    • Justin Coit says

      August 29, 2022 at 10:24 am

      You can use either, but smoked could be really nice in this recipe!

      Reply
5 from 6 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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Hi, Iโ€™m Justin. By day I'm a commercial director and photographer but in my free time, I make deliciously clean comfort food for my family and friends.

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