Greek Yogurt Chicken in Air Fryer

This Greek Yogurt Chicken in Air Fryer is so juicy and simple to make. All you have to do is marinate your chicken in a 6 ingredient sauce and then air fry your greek chicken for 30 minutes. It comes together so quickly and is perfect for a weeknight dinner or meal prep.

If you're looking for a juicy, flavourful chicken thigh recipe, then this air fryer Greek yogurt chicken recipe is for you. You can marinate the chicken for as little as half an hour, or leave it for up to a day (the longer you leave it, the better it will taste), and then just place it in the air fryer for 30 minutes and you've got yourself a really delicious chicken dinner.

The Greek yogurt sauce for this air fryer chicken only needs 6 ingredients. Just grab some greek yoghurt, chilli flakes, paprika, garlic, mixed herbs, lemon, and olive oil. Oh and you'll want to season it with salt and pepper but I don't really class them as the key ingredients! Another great recipe I love that's inspired by Greek ingredients is my Greek Meatballs also known as keftedes, they're so good!

If you love making chicken recipes, then you're going to want to try out my Volcano Chicken, Orange Chicken , Honey Ginger Chicken, or my Scallion Chicken recipes! They're both so delicious, especially served with rice, noodles, or a salad! If you're looking for something a bit more summery, great for serving on at a bbq, then my Chicken Salad without Celery is for you!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Ingredient Substitutions
• Recipe Variations
• Step-By-Step Instructions
• Top Tips!
• What To Do With Leftovers
• FAQs For Air Fryer Greek Yogurt Chicken
• Greek Yogurt Chicken in Air Fryer

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Air Fryer - You know I love an air fryer recipe, and this one is honestly so fantastic. The air fryer cooks this Greek yogurt chicken in under 30 minutes to a perfectly moist level with slightly crispy outside. If you love your air fryer as much as I do, then why not check out my stuffed air fryer salmon recipe or my 20 minute pork belly air fryer recipe!
• 6 Ingredient Marinade - There's nothing worse than getting a recipe up to then find it's got a billion ingredients in it. Well, you won't have to worry about that for this super simple air fryer Greek yogurt chicken because the marinade only has 6 ingredients. And I almost guarantee that you'll have all of them in your pantry already.
• Versatile - The flavours of this Greek yogurt chicken are fantastic because it can go with anything. If you want to serve it with loaded mashed potato bowls, or as the chicken in these Greek chicken gyros wraps, or as a topping for Boursin lemon pasta, they're the perfect chicken dish to make if you want an easy and flexible meal.

Ingredients You'll Need

Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs are chosen for their juicy and flavourful meat. Thighs remain moist and tender even in high-heat cooking methods like air frying, making them a perfect choice for this recipe. I've used chicken thighs with their bone and skin still on, because I think it provides the best flavour, but feel free to buy skinless and boneless if you'd prefer.

Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt serves a dual purpose in this recipe. First, it acts as a tenderising marinade for the chicken, contributing to its succulence. Second, it adds a tangy and creamy flavour, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.

Chilli Flakes: These bring a hint of heat to the recipe, elevating the flavour profile. The spiciness complements the tanginess of the yogurt and adds a subtle kick to each bite. I've just used regular store-bought chilli flakes, but you can also use gochugaru chilli flakes, chipotle chilli flakes, or arbol chilli flakes for a more unique flavour. If you like spicy side dishes, you might want to try my Chilli Halloumi or this Avocado and Chilli Oil Linguine.

Paprika: Paprika contributes a warm, earthy flavour and a vibrant red colour to the chicken. It enhances the visual appeal of the dish while imparting a mild, smoky taste.

Garlic: I've used 3 cloves for the marinade, but feel free to add more if you're a garlic fan. Garlic is a flavour powerhouse, providing a savoury and aromatic essence to the chicken. Its addition enhances the overall depth of taste in the marinade.

Mixed Herbs: A blend of mixed herbs, such as oregano, thyme, and rosemary, introduces a Mediterranean flair to the dish. These herbs add complexity and a fresh, herbaceous aroma. I just bought a pre-made mixed herbs jar from my local supermarket, but feel free to add equal amounts of each herb that you like to your marinade.

Lemon: Lemon brings acidity to balance the richness of the yogurt and chicken. It also helps tenderise the chicken thighs too. If you're a fan of lemon in savoury dishes, you've got try my favourite Lemon Boursin Pasta.

Ingredient Substitutions

Chicken Thighs: You can replace chicken thighs with chicken breasts or drumsticks. Adjust the cooking time accordingly as breasts may require slightly less time. If you don't want to use chicken, you could also use tofu as a plant-based substitute, and then use vegan Greek yogurt instead.

Greek Yogurt: I love using this type of yogurt but if you can't find it, I'd recommend using plain non-sweetened yogurt or sour cream. The combination with the lemon give sit a tenderising effect and citrusy flavour. If you'd like a vegan alternative, just pick up your local plant-based Greek yogurt alternative.

Chilli Flakes: You could use fresh chillies, cutting out the seeds and placenta (the hottest part of the chilli), and slicing up according to your spice tolerance. If you want to change up the type of chilli flakes, you could use Gochugaru chilli flakes or chipotle chilli flakes for a different flavour profile.

Paprika: Cayenne pepper or cumin could also work for this. They won't provide the same flavour, but it'll be a unique and tasty substitute.

Mixed Herbs: Feel free to use a mixture of dried herbs you have available, you can also use fresh ones like fresh parsley, coriander, mint...

Lemon: If you don't have fresh lemon, feel free to use store bought lemon juice. If you don't have that either, you need some kind of acidity in the sauce, so use a splash of apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar would work.

Recipe Variations

Vegan: If you're looking to make this dish vegan, there are a couple of really simple substitutes that I'd recommend. Firstly, for the chicken, you can either use plant-based alternative chicken, however, I think it would work better with vegetables. I recommend marinating aubergine, broccoli, cauliflower or your favourite vegetables or plant-based meat alternatives in this mix. For the marinade, just sub out the Greek yogurt for vegan non-sweetened Greek yogurt, then follow the rest of the recipe and enjoy!

Indian-Inspired: This recipe is so delicious using Indian spices. In addition to paprika and chilli flakes, add in ½ tablespoon ground cumin, ½ tablespoon mild curry powder, and 1 teaspoon of turmeric. Give everything a good mix and then serve up with some pilau rice.

Step-By-Step Instructions

What To Do With Leftovers

Storage: Store any leftover Air Fryer Greek Yogurt Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the chicken is cooled before storing.

Freezing: While chicken can be frozen, the texture may change slightly. If you plan to freeze, separate the chicken into portions and place them in a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bags. Label with the date. When defrosting, place the chicken in the fridge overnight to thaw all the way through, then follow the reheating steps below.

Reheating: To reheat, use the air fryer for a quick and convenient option. Preheat the air fryer, place the chicken inside, and cook at a lower temperature (160C/320F) to avoid drying it out. Alternatively, you can use a conventional oven or stovetop and follow the same procedure as with the air fryer, just cook it for longer. Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure it's safely reheated.

FAQs For Air Fryer Greek Yogurt Chicken