It can feel next to impossible to make lunch a healthy meal. Between important meetings, sneaking in appointments, and the beckoning call of delicious carbohydrates from the fast food place down the street, who has the time to make AND eat a healthy lunch?
Skip the cholesterol-raising temptations and get yourself an air fryer. Air fryers cook your favorite meals in half the cook time and twice the delicious crispy taste—without the greasy oils and fats from a traditional restaurant.
Air-fried chicken in particular is juicy, tender, full of flavor no matter how you make it, and a healthy lean protein. It’s never been easier to meal prep by tossing some chicken in the air fryer basket and cooking up a yummy, healthy lunch for the next day at work.
Try these healthy air fryer chicken recipes and make lunch the most fun meal of the day.
1. Air Fryer Chicken Breast and Veggies
Chicken and veggies is a classic, but can sometimes get too simple and repetitive. Cooking chicken rises to a whole new level in the air fryer. The chicken stays juicy without all of the extra oil to dampen the flavor. This chicken recipe calls for a wide array of veggies that can be substituted for whatever you have in your garden that day. Spice this keto-friendly recipe with garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning for an easy healthy meal.
2. Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
If you’re looking to prep for a tough gym session after work, try this chicken recipe. Chicken thighs are a thicker cut, so they’re filling and a great protein source. Even with just a small amount of olive oil, the air fryer gives this chicken a nice and crispy skin with much less saturated fat than normal breaded chicken. Pair this with a fresh veggie like zucchini or Brussels sprouts for a nutrient-packed lunch.
3. Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Your favorite game-day appetizer doesn’t have to make you feel sluggish later. These air fryer chicken wings are the best air fryer recipe because they don’t use any extra oil. Just toss them in your choice of seasoning blend (this recipe uses kosher salt and black pepper), and throw them in the air fryer basket, and get the house ready for FOOTBALL!!! These chicken wings will be such a hit, you’ll definitely want to make them in batches so you don’t run out!
4. Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Every parent would love for their child to leave their picky-eating phase. But while we wait for that day to come, this air fryer chicken tenderloin recipe will at least make sure they’re eating healthy, too. This recipe doesn’t use any breading, keeping it low-carb and gluten-free, and it certainly doesn’t need it with a plethora of flavorful spices including smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, basil, and more! Your kid will be the most popular student in school when they pull out their lunchbox.
5. Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast
It’s time to liven up your lunchtime skinless chicken breast. Marinade chicken breast in a lemon-pepper seasoning for a citrus flavor that is emboldened by onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. This recipe takes a total time of 35 minutes, and you can leave and complete other tasks as it’s marinating and cooking. Serve with tangy lemons for a little extra vitamin C.
6. Marinated Air Fryer Chicken Breast
This air fryer chicken breast recipe uses such a complex variety of flavors, you might forget you’re eating lunch at the office and not a fine dining establishment. With balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and olive oil coating the skin, this recipe creates a succulent, delectable chicken. Don’t forget to use cooking spray and preheat the air fryer while you’re itching to get started on this yummy recipe.
7. Air Fryer Chicken Breast
The best air fryer recipes make the whole family happy. Whip these air fryer chicken breasts up on a busy weeknight, as the prep time and cook time together is no more than 20 minutes. This recipe does use breadcrumbs, which can be substituted for lighter panko crumbs or gluten-free bread. While optional, the addition of parmesan to the breadcrumb mixture really takes the flavor to the next level. Once the kids are done, pack this away in your lunchbox quickly as it will taste just as great when you reheat it tomorrow.
8. Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken
I know it gets hard to resist the temptation of takeout. Take the healthier route and make your favorite takeout yourself. Try an Asian-inspired chicken recipe with much less saturated fat and you won’t be able to tell the difference. The air-fried chicken thighs are full of protein and absorb the juiciness of the sauce once they finish cooking. Substitute the dressings in the sauce for low-sodium, low-sugar versions to make this even healthier.
9. Air Fryer Marinated Chicken
The best part of air fryer recipes is how excellently they absorb their flavors. Using whatever chicken cut you prefer (I personally like boneless chicken, but bone-in chicken legs work great as well), this marinade bings bold flavors from balsamic or red-wine vinegar. It also offers a healthy alternative to soy sauce in coconut aminos, which have much less sugar than traditional soy sauce.