Moroccan Inspired Air Fryer Chicken Breast

This quick and easy Moroccan-style chicken breast is full of warming spices and cooks beautifully in the air fryer. Whether you’re using a ready-made Ras El Hanout spice mix or mixing your own, you’ll get juicy, flavourful chicken in under 20 minutes — perfect for salads, wraps, or grain bowls.

No preheating, minimal prep, and packed with flavour — this is a go-to recipe for busy weeknights or batch cooking!

Cooking chicken breasts in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make some sandwich fillers, add to a salad or as part of a larger meal.

What You Need To Make Moroccan Air Fryer Chicken

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Chicken Breasts

Use 2 medium-sized boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If they’re thick, you can pound them slightly to even out the cooking time or slice them horizontally into cutlets.

Olive Oil

Olive oil helps the spices stick and keeps the chicken moist in the air fryer.

Option 1: Ras El Hanout

A North African spice mix that’s usually a blend of warming spices like cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, and sometimes ginger or cloves. It’s a great shortcut if you have it!

Option 2: DIY Moroccan Spice Blend

If you don’t have Ras El Hanout, you can easily mix your own blend. Combine:

• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground coriander
• ¼ tsp turmeric

Mix this with olive oil to create a fragrant marinade.

Optional: Lemon Juice

A quick squeeze after cooking lifts the flavours and adds a little zing. Totally optional but highly recommended.

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Making It

Step 1: Season the Chicken

In a small bowl, mix either the Ras El Hanout or the DIY spice blend with olive oil. Rub it all over the chicken breasts. If you have time, let them marinate for 10–15 minutes, or even up to 12 hours in the fridge.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken in the Air Fryer

Place the chicken breasts in your air fryer basket in a single layer. You don’t need to preheat the air fryer.
If you’re worried about sticking, lightly oil the basket or use perforated parchment paper.

Set the temperature to 180°C (360°F) and cook for 12–18 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Cooking time will vary depending on thickness — use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp has reached 75°C (165°F).

Step 3: Rest and Serve

Let the chicken rest for a couple of minutes before slicing — this helps lock in the juices.
Optional: squeeze a little lemon juice over the top just before serving.

What To Serve With It

• Serve over couscous or rice with roasted vegetables.
• Slice into a flatbread or wrap with salad and yoghurt.
• Great with a grain bowl or tossed into a Moroccan couscous salad.

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Recipe Tips

• No Ras El Hanout? Use the DIY spice blend included above.
• Want to pan-fry or grill instead? Cook in a hot pan for 5–6 minutes each side or under the grill for 8–10 minutes total.
• Batch cook: This chicken keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days — perfect for meal prep.

Are You Looking For More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes?

There are plenty of different ways you can cook chicken in an air fryer. Check out some of the following air fryer chicken recipes for inspiration.

• Air Fryer Whole Chicken
• Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Kebabs
• Air Fryer Chicken, Chorizo and New Potato
• Air Fryer Hunters Chicken