Air Fryer Apricot Orange Chicken Thighs with Confetti Salad

Name: Air Fryer Apricot Orange Chicken Thighs with Confetti Salad
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 24 min
Total time: 49 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs, bone in skin on; 1 handful radishes, sliced; 2 carrots, coarsely grated; 5 spring onions, chopped; 1 orange, zested and juiced; 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped; 50 g pomegranate seeds; 2 tbsp apricot jam; 30 g pecans; 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1 as needed olive oil spray; 4 tsp orange juice; 2.5 tsp horseradish; 2 tsp honey; 2 tsp cider vinegar

These air fryer chicken thighs are glazed with a sweet-tangy mix of apricot jam, orange, and horseradish for crisp skin and bold flavor. A crunchy rainbow salad with pecans, radishes, carrots, and pomegranate makes it feel fresh and balanced. It is an easy weeknight dinner that also works well for meal prep.

Servings4 Portions

Prep Time25 Mins

Cook Time24 Mins

Difficulty

Intermediate

Ingredients

chicken thighs, bone in skin on
4
radishes, sliced
1 handful
carrots, coarsely grated
2
spring onions, chopped
5
orange, zested and juiced
1
flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
2 tbsp
pomegranate seeds
50 g
apricot jam
2 tbsp
pecans
30 g
extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp
olive oil spray
1 as needed
orange juice
4 tsp
horseradish
2.5 tsp
honey
2 tsp
cider vinegar
2 tsp

Step-by-Step Instructions

In a shallow dish, stir together the apricot jam, 1 tsp orange zest, 2 tbsp orange juice from the fresh orange, horseradish, and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper until smooth. Taste and adjust the horseradish or seasoning if needed.

Add the chicken thighs and turn well to coat both sides in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for deeper flavor.

For the salad, air-fry the pecans at 160C for 4 to 5 minutes until fragrant and lightly toasted, watching closely so they do not burn. Let them cool, then roughly chop.

Add the sliced radishes, grated carrots, chopped spring onions, pomegranate seeds, parsley, and chopped pecans to a large bowl. Toss lightly and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, orange juice, honey, and cider vinegar. Season to taste and set aside until serving.