Chicken · Air fryer

Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Sub Sandwich (9 Minutes)

Tandoori-marinated chicken breast cooked in nine minutes flat, juicy, deeply spiced, and ready for a Subway-style sub. The secret's in the marinade and the air fryer's dual heating elements doing the heavy lifting, no flipping needed.

R By Richard · Adapted from Halal Chef · Published 10 June 2026
👁 17.2k source views ❤️ 703 source likes
⏱Prep 15 min
🌡Temp 190°C
⏲Air fry 9 min
🍽Serves 4
The BEST Air Fryer Chicken Breast IN 7 MINUTES | SUPER JUICY!

Source video by Halal Chef on YouTube. This recipe was adapted with strict source-fidelity rules and is marked for human review.

This is a Subway style chicken tikka sub sandwich built around tender air fryer chicken breast. The breast is butterflied, marinated in a yoghurt and tandoori spice mix, then air fried at 190°C for around 9 minutes until juicy and lightly charred. It is plated in a toasted sub with mayonnaise, cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles. The video also includes a fresh raspberry mocktail to serve alongside.

Ingredients

Marinade
  • 4 tbspnatural yoghurt
  • 1 tbspginger garlic paste, fresh
  • chilli powder
  • coriander powder
  • cumin powder
  • tandoori masala
  • ground turmeric
  • garam masala
  • salt
  • 1 tbsplemon juice, fresh
  • 1 tbspvegetable oil
Chicken
  • 4 piecechicken breasts, tenderloin removed, butterflied
To Serve
  • 4 piecesub rolls, toasted (add late)
  • mayonnaise (add late)
  • sliced cheese (add late)
  • tomatoes, sliced (add late)
  • lettuce, shredded (add late)
  • pickles, sliced (add late)
  • salt (add late)

Method

  1. Make the marinade. In a bowl combine the yoghurt, ginger garlic paste, chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin, tandoori masala, turmeric, garam masala, salt, lemon juice and a touch of oil. Mix well and taste, adjusting seasoning if needed. Optionally reserve a spoonful of marinade to brush on later.

    ~5 min

  2. Prepare the chicken. Remove the tenderloin from each breast, then slice horizontally through the middle to butterfly so the thickness is even. This helps the chicken cook through in the short air fryer time.

    ~5 min

  3. Add the chicken to the marinade and mix thoroughly so every piece is coated. Cover and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour in the fridge.

    ~2 min

  4. Set the air fryer to 190°C. Lay the marinated chicken in a single layer in the basket.

    ~1 min

  5. Cook for 8 to 9 minutes, until the chicken is lightly browned and the internal temperature reaches 75°C (165°F). On a dual heating element air fryer no flipping is needed; on a standard basket model, flip once at the halfway point.

    ~9 min

  6. Rest the chicken for 2 minutes, then slice if you prefer thinner pieces in the sandwich.

    ~2 min

  7. Assemble the sub. Spread mayonnaise inside the toasted roll, add the hot chicken, lay cheese over the chicken to melt, then top with tomato, lettuce, a small pinch of salt, pickles and a final drizzle of sauce. Serve with crisps.

    ~3 min

Frequently asked

Do I need to preheat my air fryer for this chicken?
The chef uses a dual heating element model that does not need preheating. On a standard basket air fryer it helps to preheat for 2 to 3 minutes at 190°C so the chicken starts browning straight away, otherwise add 1 to 2 minutes to the cook time.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breast?
Yes. Boneless skinless thighs work well with this marinade. Cook at the same 190°C but allow 10 to 12 minutes, still aiming for an internal temperature of 75°C.
How do I stop air fryer chicken breast from drying out?
Butterfly the breast so it is an even thickness, marinate in yoghurt (which tenderises and holds moisture), and pull the chicken as soon as it hits 75°C internally. Resting for 2 minutes before slicing lets the juices settle.
Do I need to flip the chicken halfway?
On a dual heating element air fryer like the Cosori Dual Blaze, no. On a standard single element basket air fryer, flip once at around 4 to 5 minutes for even colour.
Can I make the marinade ahead?
Yes. The marinade keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can also marinate the chicken overnight for deeper flavour; just bring it close to room temperature for 10 minutes before air frying.
Extraction notes (transparency): Spice marinade quantities are not stated in the transcript; ingredient list captures what is shown but quantities are estimates marked as such or left null. Sub-sandwich fillings (mayo, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles) have no stated quantities. The raspberry mocktail and syrup are mentioned but treated as a side serve, not extracted as a separate recipe. Source uses a Cosori Dual Blaze with dual heating elements, so the chef states no preheat or flipping is needed; users with standard basket air fryers should flip once. | Second-pass critique flagged 5 fabricated and 7 quantified issues. See critique.issues for detail.