It’s become such a staple in our meal rotation to serve with cilantro lime rice, tacos, or to top salads and grain bowls throughout the week. I love it especially on my Greek Chicken Bowls with tzatziki.

1. Prep the chicken.

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make was not addressing the uneven thickness of chicken breasts. The thinner end would dry out while the thicker part remained undercooked.

My solution: Pat the chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels, then gently pound the thicker end until the breast is an even thickness throughout. This simple step ensures even cooking!

Pro tip: Don’t pound too aggressively. You’re just looking to even things out, not flatten the chicken completely.

2. Season for maximum flavor.

In a small bowl, mix together salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and chili powder (see the recipe below for quantities).

My technique: First, coat both sides of the chicken with olive oil (this helps the seasonings stick and promotes browning). Then generously sprinkle the seasoning blend all over both sides of the chicken breasts, gently pressing it in to adhere.

4. Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes.

Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap. If your air fryer is smaller, cook them one at a time rather than crowding.

Cook for 12 to 15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The exact timing depends on the thickness of your chicken breasts and your specific air fryer model.

Critical tip: For chicken breasts around 8 ounces, I typically find that 13 minutes is perfect in my air fryer. If your chicken breasts are smaller (around 6 ounces), check at the 10-minute mark. Larger pieces may need up to 16 minutes.

Tips for the Juiciest Chicken

• Is your chicken dry? It’s probably a little overcooked. Make sure to pound it, and use a thermometer to determine when it is done.
• Is the outside of the chicken pale? Use the seasoning blend exactly as stated in the recipe card, and make sure the chicken is in a single layer; cook in batches if your air fryer is not large enough to fit it all.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

Pan Seared Chicken BreastGreek Chicken BowlsSlow Cooker Shredded ChickenGrilled ChickenChicken Dinner Ideas

How To Make Candied Pecans

This candied pecans recipe is my go-to method. After much research, I landed on the baked method as the easiest option. You can use a skillet method for candied pecans, but you’ll need a candy thermometer to measure the sugar temperature. I found a 325°F oven is the most reliable and easiest way to make candied pecans.

Even though it’s not as quick as glazed pecans, the baked method is more reliable because there’s no risk of sticky nuts like with the skillet method. So it’s worth the 30 minute bake time for a perfect result! Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe below):

• Mix: Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately, then toss them with the pecans.
• Spread onto a baking sheet: Spread the nuts in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet.
• Bake 30 minutes at 325°F, stirring once. When you stir the first time, the nuts will look very foamy: that’s ok! Give them a thorough stir and then continue to cook until they are light brown and hardened.

Variation: Glazed Pecans

Want a really quick way to make candied pecans for a salad? You can make this Glazed Pecans recipe on the stovetop. They’re not as reliable stored (since they can turn out sticky), but they work if you’re trying to make a quick salad garnish.

Candied Walnuts Vs. Glazed Walnuts

Candied walnuts are walnuts coated in a crunchy sugar coating, similar to candied pecans. The typical method for making this tasty treat is to coat the nuts in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then bake them until crispy. It makes a candy-like coating that stays crisp for weeks! 

My glazed walnuts are similar but they have a smoother, glossy exterior and they’re not as shelf stable. I prefer the candied nuts, if you have time to make them!

How To Make Candied Walnuts

This candied walnuts recipe is a no-fail way to make crunchy, shelf-stable nuts. All you need are a few ingredients and an oven! While you can candy walnuts on the stovetop, the oven is an easier and more reliable method.

Simply bake at 325°F until the candy coating is hardened. It takes just about 30 minutes and works every time, where stovetop methods you risk a soft or powdery coating. Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe below):

• Mix: Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately, then toss them with the walnuts.
• Spread onto a baking sheet: Spread the nuts in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet.
• Bake 30 minutes at 325°F, stirring once. Bake 15 minutes, then stir. At this point, the nuts will look very foamy: that’s ok! Continue to cook until they are light brown and hardened.

Ways To Use Candied Walnuts

Once you’ve made a batch, there are loads of ways to use candied walnuts. The easiest, of course, is by the handful! But we love to use them in other ways, too. Here are a few ways to use candied walnuts:

• Salads like apple salad, beet salad or strawberry salad
• Ice cream to make an instant showy dessert (like homemade vanilla ice cream, peach ice cream or pumpkin ice cream)
• Pancakes like classic, banana pancakes or pumpkin pancakes
• Waffles like classic or blueberry waffles
• French toast: try classic French toast
• Oatmeal like creamy oatmeal or baked oatmeal
• Yogurt as a topping for a yogurt parfait
• Appetizer spread like a cheese board or antipasto platter

Photo by Alex Overhiser from Mediterranean Every Night

The Mediterranean Diet Food List

So what does it look like when it comes to actual foods? Here’s my Mediterranean diet food list; I reference general guidance from the Cleveland Clinic on goals and serving sizes.

Recipes To Start With

So where to start? Here are some of my most popular Mediterranean diet recipes that readers love:

• 50 Easy Mediterranean Diet Recipes
• Easy Salmon and Veggies
• 28 Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan
• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
• Mediterranean Rice Bowl
• Greek Chicken Meatballs
• Baked Chicken and Farro

I also have this 28 Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan to see what eating this way looks like on a weekly basis.

Mediterranean Diet Cookbook

I wrote the cookbook Mediterranean Every Night, which has 100+ Mediterranean diet recipes that make cooking this way approachable, from dinners to desserts and sides to bread. Here’s more about the book!