Lavender and Coffee Rubbed Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer or Oven

Coffee and cocoa have roasted qualities that blend between sweet and savory like a delicious jazzy mouth song. Coffee rubbed chicken breasts might sound strange if you’ve never tried them but imagine the roasted notes of a well-sourced coffee and now taste them with your mind on meat or even carrots or potatoes. Expand your mental taste-buds. When you mix this coffee rub with ghee and spread it on chicken the juicy buttery notes with the flavor of gently charred chicken are seriously addicting and the many, many layers make every bite an exploration.

When it comes to protein this savory rub has layers of flavor that blend with chicken and even would mix well with beef in a burger. Lavender is added for a delicious floral burst that accents the roasted notes as well as cardamom and chili powder.

For this chicken coffee and lavender rub, we use freshly ground coffee for the full flavor. You do get a little bit of a caffeine burst, about as much as you get from a few chocolate-covered espresso beans.

What Chicken to Use

We used chicken breasts for coffee rubbed chicken breast and this recipe can also use chicken wings or thighs. What changes in the rub are the ratios. Chicken wings will require more because there’s more surface area.

Tools you Need for Coffee Rubbed Chicken Breasts

Coffee Grinder – or use pre-ground coffee. Freshly ground coffee will release the most flavor but go with what you have.

Ninja Foodi or any Air Fryer – We use the Ninja Foodi because it pressure cooks and ari fries so you get moist, plump food with crispy outsides without having to touch the stove or oven. We actually rarely use any other appliance, except to make coffee. The Ninja Foodi is huge so it make batch cooking super easy and it can cook food from frozen and it tastes as epic as from fresh.

What Coffee to Use for the Coffee Rub

I used Lifeboost coffee because I had it on hand and it’s been my tummy’s savior because I reached the age of 28 and suddenly most coffee left me in pain for hours at night. Then I found Lifeboost, decided to try it because it has a 30 day back guarantee so bliss it why not. I honestly didn’t think it would work and am so blissed out that it does because coffee is life. Feel free to try it yourself and if you don’t like it or it doesn’t work then you get your money back. It’s low acid, single-origin, and shade-grown. The flavors are dynamic, roasty, and insanely delicious.

The link below is an affiliate link because once I found out how well this coffee works I had to partner with Lifeboost.

About Lifeboost Coffee

From their Website:

• Single Origin – One high-quality source, no blends.
• Mountain Shade Grown – No pesticides used and bird-friendly for our environment.
• Sun Dried and Spring Water Washed – No chemicals or harmful processes ruining the purity and health properties of the coffee.
• 3rd party tested for mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides + 400 other toxins!
• USDA Organic
• Fairly Traded

Exclusive, Natural Source in Central America

The mountains of Nicaragua is where only the highest varieties of Arábica beans are grown. Our coffee is grown in the shade high in the mountains without pesticides or chemicals. The certified beans are hand-selected for purity, hand-washed, and sun-dried to remove harmful moisture content.

Low Acid, Delicious Coffee

The pH of water is 7. The pH of some coffee available in stores and popular coffee shops is 4.85 or lower.

Most coffee is so acidic it can cause stomach issues, teeth decaying, and other high-acid related problems.

We’ve personally tested the pH level of this coffee and it’s 6 or higher, which is why customers who thought they could never drink coffee again love Lifeboost.

Coffee to avoid: Old coffee or coffee you don’t like the flavor of or powdered coffee. Besides salt coffee is the most used ingredient in the rub so you will taste it. If a gross coffee is used all of the rub will be so use a coffee you love the flavor of straight.

Ingredients for Coffee Rubbed Chicken Breasts

Ground Coffee – Freshly grind the coffee if you can for the most flavor.

1 Pound of Chicken

Salt – Enhances all flavors.

Smell all of these spices as you make the blend, even take a lick to see if you can understand why they all go together.

Dried Lavender – Lavender and meat are very delicious together. The flavor can be overpowering so if you start experimenting use it sparingly and try grinding it or crushing it so you get it in every bite instead of giant flavor mouthfuls.

Chili Powder – Chiles and coffee are brilliant together due to their roasted smoky flavors. There’s just enough to enhance the coffee rather than create spice. If you want spice try adding 1/ 8 teaspoon of cayenne.

Cardamom – Cardamom is mostly used in Indian cooking but I love using it in almost every spice blend due to its strong aromatics.

Cocoa Powder – Cocoa powder enhances the coffee and brings it’s own roasted earthy flavor to the mouth table.

Smoke paprika – Enhances the roasted flavors and the chili powder.

Nutmeg – Optional but adds an earthy flavor that binds everything else together.

Coriander – Another aromatic earthy flavor.

Guided Recipe for Coffee Rubbed Chicken Breast

Lay the chicken out in its packaging for 30 minutes to let it come to room temperature for even cooking.

This step is optional and the debate is heavy on if it works. I do it out of habit because I personally think it tastes better, but you do you.

Spray the inner basket of the air fryer or Ninja Foodi. Preheat the Ninja Foodi air fryer or oven to 350 degrees for five minutes (I just set it to 20 minutes then open it at 15 minutes). If using the oven method take a sheet pan and lay down foil or silipat and place a wire rack on top. This circulates the air.

Create your spice mix by grinding the coffee and adding the ground coffee as well as all of the other spices but the lavender to a bowl. Crush the lavender with your fingers as you add it to the spice mix.

Mix 1 tablespoons of ghee with 1 tablespoon of avocado oil. This creates a buttery flavor on the outside with the ghee while the avocado oil sinks in for a juicy inside.

Dry your chicken to prevent them steaming while cooking. Set aside another paper towel for later.

Then lay the chicken out and spread one side using a brush with the ghee and avocado oil.

Once one side is coated flip sprinkle half of the rub onto the chicken without rubbing it in or the rub will stick to your fingers. Flip the chicken, dry your fingers with a paper towel and sprinkle the rest of the rub on the other side. At this stage, you can rub the rub in if any fell off.

Add chicken to the basket, leaving room between all the breasts so the air circulates and crisps all sides.

Air fry for 13-18 minutes depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts, flipping halfway through.

Remove the chicken breasts and serve or use up that delicious fat those chicken breasts just made. If using an air fryer add chopped zucchini or veggie of choice to a bowl then pour the fat from the basket into the bowl and mix. If using the Foodi remove the basket then just add veggies to the bowl and mix. Air fry in the basket or in the bowl for 8-13 minutes depending on the desired doneness. 

Make it Mindful

To enhance the flavors you taste as you eat the coffee rubbed chicken breasts taste the flavors as you create the meal. You can easily do this by having a lick of the ghee and with the spices smell and taste them as you create the spice blend.

Every time you add a spice to the blend smell it again then once you mix them all take a final whiff. This will teach your senses what they are tasting and smelling as you eat.

Looking for Other Air Fryer Chicken Recipes?

Air Fried Everything Bagel Chicken

Air Fryer Tangy BBQ Chicken

Air Fryer Curry Chicken Wings

Air Fried Curry Chicken Breasts

Coffee Rubbed Chicken Breasts

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Serves: 2 Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cooking Time: 16 Minutes 16 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 9 calories 9 fat

Rating: 3.5/5

( 2 voted )

Ingredients

1 Pound Chicken Breasts 

1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil

1 Tablespoon Ghee* see notes

 

Coffee Rub Spice Blend *see notes

1 tsp Freshly Ground Coffee

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Cocoa Powder

1/2 + 1/8 tsp Lavender crushed with your fingers

1/8 tsp Cinnamon

1/8 tsp Smoked Paprika

1/8 tsp Coriander

1/16 tsp Cardamom

1/16 tsp Nutmeg

 

Equipment

Ninja Foodi or any Air Fryer or Oven

Meat Thermometer- For the perfect doneness.

Oil Spray Bottle - Tiny investment that then saves a blisston. Spray bottles already filled with oil are double the price of just buying the oil.

Silicon Brush - To spread the fat on.

Silicon Tongs: Use these to flip the meat. Silicon is best to avoid scratching your air fryer.

 

Instructions

Ninja Foodi or Air Fryer Instructions

1. Lay the chicken out in its packaging for 30 minutes to let it come to room temperature for even cooking. This can be skipped I just don't like touching cold chicken.

2. Spray the inner basket of the air fryer or Ninja Foodi. Preheat to 350 degrees for five minutes (I just set it to 20 minutes then open it at 15 minutes). 

3. Create your spice mix by grinding the coffee and adding the ground coffee as well as all of the other spices but the lavender to a bowl. Crush the lavender with your fingers as you add it to the spice mix. Take a deep smell of your lavender fingers and feel that lovely calmness. 

4. Combine the avocado oil and ghee together by stirring them with a silicon brush or any meat brush until combined. Then spread the fat mixture onto one side of the chicken breasts then coat that side with half of the spice mix. Then flip the chicken and repeat on the other side. 

5. Once the air fryer or Ninja Foodi is finished preheating open the lid and quickly add the breasts (so the heat doesn't get lost) leaving room between them. Cook in batches if needed. 

6. Air fry the breasts for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the breasts. Check the internal temp with a meat thermometer to read 165 degrees. 

7. Remove the chicken breasts and serve or use up that delicious fat those chicken breasts just made. If using an air fryer add chopped zucchini or veggie of choice to a bowl then pour the fat from the basket into the bowl and mix. If using the Foodi remove the basket then just add veggies to the bowl and mix. Air fry in the basket or in the bowl for 8-13 minutes depending on the desired doneness. 

8. Serve and enjoy with bliss. 

 

Oven Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees then lay out a sheet pan with foil or silipat and a rack on top so air circulates around the chicken. 

2. Follow steps 3 and 4 above. 

3. Add the chicken to the rack then bake for 25-30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the temp for 165 degrees. 

4. If you want to use up that delicious meat fat add a chopped zucchini, green beans or desired veggie to a bowl. Carefull pour the fat from the sheet pan into the bowl then mix and add extra oil if needed. 

5. Bake the veggies for around ten minutes, depending on the veggie, stirring halfway through. Taste then add salt if you wish

 

 

 

Oven Method

If using the oven method take a sheet pan and lay down foil or silipat and place a wire rack on top. This circulates the air.

 

Notes

Ghee Note - You can use a brown butter style ghee to bring out more roasted notes like Ancient Organics or a lighter ghee like Organic Valley, but really whatever ghee you love works. Check out our post where we taste tested 12 ghee brands and laid out their different flavors. 

Spice Rub Notes- You can find all of these spices in the bulk section so feel free to call your local grocery stores to see who has a bulk section. That way you can get just what you need instead of having to buy a whole thing of all these spices. Since spices do expire this also ensure peak flavor. 

Lettuce know in the comments your thoughts on our coffee rubbed chicken breasts.