Description
These Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are a flavorful and juicy appetizer or main dish, featuring tender chicken pieces marinated in a blend of spices and coated in a rich garlic parmesan butter sauce. Cooked quickly in an air fryer, they deliver a crispy exterior and succulent interior in under 15 minutes, perfect for a quick and delicious meal or party snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 lbs chicken tenders, thighs, or breast, cut into 3” pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (more if desired)
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
- 8–10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
- 1 stick butter (approx. 8 tbsp)
Instructions
- Prep and Skewer Chicken: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning. Cut chicken into 3-inch pieces and place in a large bowl or ziptop bag.
- Season Chicken: In a small bowl, mix paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Toss chicken pieces in this seasoning mixture until well coated.
- Thread Chicken on Skewers: Pack chicken tightly on each skewer with no gaps to maintain juiciness. Trim skewers if needed to fit in the air fryer.
- Make Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter with minced garlic until partially melted. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, parsley, and grated parmesan until well combined. If sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons softened butter and whisk to re-emulsify.
- Baste Chicken with Sauce: Reserve one-third of the sauce for basting the par-cooked chicken. Use the remaining sauce for basting fully cooked chicken, ensuring to wash your basting brush between uses to avoid cross-contamination.
- Cook Chicken Skewers: Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer at 400°F. Cook for 5 minutes, then flip and baste with reserved sauce. Cook an additional 2 minutes.
- Finish Cooking: Flip skewers again, baste with more sauce, and cook another 5-6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Total cook time should be about 12-14 minutes but may vary with air fryer models.
- Serve: After cooking, give the skewers a final brush with the clean reserved garlic parmesan sauce, sprinkle with extra parmesan, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from burning in the air fryer.
- Cutting chicken into uniform 3-inch pieces ensures even cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness; chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Adjust hot sauce quantity to your preferred spice level.
- Clean the basting brush between uses to avoid cross-contamination of raw and cooked chicken sauce.
- If an air fryer is not available, these skewers can be cooked on a grill or baked in the oven at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (includes soaking skewers and prepping chicken)
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
