Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers Recipe
These Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers feature tender chicken pieces marinated in a flavorful blend of spices and coated with a rich garlic parmesan butter sauce. Perfectly cooked in the air fryer for a juicy, crispy finish, these skewers make a quick and delicious meal or appetizer with a spicy kick and fresh herb aroma.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 54 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
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
Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce
- 1 stick butter (8 tbsp)
- 8–10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (more if desired)
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
- Prep and Soak Skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
- Prepare Chicken and Seasoning: In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cut the chicken into 3-inch pieces and place them in a large bowl or zip-top bag. Add olive oil and the seasoning mixture, tossing to coat all pieces evenly.
- Skewer the Chicken: Thread the seasoned chicken pieces tightly onto the soaked skewers ensuring no gaps to keep the meat juicy. Trim the skewers if necessary to fit the air fryer basket.
- Make Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the butter and minced garlic until the butter is partially melted. Then whisk in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, fresh parsley, and grated parmesan until fully combined. If the sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter and whisk to re-emulsify.
- Baste Par-cooked Chicken: Reserve about 1/3 of the sauce for initial basting. Brush this onto the chicken skewers before the final cooking phase, ensuring you clean the brush to avoid cross contamination between raw and cooked meat.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F (204°C) for 5 minutes. Flip the skewers, baste with reserved sauce, then cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Finish Cooking: Flip the skewers back again, baste with more sauce, and cook for 5-6 more minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Total cooking time is approximately 12-14 minutes but can vary depending on your air fryer.
- Serve: After cooking, apply a final coating of the reserved clean garlic parmesan sauce, sprinkle extra parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Soaking the wooden skewers prevents them from burning in the air fryer.
- Tightly packing the chicken on the skewers helps maintain juiciness during cooking.
- Always use a clean basting brush when applying sauce to cooked chicken to avoid cross-contamination.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the size of chicken pieces and your air fryer model.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes to control the spiciness to your liking.
Keywords: Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers, Air Fryer Chicken, Spicy Chicken Skewers, Easy Chicken Recipe, Party Appetizer
