Description
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are juicy, flavorful chicken pieces seasoned with a blend of spices, then air-fried to perfection and basted with a rich garlic butter parmesan sauce. Perfect as a quick appetizer or protein-packed main dish with a spicy, cheesy kick.
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 (adjust to taste)
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
Other
- Wooden skewers (soaked in water for at least 30 minutes)
Instructions
- Prep the Skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
- Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Toss chicken pieces with olive oil and the seasoning mix in a large bowl or zip-top bag until thoroughly coated.
- Skewer the Chicken: Thread chicken pieces onto soaked skewers tightly with no gaps to retain juiciness. If necessary, trim skewers to fit in your air fryer.
- Make Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter partially with minced garlic. Add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, fresh parsley, and grated parmesan. Whisk until well combined. If sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons softened butter and stir to re-emulsify.
- Baste Par-Cooked Chicken: Reserve about one-third of the sauce for basting the cooked chicken. Use the remaining sauce to baste the chicken after initial cooking—wash the basting brush between uses to prevent cross contamination.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Cook 2-3 skewers at a time in the air fryer at 400°F. Start by cooking for 5 minutes, then flip skewers and baste with sauce, cooking for an additional 2 minutes.
- Final Cooking: Flip skewers back, baste again with sauce, and cook another 5-6 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Total cook time is approximately 12-14 minutes, depending on your air fryer model.
- Serve: Once cooked, give the skewers a final brush with the reserved clean garlic parmesan sauce, sprinkle extra parmesan cheese on top, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Soaking skewers prevents them from burning in the air fryer.
- Adjust hot sauce and red pepper flakes to control spiciness.
- Ensure chicken pieces are similar in size for even cooking.
- Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.
- Always check internal temperature for safety; chicken should reach 165°F.
- Use a clean basting brush when applying sauce after cooking to prevent cross contamination.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers, Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, Spicy Chicken Skewers, Garlic Butter Chicken, Easy Chicken Appetizer, Parmesan Chicken
