Introduction

These Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are a flavorful and juicy treat perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend gathering. Coated in a rich garlic butter sauce with a spicy kick, they cook up fast in the air fryer for a tender, cheesy meal everyone will love.

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken tenders, thighs, or breast
2 tbsp olive oil
1 stick butter
8-10 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup parmesan, grated
1 tbsp hot sauce (more if desired)
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
Step 2: Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl to create the seasoning mixture.
Step 3: Cut the chicken into 3-inch pieces, place in a large bowl or zip-top bag, add olive oil and the seasoning mixture. Toss well to coat all pieces evenly.
Step 4: Thread the chicken pieces tightly onto the soaked skewers, trimming the top ends if needed to fit into your air fryer.
Step 5: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter with minced garlic. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, parsley, and parmesan until well combined. If needed, add a bit more softened butter to keep the sauce emulsified.
Step 6: Set aside about one-third of the sauce for basting the par-cooked chicken and reserve the rest for after cooking. Remember to wash your basting brush between uses to avoid cross-contamination.
Step 7: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place 2-3 skewers inside and cook for 5 minutes.
Step 8: Flip the skewers, baste with the reserved sauce, and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Step 9: Flip again, baste with more sauce, and cook 5-6 minutes more, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Total cooking time is about 12-14 minutes depending on your air fryer.
Step 10: When done, brush the cooked skewers with the remaining clean garlic parmesan sauce, sprinkle extra parmesan on top, and serve hot.

Tips & Variations

Soaking the wooden skewers prevents them from burning or catching fire in the air fryer.
Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful skewers, or chicken breast for leaner meat.
Adjust the hot sauce and red pepper flakes to control the spice level to your preference.
If you don’t have an air fryer, these skewers can also be grilled or baked in the oven at 425°F (220°C) for about 15-20 minutes, turning halfway.

Storage

Store leftover chicken skewers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the air fryer or oven at a low temperature to maintain juiciness. Avoid reheating in the microwave to prevent drying out the chicken.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

It’s best to use thawed chicken so it cooks evenly on the skewers. If using frozen chicken, make sure it’s fully thawed before seasoning and cooking.

What side dishes go well with garlic parmesan chicken skewers?

These skewers pair wonderfully with a fresh green salad, roasted vegetables, garlic bread, or a simple pasta tossed with olive oil and herbs.

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 90 reviews

Delicious and juicy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers, perfectly seasoned and cooked in an air fryer for a quick, flavorful meal. These skewers are coated in a spicy garlic butter sauce with parmesan and fresh parsley for an irresistible appetizer or main dish.

Author: Lena
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 6 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 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp red pepper flakes

Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce

1 stick butter
8–10 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup parmesan, grated
1 tbsp hot sauce (more if desired)
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced

Instructions

Prep and Skewer Chicken: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning. Cut the chicken into 3-inch pieces. Combine the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. In a large bowl or ziptop bag, toss the chicken pieces with olive oil and the seasoning mixture until well-coated. Thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers tightly with no gaps. Trim skewers if needed to fit inside the air fryer.
Make the Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter with the minced garlic until partially melted and fragrant. Whisk in the red pepper flakes, hot sauce, minced parsley, and grated parmesan until the sauce is well combined. If the sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter and stir to re-emulsify.
Baste the Chicken: Scoop out one-third of the garlic parmesan butter sauce and set aside to baste the partially cooked chicken. Reserve the remaining two-thirds for basting the fully cooked chicken to avoid cross-contamination. Clean the basting brush between uses.
Cook the Chicken Skewers: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Place 2-3 skewers into the air fryer basket and cook for 5 minutes. Remove, flip the skewers, and baste with the reserved sauce. Return to air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Finish Cooking: Flip the skewers back, baste with more sauce, and cook for another 5-6 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Total cook time will be roughly 12-14 minutes but may vary by air fryer model.
Serve: Once cooked, give the skewers one final coating of the reserved garlic parmesan butter sauce, and sprinkle extra parmesan over the top. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Notes

Soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning in the air fryer.
Trim skewers if they do not fit comfortably in the air fryer basket.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked to 165°F for safety.
Adjust hot sauce and red pepper flakes to preferred spice levels.
Brush basting sauce carefully and wash brush after using on partially cooked chicken.
Butter sauce can be re-emulsified by adding softened butter if it separates.

Keywords: garlic parmesan chicken, chicken skewers, air fryer chicken, garlic butter sauce, spicy chicken skewers, easy appetizer, party food