Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers Recipe
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.
- 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
