Description
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are tender, juicy chicken pieces marinated in a blend of spices and olive oil, then cooked to perfection in an air fryer and basted generously with a rich garlic parmesan butter sauce. These flavorful skewers make a perfect appetizer or main dish, bursting with savory, cheesy, and subtly spicy notes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 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 tablespoons)
- 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
Instructions
- Soak Skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
- Season Chicken: Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. In a large bowl or ziptop bag, toss chicken pieces with olive oil and the seasoning mixture until evenly coated.
- Assemble Skewers: Thread chicken pieces tightly onto skewers with no gaps to ensure maximum juiciness. Trim the top of the skewers if needed to fit in the air fryer.
- Prepare Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat butter and minced garlic until the butter is partially melted. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, parsley, and parmesan cheese. Whisk until well combined. If the sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter and stir to re-emulsify.
- Par-cook and Baseline Baste: Reserve one-third of the sauce to baste the par-cooked chicken. Use the remaining sauce for basting the cooked chicken to avoid cross contamination. Wash basting brush between uses.
- Cook Skewers in Air Fryer: Place 2-3 skewers at a time into the air fryer at 400°F. Cook for 5 minutes, remove and flip the skewers, then baste with sauce. Return skewers to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 400°F.
- Final Cooking and Basting: Flip skewers back to original side, baste with more sauce, and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Total cook time is approximately 12-14 minutes but may vary based on your air fryer.
- Serve: After cooking, brush the skewers with the reserved clean garlic butter sauce, sprinkle extra parmesan on top, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 450°F. Arrange skewers on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through and basting several times. Switch oven to broil and cook an additional 2 minutes to brown tops. Baste one last time and sprinkle with parmesan before serving.
- Grill Preparation: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill skewers over direct heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting throughout. Finish with a final baste and parmesan sprinkle before serving.
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents burning during cooking.
- Using tight packing on skewers ensures juiciness.
- Wash basting brush between uses to avoid cross contamination.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
