Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
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Air Fryer Chicken Skewers are incredibly easy to make and practically bursting with flavor!! Featuring garlic, Parmesan cheese, butter, and a handful of herbs and spices, they take about 25 minutes to make from start to finish. Whether you make them for weeknight dinner or a fun lunch, there’s no denying just how tasty these air fryer chicken kabobs are!
Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
It’s no secret how much I love my air fryer! I’ve got an entire section on the site dedicated to my favorite air fryer recipes, where you’ll find a few dozen to choose from… at least!
These air fryer chicken skewers are one of my latest creations.
Made with plenty of garlic, butter, herbs, and Parmesan cheese, they’re like a savory flavor explosion in your mouth when you take your first bite.
Yes… these are THAT good!! How many times have you guys heard me say that at this point?!
I just can’t help it — garlic Parmesan chicken skewers in the air fryer are my latest obsession.
This is one of those recipes that proves you don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients or equipment to whip up something truly tasty.
On a kabob kick? Don’t miss my recipes for Hawaiian Grilled Shish Kabobs with Ham, Grilled Hawaiian Beef Kabobs, and Ranch Chicken Kabobs with Bacon too!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Chicken – You can use chicken thighs, tenders, or breasts for air fryer chicken skewers!
The cut doesn’t matter — you just need to make sure the internal temp reaches 165°F so that it’s safe to eat. - Olive Oil – I like to add extra virgin olive oil to the chicken to help the spices and seasonings stick better. It also helps the skewers crisp up nicely!
- Butter – I use unsalted butter so I have better control over the sodium levels.
Take it out of the fridge 30-45 minutes before you plan to make this recipe so it comes to room temperature. - Garlic – You’ll need 8 whole cloves of garlic! It pairs so well with the Parmesan cheese, lemon, and herbs. SOO tasty!!
- Parmesan Cheese – We’re using grated Parmesan cheese here — I usually grate it myself but you can use pre-grated cheese from the supermarket if you want.
- Lemons – You’ll need 1 lemon for its zest and juice, and another for a garnish.
- Herbs & Seasonings – Smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper, plus fresh parsley as a garnish are all you need.
The combination, paired with the fresh garlic, parm, and lemon is simple but incredibly delicious!!
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Chicken Kabobs in Air Fryer
- Prep your skewers.
If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20-30 minutes before you get started so they don’t burn as you cook the kabobs.
And, if you have metal skewers you’d like to use instead, test them out to make sure they fit into your air fryer.
- Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces.
You want the chicken to cook evenly, and in order to do that, all of the pieces need to be cut to the same size.
Aim for uniform-sized 2-inch pieces for the best results!
- Set aside some of the Parmesan butter.
I baste the chicken kabobs in Parmesan butter before popping them into the air fryer and after each time I flip them.
This helps ensure that all of your air fryer chicken kabobs are properly seasoned, and keeps the chicken from drying out!
- Cook in batches.
Don’t crowd your chicken kabobs in the air fryer basket!
Every air fryer is different — mine is pretty large so I don’t have to work in batches, but if yours is smaller, don’t hesitate to do so.
If you add too many air fryer chicken skewers at a time, they won’t come out as crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside as you want.
Prep Ahead
- Soak wooden skewers if using
- Make the Parmesan butter
- Baste chicken in butter sauce
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- Medium Saucepan – Heats evenly and is easy to clean too.
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
- Basting Brush – I like this one over the silicone ones.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your air fryer chicken skewers hot and fresh from the air fryer with extra Parmesan, fresh parsley, and a few squeezes of lemon juice!
Make it a meal and pair with some grilled zucchini with Parmesan, grilled asparagus, or Italian green beans with tomatoes.
Quinoa, brown rice, or fingerling potatoes would round it all out!
And if you want to enjoy these for a light weekend lunch, air fryer chicken kabobs taste great with a big garden salad and a slice of garlic bread.
Storing and Reheating Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Use your microwave, oven, or air fryer to reheat:
- Microwave: 30-second bursts for 1-2 minutes.
- Oven: 7-8 minutes at 425°F.
- Air Fryer: 4-5 minutes at 350°F.
You can also freeze chicken kabobs, but hold off on air frying them until you’re ready to serve.
Freezing cooked chicken can sometimes dry it out, while freezing raw chicken preserves its natural moisture.
After you’ve assembled and basted your kabobs, flash-freeze them on a baking sheet before placing them in an airtight container.
They will keep for up to 3 months — thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then air fry as instructed on the recipe card!
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers Air Fryer FAQ
Absolutely! If you use wooden ones, remember to soak them in water for about 30 minutes so they don’t burn.
Metal skewers are another option as long as they fit in your air fryer without touching the heating element.
Don’t overcook the chicken kabobs in the air fryer, and make sure to baste with your Parmesan butter before you pop them in to air fry, and after you turn them.
The added liquid will inject the skewers with moisture, which will give you nice and juicy results.
I typically recommend letting the skewers thaw in the fridge overnight before air frying, but if you’re in a time crunch you can cook directly from frozen. An additional 5-7 minutes at 350°F will do the trick.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, tenders, or breast (cut to 2 inch pieces)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted room temperature butter
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, sectioned for garnish
- 2 lemons, sectioned. One for zest and juice, one for finishing garnish
Instructions
- If using wood skewers, soak them in water for 20-30 minutes so they don’t burn in the air fryer. If using metal, just make sure they fit into your air fryer.
- Cut your chicken into two inch pieces and combine them in a bowl with your olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and mix making sure the chicken is coated well on all sides.
- In a saucepan over low heat, melt your butter. Add in your garlic and then take the pan off the heat after it becomes fragrant, about one minute. Mix in your parmesan cheese, lemon juice and zest, and parsley. (leaving about a teaspoon or two of the parsley aside for garnish)
- Set aside a third of the butter sauce to use for basting the partially cooked chicken. Keep the rest of the sauce for basting the fully cooked chicken to avoid any cross-contamination.
- Tightly pack the chicken onto your skewers leaving no spaces. (about 6-8 pieces per skewer) Trim the ends of your skewers if needed to fit in your air fryer.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees.
- With a basting brush, baste all sides of the chicken with the parmesan butter.
- Air fry for 5 minutes, flip skewers, baste with butter sauce again, and air fry for another 5 minutes. Repeat this process once more for 15 minutes total cook time. (cook in batches based on your air fryer size)
- Pour any leftover butter sauce from the bottom of your air fryer over your chicken skewers.
- Garnish with the parsley you set aside earlier, and serve with lemon wedges.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published August 2024
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