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Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers Recipe

4.9 from 121 reviews

These Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are a flavorful and juicy dish featuring tender chicken pieces marinated in a zesty blend of garlic, parmesan, and spices, then air fried to perfection. Perfect as a quick, protein-packed appetizer or main course, these skewers combine a rich buttery garlic parmesan sauce with a hint of heat from red pepper flakes and hot sauce for an irresistible bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Marinade

  • 2 lbs chicken tenders, thighs, or breast, cut into 3-inch pieces
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce

  • 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
  • 810 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
  • 2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced

Instructions

  1. Prep and Soak Skewers: Begin by soaking wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
  2. Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Place the cut chicken pieces in a large bowl or zip-top bag, add olive oil and the seasoning mixture, tossing well to coat all pieces evenly.
  3. Skewer the Chicken: Thread the seasoned chicken pieces tightly onto the soaked skewers, ensuring no gaps to maintain juiciness. Trim the skewers if necessary to fit into the air fryer.
  4. Prepare Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, partially melt butter with minced garlic. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, parmesan, and parsley until well combined; if the sauce separates, add softened butter to re-emulsify.
  5. Baste and Partial Cook the Chicken: Reserve about one-third of the sauce for initial basting. Use it to baste the chicken skewers before cooking. Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for 5 minutes.
  6. Flip and Baste: Remove skewers, flip them over, baste with sauce again, and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 400°F.
  7. Final Cooking Phase: Flip skewers back, baste once more with sauce, and cook another 5-6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Total cooking time is about 12-14 minutes, varying by air fryer model.
  8. Serve: Once cooked, give the skewers a final baste with the reserved clean sauce and sprinkle extra parmesan on top. Serve immediately for best flavor and juiciness.

Notes

  • Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from burning in the air fryer.
  • Ensure chicken pieces are packed tightly on the skewers to keep them juicy.
  • Adjust hot sauce quantity according to your preferred spice level.
  • Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Wash basting brushes between uses of raw and cooked sauce to avoid cross-contamination.
  • Trim skewers if they don’t fit in your air fryer basket.

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