Description
These Air Fryer Lemon Butter Chicken Skewers are bursting with zesty lemon flavor and savory herbs, marinated and cooked to juicy perfection. Coated in a luscious lemon-parsley butter, they deliver a tangy, savory punch in every bite. Ready in about an hour, they make an easy, flavorful main course perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Marinade
- Zest of 1 lemon (about 1 tsp)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise (or substitute with plain yogurt or oil)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 large cloves of garlic, finely grated
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 3/4 tsp paprika
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 640g / 1.4 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, sliced into bite-sized pieces
For the Lemon Butter
- 75g / 5 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 tbsp very finely diced fresh parsley
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, mayonnaise, olive oil, garlic, dried oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add the sliced chicken thighs and mix until the chicken is evenly coated. Cover the bowl and marinate for 30 minutes. If the chicken is fresh from the fridge, marinate at room temperature. For longer marination, refrigerate but do not exceed 60 minutes.
- Thread the Skewers: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto 4 skewers, leaving a gap at each end. Pack the pieces tightly to retain moisture and juiciness during cooking.
- Cook the Skewers: Place the skewers in the air fryer basket. Brush any remaining marinade over the chicken. Set the air fryer to 200°C/400°F and cook for 13 minutes.
- Prepare Lemon Butter: While the chicken cooks, combine the softened butter, parsley, lemon juice, paprika, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Mix until well blended.
- Baste and Finish Cooking: After 13 minutes, flip the skewers with tongs and brush about 1/4 of the lemon butter over them. Air fry for 1 minute. Flip the skewers again and brush over another 1/4 of the butter. Cook for another minute, or until the chicken is lightly charred and cooked through; internal temperature should reach at least 165°F/74°C.
- Final Butter & Serve: Remove skewers from air fryer. If desired, brush any melted butter from the air fryer base over the skewers, then brush on the remaining lemon butter generously. For extra lemon flavor, squeeze over additional lemon juice as desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Lemon Zest: Only grate the bright yellow skin, avoiding the bitter white pith.
- Lemon Juice: The lemon flavor is subtle as written; add more juice for extra zing after cooking if desired.
- Mayonnaise: Helps bind and tenderize the chicken without adding a mayo flavor; plain yogurt or extra oil work as substitutes.
- Marinating Time: Do not marinate for too long, as the acidic marinade can cause small chicken pieces to become rubbery. Stick to the recommended times.
- Serving Suggestion: Delicious served with orzo tossed with butter, parmesan, and some starchy pasta water, or alongside asparagus.
- Calories: Nutrition is calculated per skewer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 396 kcal
- Sugar: 0.37 g
- Sodium: 793 mg
- Fat: 28.19 g
- Saturated Fat: 12.29 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13.376 g
- Trans Fat: 0.623 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.13 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 32.63 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg
