Description
Delicious and juicy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers featuring tender chicken pieces marinated in a flavorful blend of spices and coated with a rich garlic parmesan butter sauce. Perfectly cooked in an air fryer for a quick, easy, and mouthwatering meal that’s great for any occasion.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 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 tbsp)
- 8-10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (more if desired)
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
- Prep and Skewer Chicken: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning. Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Toss the chicken pieces in olive oil and season with the spice blend, making sure each piece is well coated. Thread the chicken tightly onto the skewers, ensuring no gaps to keep the chicken juicy. Trim the skewers if necessary to fit in the air fryer.
- Make the Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: Melt the butter with minced garlic in a microwave-safe bowl until partially melted. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, parsley, and parmesan cheese until combined. If the sauce separates, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter to re-emulsify. Reserve 1/3 of the sauce for basting partially cooked chicken, and keep the remaining sauce for basting after cooking to avoid cross contamination. Clean the basting brush between uses.
- Cook The Chicken: Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 5 minutes. Remove skewers, flip them over, and baste with the reserved sauce. Return to air fryer and cook for another 2 minutes. Flip the skewers back, baste again, and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The total cooking time is about 12-14 minutes but may vary depending on your air fryer.
- Finish and Serve: After cooking, give the skewers a final brush with the clean reserved sauce, sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 450°F. Place chicken skewers on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Bake for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through and basting a few times with the garlic parmesan butter sauce. Switch oven to broil and cook for an additional 2 minutes to brown the tops. Remove, baste one last time with the sauce, and sprinkle with extra parmesan.
- Grill Preparation: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place skewers directly over the heat and cook each side for 5-6 minutes, basting with garlic parmesan butter sauce throughout. Remove from grill, baste one last time, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese before serving.
- Soak wooden skewers before cooking to avoid burning.
- Use a clean basting brush to prevent cross contamination.
- Adjust hot sauce and red pepper flakes to your spice preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
