Description
These Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are juicy, flavorful, and coated in a rich garlic Parmesan butter sauce with a hint of heat from red pepper flakes and hot sauce. Perfectly cooked in the air fryer for a quick and easy meal, or alternatively baked or grilled to suit your kitchen setup. Tender chicken pieces are seasoned, skewered, and basted in a zesty butter sauce, making them a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 2 lbs chicken tenders, thighs or breast, cut into 3-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce:
- 1 stick (8 tbsp) butter
- 8–10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (adjust more if desired)
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
- Soak Skewers: Begin by soaking your wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning during cooking.
- Season Chicken: In a small bowl, mix paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Place the cut chicken pieces into a large bowl or zip-top bag. Add olive oil and the seasoning mixture then toss well to coat all pieces evenly.
- Skewer Chicken: Thread the chicken pieces tightly onto the soaked skewers, making sure there are no gaps between pieces to retain maximum juiciness. Trim the skewers if needed to fit your air fryer basket.
- Prepare Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter with minced garlic until partially melted. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, fresh parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk until thoroughly combined. If the sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter and stir until emulsified.
- Baste Par-Cooked Chicken: Set aside about one-third of the sauce for initial basting and baste the partially cooked chicken with it. Keep the remaining sauce reserved for basting cooked chicken to avoid cross-contamination. Wash your basting brush between uses.
- Air Fry First Side: Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer basket carefully. Cook at 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Flip and Baste: Flip the skewers, baste with reserved sauce, then cook an additional 2 minutes at 400°F.
- Final Cooking and Baste: Flip the skewers back to the original side, baste again, and cook for a final 5-6 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Total cooking time should be approximately 12-14 minutes, though it may vary depending on your air fryer.
- Final Touch: Once cooked, brush the skewers with the reserved garlic Parmesan butter sauce one last time, sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 450°F. Place skewers on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through and basting with garlic butter sauce a few times. Switch oven to broil and cook an additional 2 minutes to brown the tops. Remove and baste once more with sauce, sprinkle with Parmesan before serving.
- Grill Preparation: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Cook skewers over direct heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting frequently with garlic butter sauce. Remove and give a final baste and Parmesan sprinkle before serving.
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents burning and adds safety during cooking.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- Customize spice level by adjusting amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes in the butter sauce.
Keywords: Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers, Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, Easy Chicken Skewers, Garlic Butter Chicken, Parmesan Chicken, Spicy Chicken Skewers, Appetizer, Grilled Chicken, Baked Chicken Skewers