Description
Delicious Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers featuring tender chicken pieces seasoned with a flavorful spice blend, basted in a rich garlic parmesan butter sauce, and cooked to juicy perfection using an air fryer. This recipe is perfect for a quick, savory meal with multiple cooking options including air frying, baking, and grilling.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 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 (1/2 cup)
- 8-10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (adjust 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. Mix the chicken seasonings (paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper) in a small bowl. Cut chicken into 3-inch pieces and place in a large bowl or zip-top bag. Add olive oil and seasoning mix, tossing well to coat all pieces evenly. Thread chicken pieces tightly onto the soaked skewers, trimming the tops of skewers if needed to fit your air fryer.
- Make the Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, add butter and minced garlic. Microwave until butter is partially melted. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, minced parsley, and grated parmesan cheese. Whisk together until well combined. If the sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter to re-emulsify. Reserve about one-third of this sauce to baste par-cooked chicken, and keep the rest for basting after cooking.
- Cook the Chicken: Air fry 2-3 skewers at a time at 400°F for 5 minutes. Remove and flip the skewers; baste with reserved sauce. Return to air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Flip the skewers again, baste with more sauce, and cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Total cooking time ranges between 12 to 14 minutes, depending on your air fryer. After cooking, brush with a final layer of the reserved clean sauce and sprinkle extra parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 450°F. Place chicken skewers on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 14 minutes, flipping halfway and basting with garlic butter sauce multiple times during cooking. Switch oven to broil, cook an additional 2 minutes until tops are golden brown. Remove, baste once more with sauce, and sprinkle with leftover parmesan before serving.
- Grill Preparation: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Cook skewers over direct heat for 5-6 minutes per side, continuously basting with garlic butter sauce. Remove from grill, baste again, and sprinkle with leftover parmesan cheese before serving.
- Ensure wooden skewers are soaked to avoid burning in cooking.
- Use a food-safe brush for basting and clean between uses to prevent cross-contamination.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
