Description
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are juicy, flavorful chicken pieces coated in a savory blend of spices and basted in a rich garlic parmesan butter sauce. These skewers are easy to prepare and cook quickly in an air fryer, oven, or on the grill, making them a perfect handheld meal or appetizer packed with bold, cheesy garlic flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lbs chicken tenders, thighs or breast, cut into 3-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Chicken Seasonings
- 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 the chicken seasoning (paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper) in a small bowl. Toss the chicken pieces with olive oil and seasoning mixture in a large bowl or ziptop bag until evenly coated. Thread the chicken tightly onto the skewers, eliminating space to keep them juicy. Trim the skewers if needed to fit the air fryer.
- Make the Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and minced garlic until partially melted. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, minced parsley, and grated parmesan cheese. Whisk thoroughly to combine. If the sauce separates, add 1-2 tbsp softened butter and stir to re-emulsify. Set aside 1/3 of the sauce for basting the partially cooked chicken and reserve the remainder for the fully cooked skewers to avoid cross-contamination. Clean your basting brush between uses.
- Cook The Chicken: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Cook 2-3 skewers at a time for 5 minutes. Remove skewers, flip them over, and baste with the reserved sauce. Return to the air fryer and cook for another 2 minutes. Flip the skewers again, baste with more sauce, and cook an additional 5-6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Total cook time is about 12-14 minutes but may vary based on your appliance.
- Final Baste and Serve: When cooked through, give the skewers a final coating of the clean reserved garlic parmesan butter sauce. Sprinkle extra parmesan cheese on top before serving for an extra burst of flavor.
Notes
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 450°F. Place chicken skewers on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through and basting with the butter sauce a few times. Switch oven to broil and cook an additional 2 minutes to get a golden brown crust. Remove and baste one last time with sauce and sprinkle with extra parmesan.
- Grill Preparation: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill skewers over direct heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting frequently with the garlic parmesan butter sauce. Remove from grill, baste with sauce again, and sprinkle with leftover parmesan.
- Always soak wooden skewers before cooking to prevent burning.
- Adjust hot sauce amount in the butter sauce to suit your preferred spice level.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm chicken has reached 165°F for safe consumption.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
