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Full of bright vibrant flavors, these Cilantro Lime Air Fryer Chicken Skewers are tangy, herby, incredibly moist and so tender they just fall right off the skewers. Surprisingly guilt-free (you won’t believe it when you taste them), there isn’t a drop of butter in this recipe and they don’t require any marinading time. Just toss them in the sauce, skewer and air fry. It’s that easy!
Cilantro Lime Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
Guilt-free chicken skewers are easy to make and don’t require any marinading time. Eat these as an entree with rice and veggies or use the juicy chicken for tacos, salads, and more.
For these cilantro lime chicken skewers we use simple and wholesome ingredients that pack tons of flavor and surprisingly, greek yogurt is the base of the sauce that imparts incredible moisture into the chicken as it cooks.
If you’ve tried my Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers or Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers, you know this cooking method yields the most incredibly tender delicate chicken that just falls apart.
Key Ingredients
Chicken – chicken tenderloins is optimal for this recipe but boneless skinless breasts or thighs work too.
Greek yogurt – be sure to use a plain, 2% or higher yogurt that’s unsweetened.
Cilantro – fresh cilantro is the main star of this sauce. Be sure to wash it thoroughly first.
Lime – the juice of half of a lime, freshly squeezed.
Jalapeno – fresh jalapeno that’s been deseeded adds tons of flavor.
Garlic – a few cloves of freshly minced garlic
Seasonings – I am using a cajun seasoning to add to the chicken before marinading. If yours is salt free, be sure to add salt accordingly.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
Make the Cilantro Lime Sauce
In a food processor or blender add in the greek yogurt, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice and salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and pureed. Pour about half the sauce (or enough to fully coat the chicken pieces) and toss the chicken pieces until they are fully coated. Separate remaining sauce into two small bowls.
Skewer Chicken
Add chicken pieces onto the skewer, packing them tightly together so each pieces is touching. Don’t leave gaps between the chicken as it will cause it to dry out as it cooks.
Air Fry Chicken
Place a few skewers at a time into an air fryer. Set at 400 degrees for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken, use the first bowl of sauce and a basting brush to coat more sauce onto the chicken. Cook another 5 minutes at 400 degrees. Wash the brush to prevent cross-contamination. Flip skewers again and baste once more (with the second bowl of “clean” sauce). Air fry for another 1-2 minutes at 400 degrees or until internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
Before serving, drizzle the skewers with more sauce.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Skewers in the Oven?
If you’re looking to make to make these tender chicken skewers in the oven, it couldn’t be easier.
> Step 1: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken skewers on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil and cook for 14 minutes, flipping half way through and basting with butter a few times throughout the baking process.
> Step 2: Switch the oven to broil and cook an additional 2 minutes so get the tops golden brown. Remove from the oven and baste it one last time with the cilantro sauce.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Skewers on the Grill?
>Step 1: Preheat your grill to medium-high. Place the prepared skewers over direct heat and cook each side for 5-6 minutes each, basting with butter throughout the cooking process.
> Step 2: Remove from the grill and baste it one last time with the cilantro lime sauce.
Tools I Love
Whenever I make skewers, I always reach for my 8″ wooden skewers made just the right size for an air fryer. I also adore the reusable metal skewers.
Metal Air Fryer Sized Skewers
Air-Fryer Sized Skewers
Stainless Steel BPA-Free Air Fryer
Looking for More Delicious Recipes?
Fried Chicken Elote Tacos
Hot Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
Smothered Chicken & Gravy
Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Rolls
I hope you enjoy this easy Air Fryer recipe for Cilantro Lime Air Fryer Chicken Skewers. Be sure to comment below with any questions or feedback! If you make these or any other recipes, don’t forget to tag me on IG @BadBatchBaking to be featured on my story. Seeing your recreations makes my day!
Cilantro Lime Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
Equipment
- wooden or metal skewers air fryer sized and if using wood: soaked in water for 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken tenderloins, diced into 2-3" pieces breast or thighs work too
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning low sodium
- 1.5 cups cilantro bottom half of large stems removed
- 3/4 cup plain greek yogurt 2% or higher
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 2 small jalapeños seeded
- juice of 1/2 lime about 1 tablespoon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- freshly cracked pepper
Instructions
- Soak wooden skewers in water 30 minutes before cooking.
- Dice chicken into 2-3" pieces and season liberally with cajun seasoning.
Make the Cilantro Lime Sauce
- In a food processor or blender add in the greek yogurt, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice and salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and pureed.
- Pour about half the sauce into a large bowl with the chicken and toss the chicken pieces until they are fully coated.
- Separate remaining sauce into two small bowls - one for coating raw chicken, the other "clean" sauce for coating cooked chicken.
Skewer Chicken
- Add chicken pieces onto the skewer, packing them tightly together so each piece is touching. Don't leave gaps between the chicken as it will cause it to dry out as it cooks.
Air Fry Chicken
- Place a few skewers at a time into an air fryer. Set at 400 degrees for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken, use the first bowl of sauce and a basting brush to coat more sauce onto the chicken.
- Cook another 5 minutes at 400 degrees. Wash the brush to prevent cross-contamination.
- Flip skewers again and baste once more (with the second bowl of "clean" sauce). Air fry for another 1-2 minutes at 400 degrees or until internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
- Before serving, drizzle the skewers with more sauce.
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