Cilantro Lime Air Fryer Chicken Skewers

Behind This Air Fryer Chicken Skewers Recipe

I was craving something with bright, fresh flavors that wouldn’t take me long to make when I first made these cilantro lime chicken skewers. Made with simple and wholesome ingredients that pack tons of flavor, like boneless, skinless chicken, Greek yogurt, cilantro, and lime juice, these skewers are guilt-free, easy to make, and don’t require any marinating time.

Based on the results I had with my Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers and Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers, I chose to prepare them in the air fryer. I’ve found that’s the cooking method that yields the most incredibly tender and delicate chicken. Greek yogurt is the base of the sauce and imparts lots of moisture into the chicken as it cooks, which also contributes to that final tender, juicy texture.

You guys know I love a recipe that can be enjoyed in many different ways! These skewers can be served over rice with a side of veggies or added to tacos, salads, bowls, and more. So versatile, so easy!

Tips from My Kitchen

• No gaps between pieces. When threading the chicken onto the skewers, be sure to push them together so there are no gaps. Any gaps between chicken pieces can cause them to dry out as they cook.
• Divide the sauce. Once half of the sauce is added to the chicken, divide the remaining half. Use one bowl to brush the chicken while it’s still raw and cooking and the other for the cooked chicken (including during the last 1-2 minutes of air frying). Be sure to use different brushes or wash it each time, too.
• Brush the chicken repeatedly. Each time I flip the chicken, I brush it with more sauce. This helps keep the chicken moist and juicy, while also adding more flavor.
• Soak wooden skewers. You can use wooden or metal skewers for these air fryer chicken skewers. But if you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water first to prevent them from burning in the air fryer.

What Skewers Work Best In The Air Fryer?

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. If you have a smaller or larger air fryer, you may be able to use a different size but 8” is just the right size for my air fryer.

Key Ingredients

These cilantro lime chicken skewers require just a handful of simple ingredients. The exact measurements can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Chicken – Chicken tenderloins are 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. The yogurt helps keep the chicken extra moist.
• Cilantro – Fresh cilantro is the main star of this sauce. Be sure to wash it thoroughly first.
• Lime – Fresh lime juice is key here. Bottled lime juice just doesn’t give you that bright lime flavor needed for the sauce.
• Jalapeno – Adds a bit of mild heat and depth to the flavor of the sauce. Deseeding it first helps keep it from overpowering the other flavors or making the sauce too spicy.
• Garlic – A bit of freshly minced garlic rounds out the flavors in the sauce. I do recommend fresh garlic, not jarred garlic, for the best flavor.
• Seasonings – I use Cajun seasoning for the chicken to keep things simple. I recommend a low sodium seasoning so that I can control the amount of salt by adding it myself.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers in the Air Fryer

Since the chicken doesn’t need to marinate and it cooks quickly in the air fryer, these cilantro lime chicken skewers make a great weeknight dinner.

• Prep the skewers. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water 30 minutes before cooking.
• Season the chicken. Dice the chicken in 2-3” pieces. Season with the Cajun seasoning.
• Make the cilantro lime sauce. Blend the yogurt, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, salt, and pepper until smooth in a food processor or blender.
• Coat the chicken. Pour half of the sauce over the chicken. Toss to fully coat. Divide the remaining sauce into two bowls.
• Skewer the chicken. Skewer the pieces of chicken, pushing them tightly together so they are touching.
• Air fry. Cook a few skewers at a time in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 4 minutes. Flip and baste with more sauce. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
• Baste again. Use the second bowl of sauce to brush the skewers with more sauce (using a different brush). Air fry for another 1-2 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 165F.
• Enjoy. Repeat with the remaining skewers, using one bowl to brush sauce onto the raw chicken and the second bowl for the cooked chicken. Drizzle with more sauce before serving if desired.

Make Them In the Oven or On The Grill

While the air fryer is my preferred method for cooking these cilantro lime chicken skewers, they can also be made in the oven and on the grill. Remember to soak the wooden skewers first.

In the Oven

• Bake. Preheat the oven to 450. Place chicken skewers on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil and cook for 14 minutes, flipping half way through and basting with the sauce a few times throughout the baking process. 
• Broil. Switch the oven to broil and cook an additional 2 minutes to get the tops golden brown.
• Baste. Remove from the oven and baste it one last time with the cilantro sauce. 

On the Grill

• Grill. Preheat your grill to medium-high. Place the prepared skewers over direct heat and cook each side for 5-6 minutes, basting with the sauce throughout the cooking process. 
• Baste. Remove from the grill and baste it one last time with the cilantro lime sauce.

Air Fryer Chicken Skewer Variations

There are endless ways to customize these air fryer chicken skewers, by switching up the seasoning on the chicken and the sauce they are coated with. I’ve made many different variations myself, so here are a few ideas for inspiration. (But don’t limit yourself to these – you can use truly any spices and marinade!)

• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers. These garlicky cheesy chicken skewers are actually one of my most popular and have gone viral a time or two. If you like garlic parm chicken wings, you’ll love these!
• Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers. These are a fun variation on the above with the addition of ranch seasoning to give them an even more herby flavor.
• Hot Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers. Hot lemon pepper is an ATL staple, so of course, I had to make air fryer chicken skewers with that flavor. They’re lemony-peppery, garlicky, tangy, and, honestly, quite irresistible. One of my all-time faves!
• Bourbon Chicken Skewers. Inspired by bourbon chicken at the food court, these skewers are sticky, sweet, and salty. It’s like takeout but better.
• Buffalo Ranch Chicken Skewers. And, of course, a classic! Chicken is coated in ranch and buffalo dry rubs and basted with buttery to create the most irresistible, slightly spicy (but not too spicy) flavor. They definitely satisfy that wing craving!

Serving Suggestions

Air fryer chicken skewers are pretty versatile! For a quick, easy dinner, I like to serve these with white rice and steamed or roasted veggies.

Or pull the chicken off the skewer and use it in tacos, salads, and bowls. The cilantro lime chicken in this recipe would be a yummy twist in a Sante Fe power bowl or street corn chicken rice bowls.

Storage & Reheating

• Fridge: Store leftover cilantro lime chicken skewers in the fridge for 3-4 days. It’s usually best to remove the skewers before storing. If you have extra (non-contaminated) sauce, you can store it with the chicken to prevent it from drying out.
• Reheat: Reheat the chicken (without the skewers!) in the microwave until heated through or pop them in the air fryer for just a couple of minutes.

Looking for More Easy Air Fryer Recipes?

• Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Nuggets
• Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich
• Chicken Alfredo Air Fryer Calzones
• Honey Buffalo Chicken Tenders
• Air Fried Sweet Chili Chicken Wings