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This post is all about how to make air fried Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers; juicy chicken pieces that are basted in the most delectable garlic parmesan butter sauce.
Looking to steal the spotlight at your next gathering? These garlic parmesan chicken skewers are the perfect party appetizer or equally amazing for an easy weekday dinner and they’re bound to be one of the best chicken dishes you’ve ever had!
Basted throughout the cooking process, these garlic parmesan chicken skewers are so tender they just fall right off the skewers.
After my Hot Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers went crazy on social media, I had to give ya’ll with another incredible flavor using the same easy and fail-proof method.
You can easily make these in the air fryer (method used for the photos) or you can bake or grill them. I paired my skewers over warm rice and added some of the leftover garlic-parm butter into the rice for the most incredible meal.
This recipe post is all about how to make air fried Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers.
Key Ingredients in Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
- Chicken Tenders – you can use breast or thighs but I prefer how moist tenders are.
- Butter – one stick of butter is used.
- Garlic – lots of garlic is used, about 8-10 cloves
- Parmesan – grated parm is the best for this recipe as it easily incorporates in the butter sauce.
- Hot sauce – just a tablespoon to give this chicken a little kick without adding too much heat.
- Seasonings – paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes
- Fresh Parsley – the fresh parsley adds the perfect herbiness to balance the savory butter sauce.
- Don’t forget the wooden skewers!
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
Step 1: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
Combine spice mixture in a small bowl and set aside. Prep your chicken by cutting in 3″ pieces. Place them in a bowl and toss in olive oil and the spices, coating well on all sides.
Step 2: Pack the chicken onto each skewer, making sure they are tightly packed with no space in between to ensure maximum juiciness. If needed, snip the top few inches of the skewers to fit in the air fryer after the chicken is skewered
Step 3: Make the garlic parmesan sauce by combining all ingredients into a saucepan over low heat. Scoop out 1/3 of the sauce and use that for basting the chicken as it cooks. Reserve the remaining sauce for basting the cooked chicken so you don’t cross contaminate.
Step 3: Cook 2-3 skewers at a time in an air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove and flip the skewers and baste with sauce, returning to cook an additional 2 minutes at 400 degrees.
Baste with more sauce and cook another 5-6 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees. A total cook time of 12-14 minutes. Once they are finished cooking, hit them with a final pass of the garlic sauce (the reserved sauce) and sprinkle with some parmesan and serve.
Tools I Use:
Air-Fryer Sized Skewers
Metal Air Fryer Sized Skewers
Stainless Steel BPA-Free Air Fryer
Looking for More Delish Recipes?
Easy Chicken Tetrazzini
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 Garlic Parmesan 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!
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken tenders, thighs or breast
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce
- 1 stick butter
- 8-10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
- 1 tbsp hot sauce more if desired
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
Chicken Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Prep and Skewer Chicken
- Before you start, make sure to soak your wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Start by combining your chicken seasoning mixture in a small bowl and set aside. Prep your chicken by cutting in 3" pieces. Place them in a large bowl or ziptop bag and toss in olive oil and the spices, coating well on all sides.
- Pack the chicken onto each skewer, making sure they are tightly packed with no space in between to ensure maximum juiciness. If needed, snip the top few inches of the skewers to fit in the air fryer after the chicken is skewered.
Make the Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce
- Add the butter and garlic in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until partially melted. Add in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, parsley, and parmesan. Whisk together until combined. (If sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter and stir to re-emulsify.)
- Scoop out 1/3 of the sauce and use that for basting the par-cooked chicken. Reserve the remaining sauce for basting the cooked chicken so you don't cross contaminate. Be sure to wash your basting brush in between.
Cook The Chicken
- Cook 2-3 skewers at a time. Place in an air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove and flip the skewers, baste with sauce, return to cook an additional 2 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Flip them back, baste with more sauce and cook another 5-6 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees. Total cook time of 12-14 minutes. This time will vary based on your air fryer.
- Once they are finished cooking, hit them with a final pass of the garlic sauce (the clean reserved sauce) and sprinkle with some extra parmesan and serve.
Notes
Here are some additional photos for your Pinterest boards:
Oh my days so delicious. I made them 3 nights ago and i’m making them again tonight. I served mine with plain rice and salad. Tonight the same but I’ll add some of the parmesam garlic sauce to the rice. I CAN’T WAIT FOR DINNER TIME 😋 Thank you.
Everyone loved this recipe! We grilled ours and it turned out wonderful! Thank you! Question though, Did you use fresh grated parmesan or did you use grated parmesan like Kraft grated parmesan off the shelf?
I used 5 pounded then chicken breasts, oven 400degrees, a baking grid on top of my cookie sheet, I doubled the dry seasonings and coated both sides, split the garlic/butter mixture in half, brushed both sides with part one of the mixture, baked 20 minutes, flipped baked another 20 minutes, added the part two of the butter garlic mixture, and put under the broiler for just a few minutes, my chicken was about 190 (I like to go past the 165) and it was so delicious, not dry, will definitely be making again!
This looks tasty. I might have to try this out for dinner. Looking for new ideas for dinner.
You won’t regret it 🙂
Delicious recipe… but the prep time of 20 mins, I doubt a pro chef could do in that time. I’m pretty good in the kitchen, and very fast with a knife but there is no chance prep time is that low! It took me 40-50 mins to prep everything. I will make this again, but give myself waaay more time to prep, and I only did 6 skewers
Hello Iain, I totally agree and I have heard and read similar comments from others about recipes from a variety of sources. We are also skilled in the kitchen and comfortable doing recipe prep. We typically double or triple any recipe’s “given prep time” and find that to be a closer match to how long the prep actually takes us. Otherwise, we envision other hands must be helping with the prep or 1 person must be rushing around the kitchen like a headless chicken.
I made this tonight, but in the oven exactly like you said. These came out tender and the heat is perfect! I like it spicy.
I’m wondering if anyone has used olive oil instead of butter. I love the flavor of olive oil and it would be much healthier.
This was so delicious – one of the best chicken recipes I have ever had! It is definitely a keeper recipe!
So wonderful to hear 🙂 thank you
Massive hit at my husband’s birthday party. Everyone was asking for the recipe. Definitely will be kept with my favorite recipes.
WOW!! This was AMAZING!! Best chicken recipe I’ve made in years!!! So easy and so good!! Thank you!