Description
These Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are tender, juicy, and bursting with rich, flavorful garlic parmesan butter. Perfectly cooked in the air fryer, the chicken is seasoned and basted multiple times to achieve golden brown perfection, then served with a drizzle of the remaining flavorful butter and a sprinkle of fresh parsley and lemon wedges.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Garlic Parmesan Butter
- 1 pound salted butter, softened
- 5 cloves garlic, grated
- ½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped, optional, for serving
For the Chicken Skewers
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch strips
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Garlic Parmesan Butter: Melt the salted butter in a medium-sized bowl. Add the grated garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and red pepper flakes to the melted butter. Stir everything together until well combined. Note that the butter sauce may firm up while preparing other steps, and this is normal.
- Prepare the Skewers: Trim wooden skewers to fit inside your air fryer using poultry shears or a similar tool. Thread 6-7 pieces of chicken thigh strips tightly onto each skewer, repeating until all chicken is skewered. Season the skewers evenly with salt and black pepper.
- Brush with Butter and First Cook: Using a basting brush, coat all sides of each chicken skewer generously with the garlic parmesan butter. Place the skewers in the air fryer preheated to 350°F. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Baste and Continue Cooking: Remove the skewers briefly and baste again with more garlic parmesan butter on all sides. Return the skewers to the air fryer and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Final Basting and Cook: Baste the chicken skewers once more with the garlic parmesan butter, then cook for a final 5-minute session in the air fryer. The chicken should be golden brown and fully cooked through after this last step.
- Serve: After finishing all batches, pour the garlic parmesan butter collected at the bottom of the air fryer over the cooked chicken skewers. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy your flavorful garlic parmesan chicken skewers!
Notes
- Use heavy duty poultry shears for clean, easy trimming of wooden skewers to fit your air fryer.
- If available, metal skewers are a great alternative to wooden ones and fit well in the air fryer.
- To make nugget-style chicken without skewers, keep in mind the cooking time will reduce, so watch closely to prevent overcooking.
- Make sure to baste the chicken thoroughly and multiple times for optimal flavor and juiciness.
- Let the butter sauce soften again if it firms up during prep by gently warming before basting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 55 g
- Saturated Fat: 32 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
