Can I make this recipe without an air fryer?

Yes! You can bake the skewers in a 450°F oven for about 14 minutes, flipping halfway through, then broiling for an extra 2 minutes for a golden-brown finish. You can also grill them over medium-high heat for about 5-6 minutes per side.

How do I prevent the chicken from drying out?

To keep the chicken juicy, make sure to soak wooden skewers before using them, pack the chicken pieces tightly on the skewers, and baste frequently with the garlic parmesan butter sauce while cooking.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of tenders?

Absolutely! Chicken breasts or thighs work just as well. Just cut them into evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking.

The recipe includes a small amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes, but it’s mild overall. If you prefer no heat, you can omit these ingredients without affecting the flavor.

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers

Name: Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lbs chicken tenders (or chicken breasts/thighs, cut into pieces); 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tsp paprika; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; ½ tsp salt; ½ tsp black pepper; Wooden skewers (soaked in water for at least 30 minutes); 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter; 8-10 cloves garlic, minced; ½ cup grated parmesan cheese; 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional, adjust to taste); 2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional); ⅓ cup fresh parsley, minced

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken

2 lbs chicken tenders (or chicken breasts/thighs, cut into pieces)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Wooden skewers (soaked in water for at least 30 minutes)

For the Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce

1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
8–10 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tbsp hot sauce (optional, adjust to taste)
2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
⅓ cup fresh parsley, minced

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Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces. In a large bowl, toss them with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
Assemble the Skewers: Thread the chicken pieces tightly onto soaked wooden skewers, ensuring there are no gaps between them. If needed, trim the skewers to fit your air fryer or baking sheet.
Make the Garlic Parmesan Sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Stir in the minced garlic, parmesan cheese, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and parsley until well combined. Remove from heat. Separate ⅓ of the sauce into a small bowl for basting during cooking and keep the rest for serving.
Cook the Skewers in the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place 2-3 skewers in the basket, making sure they don’t overlap. Cook for 5 minutes, then flip and baste with the reserved garlic parmesan butter. Cook for another 2 minutes, flip again, baste, and continue cooking for another 5-6 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Finish and Serve: Once cooked, brush the skewers with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese. Serve immediately over rice, pasta, or vegetables, drizzling extra garlic parmesan butter over the dish for added flavor.

Notes

If baking in the oven, preheat to 450°F and cook for 14 minutes, flipping and basting halfway through. Broil for 2 additional minutes to crisp the tops.
If grilling, cook over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting with butter throughout.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven to maintain crispiness.

Author: Ashely
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner, Appetizer
Method: Air Fryer, Oven, Grill
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 skewer
Calories: 320
Sugar: 0g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 2g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 110mg