Description
These Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are a flavorful and juicy dish featuring boneless chicken thighs marinated in a rich garlic parmesan butter, then air fried to golden perfection. Perfect as a tasty main course, they are easy to prepare and come with a zesty lemon finish for a delightful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Chicken Skewers
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch strips
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Wooden skewers (trimmed to fit air fryer)
Instructions
- Prepare Garlic Parmesan Butter: Melt the softened butter in a medium bowl. Add grated garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and red pepper flakes. Stir until well combined. Note that the butter sauce may firm up while assembling the recipe.
- Trim Skewers: Use poultry shears or kitchen scissors to trim wooden skewers so they fit inside your air fryer basket.
- Assemble Chicken Skewers: Thread 6-7 pieces of chicken thigh strips tightly onto each wooden skewer. Repeat until all chicken is used. Season all sides with salt and black pepper.
- Apply Butter Sauce and Air Fry - Part 1: Use a basting brush to coat all sides of each skewer with the garlic parmesan butter. Place the skewers in the air fryer set at 350°F and cook for 5 minutes.
- Baste and Continue Cooking - Part 2: Brush the skewers again with more butter sauce and cook for another 5 minutes at 350°F.
- Final Basting and Cook - Part 3: Give the skewers a final coat of butter and cook for one last 5-minute interval, totaling 15 minutes of cooking time. The chicken should be golden brown.
- Serve: Once all skewers are cooked, pour the garlic parmesan butter that has accumulated in the air fryer over the chicken. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese if desired. Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy.
Notes
- Trim wooden skewers with heavy-duty poultry shears for clean cuts that fit the air fryer.
- Metal skewers that fit your air fryer make for easy handling and reuse.
- You can make nugget-style chicken without skewers, but monitor closely as cooking time will be shorter.
- The garlic parmesan butter may firm up during prep but will melt while cooking for perfect basting.
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the brightest flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
