Air Fryer Garlic Skewers

These air fryer garlic parmesan chicken skewers turn plain chicken breast into an amazing flavor-packed dinner with hardly any work. The mix of tasty seasonings and a creamy garlic butter coating makes super juicy chicken bites that'll have everyone asking for more.

I came up with this dish when I needed quick dinners that would make my fussy kids happy. The first night I served these skewers, my family ate them so fast I couldn't even sit down before they wanted another batch.

Ingredients

• Mayonnaise: keeps everything juicy and helps all the flavors stick to the chicken
• Parmesan cheese: gives a fantastic savory kick in both the coating and final sauce
• Montreal chicken seasoning: brings together all the right spices in one easy mix
• Garlic powder: soaks deep into the chicken while it cooks
• Cajun seasoning: adds just enough warmth without making things spicy
• Smoked paprika: gives that outdoor cooked taste without a grill
• Chicken breast: turns out super tender with this cooking method
• Butter: creates that amazing rich sauce for coating
• Fresh parsley: adds color and a fresh pop against the rich flavors
• Fresh garlic cloves: kick up the flavor in the finishing sauce

How To Make Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers

Whip up your coating:

Stir together mayo, parmesan, olive oil, Montreal chicken seasoning, garlic powder, cajun seasoning, and smoked paprika in a big bowl until smooth. This tasty mix will soak into your chicken giving amazing flavor throughout.

Get your chicken ready:

Cut your chicken breasts into even chunks about 1 to 1.5 inches big. Mix them into the coating until every piece is totally covered. Let them sit in this yummy mixture while you make your sauce.

Mix up the garlic butter:

Take really soft butter and mix in chopped parsley, minced garlic, grated parmesan, garlic salt and black pepper. Stir it all up good. This buttery stuff will make your chicken golden and super tasty.

Put chicken on skewers:

Slide coated chicken pieces onto skewers with little gaps between each chunk so air can flow around them. You might need to cut your skewers shorter to fit your air fryer. Those spaces help everything cook evenly.

Start air frying:

Heat your air fryer to 400°F and give the basket a quick spray with olive oil so nothing sticks. Put your skewers in one layer and cook for 8 minutes to get things started.

Coat with butter and flip:

Brush lots of your garlic butter mix all over the partly cooked skewers, then turn them over. Brush more butter on the other side too. Hitting both sides makes everything extra flavorful.

Finish cooking:

Put skewers back in the air fryer for about 8 more minutes until chicken hits 165°F inside. Cooking time might change a bit based on your air fryer and how big your chicken chunks are.

Add final touches:

Brush one last coat of garlic butter and sprinkle fresh parmesan right before you serve. This makes everything look awesome and taste even better.

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My favorite thing about this dish is definitely the smoked paprika. I found out how amazing it can be after trying lots of different spices. When my chicken-avoiding son asked for thirds, I knew this special ingredient would stay in my recipe forever.

Make Ahead Options

You can get these skewers ready up to a day before you need to cook them. Just mix the chicken with the coating, wrap it up tight, and stick it in the fridge. You can also make the garlic butter ahead and keep it separate. When you're ready to cook, let both sit out for about 15 minutes, then put the chicken on skewers and start air frying. This works great for parties or busy nights when you don't have much time.

Perfect Pairings

These garlicky, cheesy skewers go really well with simple sides that don't fight for attention. Try them over buttery rice that soaks up all the extra sauce. For something lighter, a fresh Greek salad with cucumber, tomatoes and feta cheese works great. If you're having friends over, these make awesome appetizers with a cool tzatziki dip on the side for a surprisingly good flavor combo.

Troubleshooting Tips

If your chicken is getting too brown outside but still raw inside, turn your air fryer down to 375°F and cook a few minutes longer. Got dry chicken? Next time add an extra spoonful of mayo to your coating mix. Air fryers can be really different from each other, so always check if your chicken is done with a thermometer instead of just going by time. And if your garlic butter starts burning during the second cook, just save most of it for that final coating at the end.

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Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use wooden skewers in an air fryer?

Absolutely. Just soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes so they don't burn while cooking.

→ What's the best chicken cut for skewers?

Boneless, skinless chicken breast works great. It’s easy to cut into bites and cooks evenly.

→ Is there a substitute for parmesan cheese?

You can swap parmesan for hard cheeses like asiago or pecorino romano—it'll still be delicious.

→ How can I make sure the chicken stays moist?

Marinate it ahead of time, and brush on the butter sauce while cooking to keep it tender and juicy.

→ What are good sides for this dish?

Try pairing the skewers with rice, roasted veggies, or a light green salad for a balanced meal.

→ Can this dish be gluten-free?

Yes, it’s naturally gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free seasonings and ingredients like mayonnaise.