These air fryer chicken baked chicken skewers offer a fuss-free way to enjoy grilled chicken all year round. Fire up your air fryer and indulge in this delicious dish.
These easy air fryer baked chicken skewers will revolutionize your grilling game. With the magic of the air fryer, you achieve perfectly cooked chicken with a juicy interior and crispy exterior. Moreover, the red onions give these savory skewers a slightly sweet twist.
Whether you're planning a weekend barbecue or a speedy weeknight dinner, this recipe delivers on taste and convenience. And if you like a quick meat dish, try these harissa chicken tortilla wraps or this healthy chicken curry for a protein-rich lunch or dinner.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Healthier preparation – Air frying requires minimal oil, making it a lighter alternative to traditional frying.
- Flavor explosion – The marinated chicken, infused with a blend of herbs and spices, offers a burst of aromatic flavors in every bite. The combination of tender chicken and red onion creates a mouthwatering contrast.
- Perfectly cooked chicken – The air fryer ensures even cooking, resulting in juicy, perfectly cooked chicken with a crispy exterior.
- Adaptable – You can serve these chicken skewers as a main course, in a pita wrap, or on a bed of rice, giving you flexibility in how you enjoy them.
- Crowd-pleaser – If you're cooking for your family or host friends, these air fryer chicken skewersNein will satisfy your guests.
- Minimal cleanup – The air fryer is known for its easy cleanup – no messy grates or charcoal. Just remove the skewers and wash the air fryer basket.
Ingredient notes
- Chicken – While boneless, skinless chicken breasts are commonly used in this recipe, you can also use boneless chicken thighs for added flavor and juiciness. If you prefer, you can even use a combination of both.
- Marinade – Get creative with the marinade and add ingredients like yogurt for extra tenderness, grated ginger for a hint of spice, or honey for sweetness. Also, consider marinating the chicken for up to 24 hours for even more flavor infusion.
- Vegetables – I use red onion in this recipe for its slighty sweet flavor and color to go with the chicken. But you can use a variety of colorful vegetables to enhance your chicken skewers. Zucchini, mushrooms, or peppers are an excellent addition.
- Skewers – Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using them to prevent them from burning in the air fryer. Alternatively, you can use metal skewers if you have them.
- Cooking oil – Use a light-tasting vegetable oil like rapeseed oil. Alternatively, you can use olive oil with a high smoke point.
- Garnish – Fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro make for excellent garnishes, adding a pop of color and a hint of freshness.
See recipe card for quantities.
Tips & substitutions
- Use evenly sized ingredients – Cut your chicken and vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking. This prevents some pieces from being undercooked while others are overcooked.
- Soak wooden skewers – If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading the ingredients. This prevents them from burning in the air fryer.
- Don't overcrowd – Arrange the chicken skewers in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them.
- Rotate the skewers – Halfway through the cooking time, flip the skewers to ensure even browning on all sides.
- Vegetable options – Customize your skewers with your favorite vegetables. Use mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, or cherry tomatoes for extra flavor.
- Marinade – Feel free to experiment with different marinade flavors. You can use store-bought marinades or create your own with herbs, spices, citrus juices, yogurt, teriyaki, or barbecue sauce.
- Cooking time – The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer brand and model. Always check for doneness by testing the internal temperature of the chicken and adjusting the cooking time accordingly.
How to make air fryer chicken skewers
Step 1: In a mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, rosemary, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Step 2: Add the chicken cubes to the marinade and make sure they are well coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours for maximum flavor.
Step 3: While the chicken is marinating, prepare the onion. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the soaked wooden skewers, alternating with the onion chunks. Leave a small space between each piece to ensure even cooking.
Step 4: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes. Place the chicken skewers in the preheated air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Step 5: Cook for 10-12 minutes, turning the skewers halfway through the cooking time, until the chicken is cooked through and has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The vegetables should also be tender and slightly charred.
Step 6: Carefully remove the chicken skewers from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce or a side salad.
Expert tip
To infuse more flavor into your air fryer baked chicken skewers, baste them with the leftover marinade during cooking.
After 5-7 minutes of cooking, use a basting brush to generously apply the marinade to the chicken skewers. The heat of the air fryer helps the marinade adhere to the skewers, resulting in a delicious glaze.
What to serve with chicken skewers
These air fryer chicken baked chicken skewers pair well with various sides. Here are my delicious picks:
- Rice: Steamed white or brown rice is an excellent base for chicken skewers. Finish the rice with herbs, spices, or a squeeze of lemon juice for extra flavor.
- Pita bread – Warm, soft pita bread is perfect for creating chicken wraps or sandwiches. Fill them with the chicken, fresh veggies, and your favorite sauce. Or serve them with these homemade pita chips as finger food.
- Dipping sauces – Serve your chicken skewers with a dipping sauce like this rosemary white bean dip or sweet and spicy mango sauce for a creamy addition.
- Tzatziki sauce – The creamy and tangy Greek yogurt sauce is a classic accompaniment for chicken skewers. It adds a refreshing contrast to the flavors and provides a cooling element.
- Hummus – A side of this Moroccan-spiced hummus complements the air fryer baked chicken skewers nicely.
- Salad – This spicy Asian smashed cucumber salad or roasted red pepper salad offers a light and vibrant side dish to the chicken skewers.
- Roasted vegetables – If you have extra space in your air fryer or a separate grill, make these air fryer crispy roasted carrots to serve alongside the skewers.
- Flavorful fries – These roasted or air-fried crispy cajun fries are a hearty and comforting side dish that adds some spice.
- Fruit salad – A stone fruit salad adds a sweet and refreshing contrast to the savory skewers.
Recipe FAQs
Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before use to prevent them from burning. You can also use metal skewers as they are reusable.
You can experiment with different marinade flavors by adjusting the herbs, spices, and seasonings to suit your taste.
Lightly coat the basket with cooking spray or brush the skewers with oil before cooking to prevent sticking.
Flipping the chicken skewers halfway through the cooking time helps ensure even cooking and browning on all sides.
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???? Recipe
Air Fryer Baked Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 500 g / 1 lb)
- 1 red onion
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil (e.g. rapeseed oil)
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
- 6 wooden or metal skewers
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, rosemary, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Add the chicken cubes to the marinade and make sure they are well coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours for maximum flavor.
- While the chicken is marinating, prepare the onion. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the soaked wooden skewers, alternating with the onion chunks. Leave a small space between each piece to ensure even cooking.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes. Place the chicken skewers in the preheated air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, turning the skewers halfway through the cooking time, until the chicken is cooked through and has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The vegetables should also be tender and slightly charred.
- Carefully remove the chicken skewers from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce or a side salad!
Notes
- Soak wooden skewers – If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading the ingredients. This prevents them from burning in the air fryer.
- Don't overcrowd – Arrange the chicken skewers in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them.
- Cooking time – The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer brand and model. Always check for doneness by testing the internal temperature of the chicken and adjusting the cooking time accordingly.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only calculated with the recipe calorie and nutrition calculator provided by verywellfit.com. The author of this website is not a nutritionist nor a doctor. All nutritional data provided in the recipes and correspondent blog posts are for informational purposes only. Do not use the information as nutritional or medical advice.
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