Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers

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Juicy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are seasoned with savory spices and brushed with rich garlic parmesan butter before air frying or baking to perfection. This 30-minute recipe is family-friendly, simple to prep, and mouthwateringly delicious!

Two plates with two chicken skewers each on them, garnished with parmesan and parsley.

Why You’ll Love This Parmesan Garlic Chicken Skewers Recipe:

Big Flavor: Common cooking and pantry staples such as savory spices, nutty garlic, rich butter, and parmesan cheese come together to create delicious and perfectly seasoned chicken every time.
Simple and Easy: Only requiring cooking basics, like cutting chicken, measuring spices, and brushing butter, this chicken recipe is ready in a few simple steps but tastes as if you spent hours in the kitchen.
Versatile: This garlic parmesan chicken skewers recipe is doable for a weeknight while being impressive and tasty enough to wow at a dinner party. With this dish in your arsenal, you’ll be prepared for whatever meal occasions come your way.

Let’s Get Started! Here’s What You’ll Need:

Ingredients

Chicken Breasts - For the easiest prep, choose boneless skinless chicken breasts. If preferred, you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.

Seasonings - A delicious mix of paprika, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and black pepper gives this garlic parm chicken skewers a savory, lightly smoky, and herbal flavor. It’s the perfect complement to the garlic parmesan butter!

Butter - I recommend using salted butter, as the added salt seasons the sauce. If needed, you can swap unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt.

Garlic - Choose fresh garlic for superior flavor, though you can use pre-chopped and bottled garlic paste or minced garlic in a pinch.

Parmesan Cheese - This aged cheese gives the butter sauce a rich and cheesy umami finish, taking the garlic chicken skewers to the next level. Freshly grated cheese melts the best, though you can also use pre-grated if needed.

Lemon Juice - A touch of acid brightens the butter sauce, making the other ingredients shine. Use fresh juice for the best flavor, though bottled can work if necessary.

Equipment:

Skewers (Wood or Metal) - These are used to thread the garlic parmesan skewers. Both types of skewers work equally well. If using wooden (such as bamboo), be sure to soak them ahead of time to prevent burning.

Cutting Board & Sharp Knife - To prepare and cut the chicken. I prefer a chef’s knife, but a medium-length paring knife also works well.

Microwave-Safe Mixing Bowls - Glass or ceramic bowls are my top recommendation. If you do not have one, you can also melt the butter in a saucepan on the stovetop.

Microplane Zester - Use this to grate the garlic. If needed, you can also use a fine grater.

Pastry Brush - We will use this to brush the butter mixture onto the chicken skewers. Both silicone and boar-bristle-style brushes can be used.

Air Fryer (Optional) - This is used for the optional method of air frying the parmesan chicken skewers. You can use an air fryer with a basket or a tray. Small air fryer baskets may not be able to accommodate the skewers, so double-check the size of your basket before preheating.

Baking Sheet - If baking, use a rimmed baking sheet to prevent the chicken and sauce drippings from falling into the oven.

How to Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers

Soak Skewers.

If using wooden skewers, soak them in water while preparing the chicken. Note: metal skewers do not need to be soaked.

Bamboo skewers sitting in a pan with water.

Cut and Season the Chicken.

Cut the chicken breasts into 1.5-2-inch chunks. Add the chicken to a mixing bowl with the olive oil and dried seasonings. Gently toss until the chicken is evenly coated. Let the chicken sit while you prepare the butter mixture.

Chicken breast and seasonings in a bowl, with a spatula in the bowl ready to mix.

Make the Parmesan Garlic Butter.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Add the lemon juice and grate in fresh garlic. Stir in ⅔ of the grated parmesan cheese until combined.

A ramekin with shredded parmesan sitting next to a glass bowl of garlic butter with parmesan mixed into it.

Preheat the Air Fryer or Oven and Thread Skewers.

Preheat the air fryer or oven to 400°F. If needed, trim the skewers to the size of your appliance or air fryer basket. Thread the chicken onto the skewers.

Raw chicken skewers after placing them in an air fryer but not yet cooking them.

Cook the Chicken Skewers.

Add the skewers to the air fryer or place them on the baking sheet and add to the oven. Cook them for 5 minutes, then brush them with the garlic parmesan butter using a basting or pastry brush. Flip the skewers and brush the butter on the other side.

Chicken skewers in an air fryer partially cooked, with a red silicone basting brush adding a butter mixture onto them.

Finish Cooking.

Cook the chicken for another 5 minutes, then brush both sides of the skewers with the remaining butter mixture. Cook for an additional 2-5 minutes until the chicken has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.

Garnish and Serve.

Sprinkle the garlic butter chicken skewers with the remaining grated parmesan cheese, and enjoy hot!

A plate with two chicken skewers on a kitchen towel, garnished with parmesan and parsley.

Recipe Success Tips

Adjust the cooking time as needed. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken pieces and the strength and circulation of the oven or air fryer. For a traditional oven, these will take about 5 minutes longer. A convection oven will have a baking time similar to that of an air fryer.
Melt the butter on low heat. Prevent messy or hot butter splatters by melting the butter in the microwave over low or medium-low heat for short periods of time. Reduce the heat if the butter sputters, and stir it between heating intervals for even melting.
Trim the skewers accordingly. Use kitchen shears to trim wooden skewers to fit your air fryer basket, if needed. If using metal skewers that are too large for your air fryer, baking the garlic parmesan chicken skewers in the oven will be the best bet.
Brush the butter mixture if slightly set. If the butter sets up while the chicken cooks, it should still be spreadable and will melt when it comes in contact with the hot chicken. If it is too thick to apply to the pastry brush, soften the parmesan butter sauce in the microwave for 5-10 second low-heat bursts.

Serving Suggestions

Make a complete and satisfying family-friendly meal by serving these air fryer chicken skewers over rice, a salad, or with any of the following side dishes:

Storage Directions

Refrigeration: Keep leftover chicken parmesan skewers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: Once cooled, remove the chicken from the skewers and freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheating: For the best results, pull the chicken chunks from the skewers before reheating in a foil packet for 5-10 minutes in a 300°F oven or the microwave on gentle heat.

FAQs

Can you put bamboo skewers in an air fryer?

Yes, you can air fry with bamboo skewers for these chicken kebabs. Like other wooden skewers, you will need to soak them before cooking them to prevent burning.

Are chicken thighs or breasts better for skewers?

Both boneless chicken thighs and breasts can work well for skewers. I recommend breasts for this recipe because the lean meat balances out the rich garlic butter. Thighs can be used if needed, but their higher fat percentage may make the dish heavier.

How do you know when chicken skewers are done?

The chicken skewers are done when the internal temperature of the thickest part of the meat reaches 165°F with a food thermometer (source).

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Enjoy!

I hope your family loves this dish and that it mixes up your weeknight dinner routine a bit. Be sure to come back and leave a review to let me know how it went for you!

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