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Delicious, juicy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers on the grill or in the air fryer. Bursting with garlic butter in every bite. The perfect summer meal, low carb, easy and everyone will love them. Bake chicken skewers, grill or air fry them! Steps for all cooking methods are included.
Why Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
- Easy Meal. This is an easy weeknight meal that can be ready so quickly.
- Endless options. Pair these with your favorite BBQ sides like Dill Pickle Potato Salad, Baked beans, or Garlic Rolls. You can also enjoy them over a Simple Greens Salad. They make a great appetizer as well.
- These skewers are gluten free! They are great for those with allergies.
- Grill or air fry them, both turn out wonderfully.
Ingredient Notes
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
Chicken. I use both breasts and thighs depending on what I have on hand! Either one will work great and offer wonderful flavor.
Olive Oil. This is to coat the chicken so the seasonings stick to it a bit better!
Lemon. Fresh squeezed lemon is added to the quick marinade for the chicken. It helps to tenderize it and gives it a brighter flavor.
Seasonings. Salt, pepper, paprika, onion, lemon pepper (preferably no salt added lemon pepper seasoning)
Butter. Grab your favorite butter or ghee.
Parmesan. Powdered parmesan will work best! You can either blitz your own in a food processor or buy it pre grated.
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
Recipe Variations & Substitutions
- Chicken. Please use chicken thighs, or chicken breasts. I have used both several times for this recipe and I enjoy both!
- To make this Dairy Free, omit the parmesan and use a plant based butter to baste the chicken skewers.
- Bake Chicken Skewers, grill them or air fry! I have directions for all three in the recipe card.
Steps To Make This Recipe
Are you ready to get these skewers cooking on the grill or the air fryer? Grab a large mixing bowl, a sauce pan and some chicken skewers and let’s get cooking!
Step One. In a large bowl, add cubed chicken. Try to ensure the chicken is equal size chunks to ensure they cook evenly. Add olive oil, lemon juice and seasonings. Mix well to ensure the chicken is coated well. Marinate for 15 minutes to 4 hours covered with plastic in the fridge.
Step Two. Once you are ready to cook, skewer the chicken on wooden or metal skewers. Lay them on a flat baking sheet. In a sauce pan, on low, melt the butter down, add the minced garlic and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Set it aside somewhere warm/room temperature.
Step Two. Add the skewers to the grill! Preheat the grill on Medium/high to 400°F. Add the skewers directly to the grates and cook for about 8-10 minutes turning often. Add the Parmesan and parsley or other fresh herb of choice to the cooled garlic butter.
Step Three. Let the skewers sit on the grill for about 2 minutes on each side, rotating and brushing with the garlic Parmesan butter. Once the chicken is golden and reaches 165ºF internally, take it off the grill. Let the chicken rest on a baking sheet and brush generously with leftover garlic parmesan butter and a squeeze of lemon before serving. Let’s eat! Enjoy these skewers nice and hot off the grill.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.
Recipe Tips
- For the best garlic parmesan chicken skewers, don’t overcook the chicken! Be sure to check chicken with a digital meat thermometer.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes to help prevent them from burning up.
- If air frying the Skewers, you may need to cut the skewers in size to fit in the air fryer. You can also omit the skewers and just pop them into the air fryer. Set temp on 350º for about 10-12 minutes. Brush them once or twice with butter throughout the cooking!
- Bake Chicken Skewers in the oven on 350ºF on a rimmed baking sheet for about 15-18 minutes, turning often.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Make bake chicken skewers in the oven on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake on 350ºF for about 16-18 minutes, turn them at least once and be sure to brush with the garlic butter 1-2 times throughout the cook.
Yes, they are full of lean protein and low carb! They make a great snack, appetizer or meal.
What To Serve With Chicken Skewers
There are so many great options to serve with chicken skewers! You can’t go wrong with this recipe and sides.
- BBQ Side Dishes. Deviled Egg Potato Salad, Spicy Mac & Cheese, Dill Pickle Pasta Salad.
- Veggie Dishes. Spicy Cucumber Salad, Beetroot & Feta Salad, Cucumber Greek Salad.
- Dips. Roasted Red Pepper, Lemon Herb Tahini, Creamy Pesto Dressing, Dill Pickle Hummus.
Other Chicken Recipes To Try
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
Equipment
- skewers, wooden or metal
- large bowl for marinating
- sauce pan
Ingredients
- 1-1½ lb chicken breasts, cubed, or thighs
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1-2 tsp no salt added lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
Garlic Parmesan Butter
- 4-6 Tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup parmesan, grated
- 2 tsp lemon juice, optional
- 3 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped , fresh cilantro will also work.
- 1 small lemon, sliced for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add cubed chicken. Try to ensure the chicken is equal size chunks to ensure they cook evenly. Add olive oil, lemon juice and seasonings. Mix well to ensure the chicken is coated well. Marinate for 15 minutes to 4 hours covered with plastic in the fridge.
- Once you are ready to cook, skewer the chicken on wooden or metal skewers. Lay them on a flat baking sheet. In a sauce pan, on low, melt the butter down, add the minced garlic and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Set it aside somewhere warm/room temperature.
- Add the skewers to the grill! Preheat the grill on Medium/high to 400°F. Add the skewers directly to the grates and cook for about 8-10 minutes turning often. Add the Parmesan and parsley or other fresh herb of choice to the cooled garlic butter.
- Let the skewers sit on the grill for about 2 minutes on each side, rotating and brushing with the garlic Parmesan butter. Once the chicken is golden and reaches 165ºF internally, take it off the Grill. Let the chicken rest on a baking sheet and brush generously with leftover garlic parmesan butter and a little squeeze of lemon before serving.
Notes
- For the best garlic parmesan chicken skewers, don’t overcook the chicken! Be sure to check chicken with a digital meat thermometer.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes to help prevent them from burning up.
- If air frying the Skewers, you may need to cut the skewers in size to fit in the air fryer. You can also omit the skewers and just pop them into the air fryer. Set temp on 350ºF for about 10-12 minutes. Brush them once or twice with butter throughout the cooking!
- Bake chicken skewers in the oven on 350ºF on a rimmed baking sheet for about 15-18 minutes, turning often.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made these yesterday ad they were mouth watering. My husband loved them. I did the air fryer method and it came out perfectly moist. I am making your bang bang skewers next and we can’t wait.
So thrilled to hear this! Thanks for the good feedback and support. Happy Cooking.
This recipe was off the wall good. In our keeper box forsure. Thanks๐
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks for making it, happy cooking!
Absolutely delicious! I used chicken thighs and air fried them. There were no leftovers so I’m definitely going to double the recipe next time
I am so so happy to hear you enjoyed these ๐ happy cooking!
Best skewers ever we loved them and are making again tonight but in the airfryer.
This is easily our new go-to Summer grill meal!!! The chicken was so tender! Sauce was delicious! I did substitute chicken tenderloins instead of thighs cause we only eat white meat, but it was amazing! I added the juice of a half a lemon to the marinade to help tenderize. This will be in our weekly rotation.
Hi Michelle! So happy to hear you loved this one too ๐ thanks for the great feedback.