Chicken Kabobs in the Air Fryer
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Chicken Kabobs in the Air Fryer are so easy! These are marinated in a delicious spicy citrus marinade and then basted with a seasoned butter glaze. It’s juicy chicken you’ll love!
What You Will ❤️ About Chicken Kabobs
- Marinade – this marinade packs a punch! It soaks inside the chicken so every bite bursts with flavor!
- Quick! Once you marinate your chicken, putting these together just takes 5-10 minutes of prep time and only 10 minutes in the air fryer.
- Food on a Stick – everything is more fun to eat from a stick! It’s a fun way to get your family to eat those veggies.
This recipe was made using the Paula Deen Air Fryer.
Chicken Kabobs Recipe Ingredients
Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs are one of my favorite recipes to make because they’re so quick to make and flexible. You can swap out the ingredients easily based on what is in your fridge!
- Marinade – I like this homemade but you can also use a bottled marinade like a mojo criollo marinade or even a teriyaki sauce.
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Lime
- Olive Oil
- Minced Garlic
- Brown Sugar
- Cumin
- Chipotle Pepper Seasoning
- Coarse Sea Salt – you could also add soy sauce for salt with more flavor
- Kabobs
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – diced into 1-inch pieces. I like to use fairly thin slices of chicken so they cook more quickly. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs or mix the two!
- Bell Pepper
- Mushrooms
- Glaze
- Stick Melted Butter
- Salt & Black Pepper
- Zest from Lime
- Chipotle Pepper Seasoning – can swap with red pepper flakes
- Sugar
- Juice from Lime – you can swap with lemon juice if you like
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Recipe Variations
Kabobs are great because you can easily change them up based on what you like or what you have in the fridge! Here are some ideas:
- More Vegetables – add cherry tomatoes, red onions, zucchini or broccoli
- Protein – this recipe would be delicious with pork loin, steak, lamb or shrimp
- Less Spicy – leave out the Chipotle if you’re not a fan of spicy and swap with Paprika
- Dipping Sauce – whip up a quick dipping sauce of plain greek yogurt or sour cream and lime juice & zest!
This recipe was made using the Paula Deen Air Fryer.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
This air fryer chicken kabobs recipe is easy to make – you will need to marinate your chicken the night before – but from there – you’ll be on the table in 20 minutes. Let’s get started:
- Place cilantro, juice from 1 lime, olive oil, garlic, brown sugar, cumin, chipotle pepper seasoning, and salt in a blender and pulse until smooth. (You can whisk together in a large mixing bowl but I think the blender really emulsifies everything together.)
- Place bite-size chicken chunks in a large zippered plastic bag. Pour the cilantro marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard bag and leftover liquid. Thread short 4-5″ wooden skewers (or bamboo skewers) with a piece of chicken and alternate with pepper and mushroom. This recipe made enough for 8 short skewers.
- Line air fryer basket with parchment paper and place skewers in a single layer in basket. Air Fry at 360º for 4 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook these in batches.
- While chicken is cooking, in a microwave safe bowl, melt butter and whisk in remaining ingredients.
- Open air fryer and Brush skewers with glaze. Flip skewers and brush with more glaze. Air fry an additional 4 min.
- Check chicken with an instant read meat thermometer and remove when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160º. Glaze again and add 1-2 min if necessary.
- Remove skewers and let rest for 3-5 minutes.
- Serve kabobs over brown rice and sprinkle with cilantro and brush with any remaining butter glaze. Make it low carb and serve over cauliflower rice.
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Tips, Tricks & FAQs
Yes – you can grill kabobs at 375º for 12-15 minutes – here’s my favorite recipe with a delish dipping sauce.
Store leftovers in an airtight container (I like these glass ones) in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in the air fryer at 275º for 4-5 minutes.
I like to package up the leftovers with extra rice but I’ve also served them on salads or with pasta!
A lot of folks use stew meat because it’s already in bite-sized pieces – but I love to go all out with ribeye or New York Strip. But if you marinate the meat ahead of time – thinly cut sirloin is also a great cut.
Sure! Same cooking time – 360º for 8-10 minutes.
Best Air Fryer Accessories
Here’s my ultimate list of best air fryer accessories – whether you have a basket- or oven-style appliance! I’ve also included a price guide as well as my favorite recipes for those accessories.
What to serve with Chicken Kabobs
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
- Italian Green Beans with Tomatoes
- Apple & Goat Cheese Salad
- Taziki’s Tomato & Cucumber Salad
More Food on a Stick Recipes
Chicken Kabobs in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 lime
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp chipotle chili pepper seasoning
- 1 tsp coarse sea salt
Kabobs
- 1 lb chicken breast sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 bell pepper cut into 1" pieces
- 8 oz mushrooms stems removed
Glaze
- 1 stick salted butter
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lime zest
- 1/8 tsp chipotle chili pepper seasoning
- 1/8 tsp sugar
- 2-3 tbsp lime juice
Instructions
- Place cilantro, juice from 1 lime, olive oil, garlic, brown sugar, cumin, chipotle pepper seasoning, and salt in a blender and pulse until smooth. (You can whisk together in a large mixing bowl but I think the blender really emulsifies everything together.)1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, 1 lime, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp chipotle chili pepper seasoning, 1 tsp coarse sea salt
- Place bite-size chicken chunks in a large zippered plastic bag. Pour the cilantro marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.1 lb chicken breast
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard bag and leftover liquid. Thread short 4-5" wooden skewers (or bamboo skewers) with a piece of chicken and alternate with pepper and mushroom. This recipe made enough for 8 short skewers.1 bell pepper, 8 oz mushrooms
- Line air fryer basket with parchment paper and place skewers in a single layer in basket. Air Fry at 360º for 4 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook these in batches.
- While chicken is cooking, in a microwave safe bowl, melt butter and whisk in remaining ingredients.1 stick salted butter, 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp lime zest, 1/8 tsp chipotle chili pepper seasoning, 1/8 tsp sugar, 2-3 tbsp lime juice
- Open air fryer and Brush skewers with glaze. Flip skewers and brush with more glaze. Air fry an additional 4 min.
- Check chicken with an instant read meat thermometer and remove when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160º. Glaze again and add 1-2 min if necessary.
- Remove skewers and let rest for 3-5 minutes.
- Serve kabobs over brown rice and sprinkle with cilantro and brush with any remaining butter glaze. Make it low carb and serve over cauliflower rice.
