The smell of garlic mixed with butter wafting throughout the kitchen is the best kind of “welcome to my home”. I get my guests hooked every time they step into my house. And it is not just a garlic butter sauce that I am talking about, it’s garlic butter chicken skewers!

This garlic butter chicken skewer recipe gets done fast, tastes heavenly, and there is no season I have to wait around for to make it. I mean, summertime grilling is fun and all, but you can create this deliciousness any time you want.

I love how I can woo my friends and family every time I make these chicken skewers, which don’t even require too many ingredients. For more side dish recipes, try my , and.

Grilled chicken skewers brushed with garlic herb sauce. — Garlic Butter Chicken Skewers

Why You’ll Love This Garlic Butter Chicken Skewers

When you bite into the chicken skewers, you are bound to love the juiciness of the chicken breasts.
The best part about this recipe is how fast you can get them done, which is about 30 minutes only.
You won’t even need to go shopping for ingredients because most of them will already be there in your kitchen.
There are many ways you can make them, be in by grilling, on your oven, or with an air fryer.
As you can see, this recipe is very family-friendly, and everyone can enjoy it together at dinner.
One of the best things about this recipe is that you can easily prep it beforehand and throw it in the oven when you need to serve.

Key Ingredients in Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers

If you want to make these prep-friendly garlic butter chicken skewers at home, you will need to gather some ingredients and other things. I will tell you exactly what you need!

Chicken

This is an obvious one. But you do need to make sure you have chicken in your pantry. You can go with chicken breasts, but if you want it juicier, you can prepare skinless chicken thighs.

You will need to cut up about 700 grams of chicken into cubes. Just make sure your chicken is boneless. Otherwise, it won’t feel classy to take out bones from your mouth in front of your guests.

Garlic Butter Marinade

The secret to this delicious recipe is the garlic butter marinade! You don’t need a whole lot of ingredients that you might not have in your kitchen to get the recipe right. Most of the ingredients should already be in your kitchen.

Yes, you can make something divine out of the few things you have in your kitchen. It’s all about the technique!

What you will need:

1 teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of black pepper
1 teaspoon of chili flakes
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of onion powder
2 teaspoons of fresh garlic granules
1 teaspoon of oregano
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of chopped parsley

Skewers & Equipment

Again, if you are going to make chicken skewers, you will obviously need skewers! And you have two options. You can either go with wooden skewers or metal skewers.

If you go with wooden skewers, you need to make sure you soak them for about 20 to 30 minutes before using.

Depending on how you want to make your chicken skewers, you will need a grill, which can be either gas or charcoal, an oven, or an air fryer.

Callout: I suggest you use fresh garlic and real butter if you want the best version of this recipe. Also, adding a touch of olive oil helps prevent the chicken from burning.

Ingredient Swaps & Variations

Butter: You can swap out butter with something richer, like ghee, or you could go for a dairy-free option, like olive oil.
Parsley: If you don’t have parsley lying around in your kitchen, you can use cilantro, chives, or dill instead.
Add-Ins: You can make your garlic butter chicken skewer more flavorful if you use honey to add sweetness, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, chili-garlic, or lemon-pepper.
Protein S
wap: If you don’t want chicken skewers, you can go with turkey or shrimp, or even paneer or tofu if you want a vegan version.
Dietary Notes: This recipe is completely gluten-free and low-carb, which is keto-friendly.

Before You Start (Prep Checklist)

You need to have everything ready before you start with the recipe. These are the things you need to prepare beforehand:

If you are using wooden skewers, you have to soak them for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Make sure the chicken cubes you cut are about 1-1.5 inches and are cut evenly.
You need to pat dry for better browning.
Don’t forget to preheat the oven, grill, or air fryer. If you are using the grill, it should be on medium to high heat. In case of the oven, you need to preheat it at 220°C/425°F. And for the air fryer, it should be 200°C/400°F.
You should put away some clean garlic butter for later, when you have to baste the chicken. Do not use the raw marinade!

How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Skewers

Now that we have gone through everything you need to create this tasty garlic butter chicken skewer recipe, I will give you a step-by-step rundown of how it’s done.

Make the Garlic Butter Marinade

You already know how important this step is! How you make the garlic butter marinade will define the end results.

Get your butter and melt it gently in a pan, and set some aside for later. Whisk it will olive oil. Take your cubed chicken into a bowl and add the 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of chili flakes. 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 2 teaspoons of fresh garlic granules, 1 teaspoon of oregano, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley.

Marinate the Chicken

When you put in all the herbs and spices with the chicken cubes, you need to mix it well so that everything coats the chicken properly.

Now, you should cover the bowl and let it chill for about 20 to 30 minutes so it marinates. You can let it marinate for up to 12 hours if you want. Just make sure that the salt timing is right if you want to marinate it overnight.

Skewer the Chicken

Now, you can take out your skewers and thread each of the chicken cubes onto them one by one. Make sure you leave the tiniest bit of gaps between each chicken piece so that it doesn’t get overcrowded, and gets enough airflow.

Grill Method

If you are going for the grill method, you need to preheat the grill on medium to high heat, and don’t forget to oil the grates.

Then, you can put the skewers over the grill and cook them for about 8 to 12 minutes before turning them around to let the other sides cook. You can also baste the chicken 2 to 3 times while cooking.

You will know that your chicken skewers are done when the internal temperatures are about 74°C/165°F, the juices run clear, and the edges have become brown.

Oven Method

When you are using the oven for this recipe, you need to preheat it, prepare a sheet pan, and bake the chicken skewers for about 12 to 16 minutes at 200°C/400°F.

Make sure you flip the skewers in between to let the other side cook well, and don’t overcrowd the tray. You should broil the last 1 to 2 minutes to get the edges to brown.

Air Fryer Method

Air frying is very similar to the oven method, where you preheat the air fryer and cook the chicken for about 8 to 12 minutes at 200°C/400°F.

With the air fryer, you also have to flip or turn the skewers to make sure it is cooked on all sides. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the chicken when you are placing the skewers in the air fryer.

Finish & Serve

When you take out the skewers fresh out of the oven, grill, or air fryer, now is the time to use the garlic butter you set aside earlier.

Or you could melt some butter now and add garlic, parsley, and lemon before you brush it on the chicken skewers.

Pro Tips for Perfect Skewers

If you want your chicken to be juicier, you should use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast and make sure to cut the cubes evenly.
Although you could marinate the chicken for a few hours, you shouldn’t over-marinate it in acid. Leaving it aside for 30 to 60 minutes will be more than enough for the best texture.
Make sure to set aside some of the melted butter for basting, and try to avoid any raw cross-contamination from the marinade.
If you want the brown edges, you can go with high heat, but finishing with gentle heat will also do the job if needed.
Before you serve the chicken skewers, you should let them rest for at least 3 to 5 minutes.

Time, Temperature, and Doneness

Grill: If you’re grilling the chicken, make sure you put the heat on medium to high, cook for 8 to 12 minutes, and keep the internal temperature around 74°C/165°F.
Oven: Making the skewers in the oven means that you can set the temperature to 220°C/425°F, cook for 12 to 16 minutes, and broil to get the color you want.
Air Fryer: You have to cook in the air fryer for about 8 to 12 minutes at 200°C/400°F, and make sure to turn the skewers halfway.
Signs: You will know your chicken is done when they feels firm but springy, the juices run clear, and there is light char on them.

Serving Ideas & Pairings

There’s a lot you can do with these garlic butter chicken skewers. You can eat them as is, add sauces, or even eat them with different sides.

Sides: Some sides that will go great with the chicken skewers are grilled corn, Greek salad, lemon rice, garlic bread, pita + tzatziki, and roasted veggies.
Sauces: You can use different sauces like extra garlic butterm chimichurri, lemon yogurt, or chili-lime crema.
Make It a Bowl: Instead of eating the skewers as is, you can make it into a bowl with rice or quinoa, cucumber, olives, tomatoes, and feta.
For Kids: When you’re serving the dish to kids, you should take the chicken off the skewers and add mild seasoning.

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating

Make-Ahead: You can marinate the chicken for up to 12 hours. To prepare it, skewer them a day ahead.
Store: If you want to store it in the fridge, you can do so for 3 to 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze the marinated chicken for up to 2 months in the freezer. Just thaw them overnight before cooking them.
Reheat: If you already cooked the skewers and need to reheat them, you can put them in the oven at 175°C/350°F or at 180°C/360°F in the air fryer until they are warm. You can also splash some of the broth into the foil to keep them moist.

Grilled chicken skewers with herbs and lemon slices. — Easy Garlic Butter Chicken Skewers

Common Mistakes & Troubleshooting

Dry Chicken: If your chicken turns out dry instead of moist and juicy, it means you overcooked it or cut the pieces too small. In this case, you can either use chicken thighs instead of breasts or reduce your cook time.
Burnt Outside or Raw Inside: This could be the case if you used too high heat to cook the chicken or made the pieces too large. You need to reduce the heat and cut the pieces evenly to solve this issue.
Sticking: If your chicken is sticking to the grates or tray, you need to oil them and let it sear before putting the skewers on.
Flare-Ups: This issue can be solved if you trim away the fat, avoid sugary basting early, and move to a cooler zone.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, you can use chicken breasts instead of thighs, but they won’t be as juicy.

How do I keep skewers juicy?

You need to make the chicken cubes the right size and even, and make sure not to overcook them if you want them to stay juicy.

Can I make these dairy-free?

Yes, you can make these dairy-free by using ghee or olive oil instead of butter.

Can I make them in the air fryer?

You can absolutely make the garlic butter chicken skewers in the air fryer. Just make sure you get the temperature right.

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Garlic Butter Chicken Skewers