These Air Fryer Chicken Skewers are deliciously tender and juicy! They make the perfect filling for a shish kebab and are ready in just 30 minutes! No air fryer? You can easily cook these under the grill too!
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I am officially in love with my air fryer!
I wanted to make homemade shish kebabs & these chicken skewers, along with this air fryer trout were one of the first dishes I tried in my new air fryer.
( I went for the Instant Pot Vortex Plus - which I can highly recommend!!). Update: I now have a Ninja Foodie Dual Zone Air Fryer, which I love too, but I still miss & have a soft spot for my Instant Pot!
If you are looking for other kebab recipe ideas, take a look at these Lamb Kofta Kebab Wraps too.
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❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
- ✔️ Easy Weeknight Meal: Ready in just 30 minutes!
- ✔️ Full Of Flavour: The grilled chicken is juicy, tender and packed full of flavour from the aromatic spices.
- ✔️ Allergy Friendly: Dairy, egg & gluten-free. In fact, it's free from the top 14 allergens!
- ✔️ Can Be Easily Prepared In Advance: Store in the fridge uncooked for up to 24 hours.
🥘 Ingredients You Will Need
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients needed to make these air fryer chicken skewers. If you use a dairy-free yoghurt for the marinade, they will be free from the 14 major UK allergens.
✋ Double check all packaging for allergens ✋
- Chicken - I have used boneless, skinless chicken breasts as they are lower in calories than thighs, however, chicken thighs (like I have used in this chicken thigh traybake & these air fryer crispy honey & garlic chicken thighs) also work really well, just try to make sure the chopped pieces are roughly the same size.
- Peppers - I have used green and red peppers for an array of colour. Use whichever colour peppers you prefer.
- Onion - Red onion is my preference, as it has a slightly more mellow and sweeter taste when cooked, but white onion will work just as well.
- Yoghurt - To keep this recipe dairy-free I have used Koko Coconut Yoghurt, I find the coconut flavour blends well with the spices. Plain un-sweetened soy or Oatly yoghurt can also be used. If you don’t need the recipe to be dairy-free, use regular natural plain yoghurt.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
🤔 Can I Use A Different Marinade?
Swapping the flavours for your chicken skewers can easily be done by changing the marinade ingredients. Here are some different ideas for you to try:
- 🍋Lemon & Herb: Combine fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, thyme, and rosemary for a tangy and flavourful marinade.
- 🥢 Teriyaki: For a sweet and savoury twist, mix soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil for a sweet & savoury twist.
- 🌶️ Spicy: If you like a little heat, combine Franks hot sauce, honey, chilli powder, and cumin for a fiery coating.
- 🥙 Mediterranean: For a taste of the Mediterranean, try a marinade made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- ♨️BBQ: Mix ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic for a tangy and sweet marinade.
✏️ How to Make Chicken Skewers In The Air Fryer
⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️
Step 1: First you’re going to mix up the marinade. Place the coconut yoghurt, garlic paste, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl, then toss your chicken chunks in it.
If you have the time, let them sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or overnight if you're feeling patient) to marinate.
Step 2: While your chicken is marinating, chop up the peppers and onions into bite-sized pieces, then preheat your air fryer ( if your air fryer has a pre-heat function) to 175˚C/350˚F or your grill to 180˚C.
Step 3: Once your chicken has marinated, start threading it onto the skewers with the veggies, alternating between the two.
Step 4: If you're using an air fryer, give everything a little spritz of olive oil before cooking for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through.
If you're grilling, cook for around 12-15 minutes, turning regularly.
Keep an eye on the chicken, as different air fryers will cook at different speeds.
The chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 74˚C / 165˚F - use a meat thermometer to check.
Serve them with some pitta bread, salad, and chilli sauce for that extra bit of authenticity. Enjoy!
💡 Lauren's Tips
- ✔️ Marinate: I wouldn’t recommend skipping this step! The longer you can let the chicken marinate for, the deeper the flavour will be. Ideally overnight if you can.
- ✔️ Soak Your Skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, you will need to soak them in water for 10 minutes or so prior to using them, so they don’t burn when in the air fryer or under the grill.
- ✔️ Cut Chicken Equally: Try and cut the chicken breast into equal-sized chunks, this way it should all cook evenly.
- ✔️ Check The Chicken: Keep checking the chicken every few minutes, as timings will vary with different makes and models of air fryers. You may also need to add a couple of extra minutes cooking time if your air fryer doesn’t have a pre-heat function. This recipe was cooked in the Instant Pot Vortex Plus.
- ✔️ Use A Meat Thermometer: A meat thermometer is the one kitchen gadget I couldn’t live without! Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F (74˚C) it is safe to eat. No more tough, overcooked dry chicken - trust me, it will be a game changer!
🥡 Storage & Leftovers
These chicken shish skewers are the ideal dish to make in advance. You can make up the skewers the day before, leaving them in the fridge overnight to really soak up the flavours of the marinade.
The kebabs are best eaten fresh as this is when they will be most juicy and tender.
If you do have leftovers however, they will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for around 2 days.
Re-heat them in the air fryer at 350˚F for 5 minutes until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165˚F. Be aware though that the chicken will be drier and a little tough when re-heated.
I wouldn’t recommend freezing the kebabs, as they taste so much better when eaten fresh, though it is perfectly safe to do so for up to 3 months.
🍴 How To Serve
In my opinion, the best way to serve these skewers is in a kebab with some spicy cajun fries!
Grab yourself a pitta bread (gluten free if needed) and stuff it with some shredded iceberg lettuce, kebab shop red cabbage, raw sliced onion, tomatoes and cucumber.
Lay your chicken skewers on top, squirt over some chilli sauce & mint yoghurt sauce or vegan tzatziki, squeeze over a wedge of lemon and tuck in!
If you fancy something a little different to go with your skewers, why not serve them alongside some spicy rice and salad, or cook them on the BBQ and serve with side dishes like this Chorizo & Red Pepper Pasta Salad or Summer Orzo Salad With Feta & Lemon.
💬 Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use both in the air fryer. If you are using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for 10 minutes before using to stop them from burning whilst cooking.
Yes! The air fryer works differently from a microwave, so it is perfectly safe to line the bottom of your air fryer tray with some foil to help keep things a bit cleaner. Poke some holes in the foil to allow air to get through.
One trick is to lightly spray the basket with cooking spray or oil before you start cooking. You can also use a non-stick silicone mat, foil or some parchment paper to create a barrier between the chicken and the basket.
What is the difference between a kebab and kabob?
"Kebab" and "kabob" are basically the same thing, just different spellings. In the UK, we say "kebab," while Americans say "kabob."
📖 More Chicken Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
For The Skewers
- 3 medium chicken breasts chopped into equal chunks
- ½ medium green pepper chopped into square chunks
- ½ medium yellow pepper chopped into square chunks
- 1 small red onion chopped into square chunks
- olive oil spray
For The Marinade
- 60 g (¼ cup) dairy free coconut yoghurt or any plain unsweetened yoghurt
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste or 2 crushed garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- Zest from 1 lemon
Instructions
- If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.
- In a large bowl, mix together the coconut yoghurt, garlic paste, turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander and lemon zest to make the marinade.
- Cut the chicken into chunks, add to the bowl and toss to coat in the marinade. If you have time, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or ideally overnight).
- Whilst the chicken is marinating, chop the peppers and onions into equal sized squares.
- Preheat the air fryer ( if required) to 180˚C / 355˚F or grill to 180˚C.
- Thread the chicken and vegetables onto the skewers, alternating between the different ingredients.
If Using The Air Fryer
- Spray the air fryer tray with some olive oil and give the kebabs a spray too and cook for 12-15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F (74˚C), Turn them halfway through.
If Using The Grill
- Grill the skewers for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve the chicken kebabs with some pitta, salad and chilli sauce for extra authenticity
Notes
- Marinate: I wouldn’t recommend skipping this step! The longer you can let the chicken marinate for, the deeper the flavour will be. Ideally overnight if you can.
- Soak Your Skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, you will need to soak them in water for 10 minutes or so prior to using them, so they don’t burn when in the air fryer or under the grill.
- Cut Chicken Equally: Try and cut the chicken breast into equal size chunks, this way it should all cook evenly.
- Check The Chicken: Keep checking the chicken every few minutes, as timings will vary with different makes and models of air fryers. You may also need to add a couple of extra minutes cooking time if your air fryer doesn’t have a pre-heat function. This recipe was cooked in the Instant Pot Vortex Plus.
- Use A Meat Thermometer: A meat thermometer is the one kitchen gadget I couldn’t live without! Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F (74˚C) it is safe to eat. No more tough, overcooked dry chicken - trust me, it will be a game changer!
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