These Air Fryer Chicken Skewers are deliciously tender and juicy and make the perfect filling for a shish kebab (or kabob). 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 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!).
Well, I am now officially sold, so watch out for more air fryer recipes coming soon!
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
- The grilled chicken is juicy, tender and full of flavour
- Cooks in under 20 minutes
- Dairy, egg and gluten free
- Can be easily made in advance
- Healthy & delicious family dinner
🥘 Ingredients Needed & Substitutions
✋ Be sure to double check all packaging for allergens. ✋
- Chicken - I find boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best for skewers as you are easily able to make the cubes roughly the same size when chopping, which helps them to cook evenly. Chicken thighs will also work, just try to make sure the chopped pieces are roughly the same size.
- Peppers - I have used green and yellow 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 Dairy Free 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 require the recipe to be dairy free, just use regular natural plain yoghurt.
- Aromatics & Spices - I have used garlic paste for ease but substitute for 2x garlic cloves if you prefer. The turmeric, cumin and ground coriander all blend together to create a spice infusion that is not too overpowering, making it great for kids too and the lemon zest adds a zing to the marinade.
⚡ Variations
If you want to swap up the flavours for your chicken skewers, it 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.
- Spicy: If you like a little heat, combine Franks hot sauce, honey, chilli powder, and cumin for a fiery and delicious marinade.
- 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
For the full printable recipe, along with ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the end of the post ⬇️
First you’re going to mix up the marinade using coconut yoghurt, garlic paste, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and lemon zest, then toss your chicken chunks in it. Let them sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or overnight if you're feeling patient) to marinate.
While your chicken is getting all flavourful in the fridge, chop up some peppers and onions into bite-sized pieces, then preheat your air fryer to 175˚C/350˚F or your grill to 180˚C.
Once your chicken has marinated, start threading it onto the skewers with the veggies, alternating between the two.
If you're using an air fryer, give everything a little spritz of olive oil before cooking for 15-17 minutes and if you're grilling, just keep an eye on them and turn them every now and then for about 10-15 minutes.
Serve them with some pita, salad, and chili sauce for that extra bit of authenticity. Enjoy!
💡 Tips & Tricks
- 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.
- Try and cut the chicken breast into equal size chunks, this way it should all cook evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to check if the chicken is cooked. Once it 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!
- Keep checking the chicken every few minutes, as timings will vary with different makes and models of air fryers. This recipe was cooked in the Instant Pot Vortex Plus.
🥡 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.
🍴 How To Serve
In my opinion, the best way to serve these skewers is in a kebab!
Grab yourself a pitta bread (gluten free if needed) 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, 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 rice and salad, or cook them on the BBQ and serve with side dishes like this Chorizo & Red Pepper Pasta Salad or Lemon Orzo Salad With Cucumber & Feta.
💬 Recipe FAQ
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 though to stop them burning whilst cooking.
Yes! The air fryer works differently to 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 or some parchment paper to create a barrier between the chicken and the basket.
📖 More Chicken Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Air Fryer Chicken Skewers (Shish Kebab)
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 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. Cover and 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 to 175˚C / 350˚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 15-17 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 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve the chicken kebabs with some pitta, salad and chilli sauce for extra authenticity
Notes
- 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.
- Try and cut the chicken breast into equal size chunks, this way it should all cook evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to check if the chicken is cooked. Once it 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!
- Keep checking the chicken every few minutes, as timings will vary with different makes and models of air fryers. This recipe was cooked in the Instant Pot Vortex Plus.
Let me know what you think of this recipe!