Introduction

Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are a flavorful and juicy dish perfect for any occasion. With a zesty ranch seasoning blend and a rich garlic parmesan butter sauce, these skewers cook quickly in the air fryer for an easy weeknight meal or crowd-pleasing appetizer.

Four grilled chicken skewers with a golden brown color sit closely together on a white plate with a white marbled texture background. Each skewer shows a textured layer of small green herb bits and light-colored grated cheese sprinkled over the surface, creating a slightly rough and crispy look. The chicken pieces have a shiny glaze that enhances their juicy appearance, with slight charring on the edges for added texture. A woman's hand holds the wooden sticks from the bottom left corner of the image. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken tenders (thighs or breast)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 stick butter
8-10 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 cup parmesan (grated)
1 tbsp hot sauce (more if desired)
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1/3 cup fresh parsley (minced)
1.5 tbsp dry ranch seasoning
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons dried dill
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
Step 2: Prepare the chicken by cutting into approximately 3-inch pieces. In a large bowl or zip-top bag, toss chicken with olive oil and a mix of ranch seasoning, paprika, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, ensuring even coating.
Step 3: Thread the seasoned chicken pieces tightly onto the soaked skewers with no gaps to keep them juicy. Trim skewer ends if needed to fit your air fryer.
Step 4: Make the garlic parmesan butter sauce by microwaving butter and minced garlic in a bowl until partially melted. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, parmesan, and parsley until combined. If the sauce separates, add a bit of softened butter and whisk to re-emulsify.
Step 5: Reserve about one-third of the sauce for basting fully cooked chicken later. Use the remaining sauce to baste the partially cooked chicken to avoid cross contamination; clean the basting brush between uses.
Step 6: Cook 2-3 skewers at a time in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C). Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the skewers and baste with sauce. Return to air fryer and cook for 2 more minutes.
Step 7: Flip the skewers again, baste with more sauce, and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Total cooking time is about 12-14 minutes but may vary by air fryer.
Step 8: Once cooked, brush each skewer with the reserved clean garlic parmesan sauce, sprinkle with extra parmesan, and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

For extra smoky flavor, try adding smoked paprika instead of regular paprika.
Use metal skewers if you prefer, but be careful handling as they heat up.
Add chopped fresh herbs like basil or chives to the garlic butter sauce for a fresh twist.
Serve with a side of ranch dressing or a squeeze of fresh lemon for added brightness.

Storage

Store leftover chicken skewers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the air fryer or oven to maintain crispness and juiciness. Avoid microwaving to keep the garlic butter sauce from separating.

How to Serve

The image shows three grilled chicken skewers placed side by side on a white plate set on a white marbled surface. Each skewer has a golden-brown, slightly charred chicken piece with a thick coating of chopped garlic, herbs, and spices that create a rough, textured layer covering the entire surface of the chicken. The skewers are wooden sticks, visible at both ends under the chicken. There is a glistening oil or sauce dripping slightly on the plate, enhancing the rich, savory look of the grilled chicken. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of tenders?

Yes, chicken breasts cut into similar-sized pieces work well. Just be sure to monitor cooking time closely as breast meat can dry out faster than tenders or thighs.

How can I prevent the sauce from separating?

If the garlic parmesan butter sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter and whisk until it comes back together smoothly. This helps re-emulsify the mixture.

Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 139 reviews

These Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers offer a deliciously flavorful and juicy chicken dish with a creamy, garlicky parmesan butter sauce, perfectly cooked in the air fryer for a quick and easy meal.

Author: Elias
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
Total Time: 27-29 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Appetizer
Method: Air Frying
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasoning

2 lbs chicken tenders (thighs or breast), cut into 3″ pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
1.5 tbsp dry ranch seasoning
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried dill

Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce

1 stick butter (8 tbsp)
8–10 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup parmesan, grated
1 tbsp hot sauce (more if desired)
2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
1 tbsp dry ranch seasoning
1 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp onion powder

Instructions

Prep and Skewer Chicken: Start by soaking wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking. Combine the chicken seasoning ingredients (dry ranch seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, dried dill) in a bowl. Toss the chicken pieces with olive oil and the seasoning mixture until fully coated.
Skewer the Chicken: Thread the seasoned chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers tightly without gaps to retain juiciness. Trim the skewers if needed to fit into your air fryer basket.
Make Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter partially with minced garlic. Stir in red pepper flakes, hot sauce, dry ranch seasoning, dried dill, onion powder, parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley until well combined. If the sauce separates, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter and whisk to re-emulsify.
Baste Par-cooked Chicken: Reserve about one-third of the sauce for basting the chicken while cooking. Use a clean basting brush to brush the par-cooked chicken with this sauce to avoid cross-contamination.
Cook the Chicken Skewers: Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer at 400°F and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the skewers, baste with sauce, and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Flip again, baste with more sauce, and cook for a final 5-6 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Total cook time is about 12-14 minutes but may vary by air fryer model.
Final Dressing and Serve: Once fully cooked, brush the chicken with the reserved clean garlic parmesan sauce, sprinkle extra parmesan cheese on top, and serve immediately.

Notes

Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from burning in the air fryer.
Ensure chicken pieces are uniform size for even cooking.
Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches 165°F internally for safety.
Adjust hot sauce and red pepper flakes to suit your preferred spice level.
Use fresh parmesan for best flavor and texture.
Keep reserved sauce separate to avoid cross-contamination when basting after cooking.

Keywords: Ranch chicken skewers, garlic parmesan chicken, air fryer chicken, easy chicken skewers, party appetizers, spicy chicken skewers