These Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs make a quick, healthy, and easy meal using a simple marinade, chicken breasts, and your favorite vegetables. No muss, no fuss, these tender, flavorful chicken skewers take just 10 minutes to cook and little cleanup. Keto and low-carb meal options given.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
These air fryer chicken kabobs are simple, versatile, and packed with flavor. They're one of those recipes you'll want on repeat.
Simple ingredients - You only need a handful of pantry staples and fresh ingredients to create flavorful kabobs that taste like they came off the grill.
Easy to Make - With just a quick marinade, simple assembly, and a short cook time, these chicken skewers come together fast.
Great for Meal Prep - Make a batch ahead of time and enjoy them throughout the week. They reheat beautifully and are perfect for quick lunches or dinners.
Works with any veggies - Mix and match your favorite vegetables or use what you have on hand. These shish kabobs are easy to customize.
Ingredients and Their Part in the Kabobs
Each ingredient adds flavor, texture, or helps create juicy, tender chicken. This is what you'll need:
For the chicken and marinade
- Chicken - Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are easy to cube and cook evenly.
- Lemon juice - Tenderizes the chicken while adding brightness and acidity.
- Olive oil - Helps keep the chicken moist and juicy during cooking.
- Fresh garlic - Adds a savory depth of flavor.
- Salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning - Enhance the flavor and add a subtle herbiness.
For the vegetables
- Bell peppers - Add sweetness, color, and a slight crunch. Use a mix of red, yellow, orange, or green.
- Onion - Brings a mild sweetness and soft texture when cooked.
- Mushrooms - Add a savory, earthy flavor and hold up well on skewers.
- Potatoes - Provide heartiness. Use canned for convenience or parboiled fresh potatoes so they cook evenly.
Best Chicken for Kabobs
Boneless skinless chicken breasts are a great choice because they're easy to cut into uniform pieces and cook evenly.
Chicken thighs are another excellent option. They tend to be juicier and more forgiving if slightly overcooked, while chicken breasts are leaner and cook a bit faster.
Either works well for air-fried chicken kabobs, depending on your preference.
Best Vegetables for Kabobs
Using a variety of colorful vegetables makes your kabobs both delicious and visually appealing. Bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms are classic choices that cook well alongside chicken.
You can also switch things up with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, corn, or even Brussels sprouts. If you want something heartier, add parboiled white potatoes or partially cooked sweet potatoes so everything finishes cooking at the same time.
How to Make Chicken Kabobs in the Air Fryer
These chicken skewers come together in three simple stages: marinating, assembling, and air frying.
Make the marinade
- To make marinade, combine oil and lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Add minced fresh garlic.
- Sprinkle in seasonings - Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk well.
Marinate the chicken
- Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Try to make them a consistent size so they cook evenly.
- Place the chicken cubes in a large resealable bag.
- Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken.
- Lock the baggie and turn several times to cover. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Assemble the Kabobs
- Cut up vegetables, making sure they are of equal size. Drain potatoes or parboil fresh potatoes, if preferred. Of course, feel free to omit the potatoes for keto and low-carb diets.
- Thread chicken alternately onto metal skewers, air fryer skewers, bamboo skewers, or wood skewers that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes. You will want to alternate a piece of chicken, various vegetables, and potatoes until the skewer is full.
- Place skewers on a sprayed rack in a single layer.
Air Fry the Chicken Kabobs
- Preheat the air fryer for 4-5 minutes at 380 degrees. Spray the rack and air fryer basket with oil then lay the skewers on the rack. You can also cook directly on the basket in a single row. Spray the tops of the chicken and vegetables lightly with oil. You may have to do the skewers in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry for 10 minutes, turning halfway through and spraying the tops again with oil. The chicken should be browned and the inside should be opaque in the center when done. If you have a digital meat thermometer the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees when done.
This easy, quick, and nutritious meal is perfect whatever the weather or day of the week. You can use whatever is in your fridge with little fuss and cleanup is a breeze. Just a few minutes to marinate, 10 minutes to cook, and you get tender, lightly charred bites without ever turning on the grill. It's a complete meal on a stick that's perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Air Fryer Tips for Perfect Kabobs
Getting perfectly cooked chicken kabobs in the air fryer is easy with a few helpful tips.
- Always marinate the chicken for a moist, tender result
- Cut chicken and vegetables into similar sizes for even cooking
- Lightly spray oil on the kabobs before cooking to keep them juicy
- Make sure the skewers fit your air fryer. Trim wooden skewers if needed
- Don't overcrowd the basket, cook in batches if necessary
- Flip the kabobs halfway through cooking
- Use a meat thermometer and cook to 165°F for perfectly done chicken
What to Serve with Shish Kabobs
Although these air fryer chicken kebabs are a complete meal on their own, they pair wonderfully with a variety of sides.
A crisp Caesar salad is a classic option, but you can also serve them with grilled potato salad, baked potatoes, air fryer asparagus, rice or cauliflower rice, corn salad, or just some warm dinner rolls.
Sauces for Chicken Skewers
Adding a sauce takes these chicken skewers to the next level. Whether you like something creamy, tangy, or sweet, there are plenty of options.
- BBQ sauce
- Garlic sauce
- Honey mustard
- Lemon vinaigrette
- Tzatziki
How to Store and Freeze the Leftovers
Once cooked, these chicken skewers will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. To reheat, place them back in the air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through.
You can also freeze the kabobs on wooden skewers either before or after cooking. Store them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
About 10 minutes at 380°F is usually enough, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
380°F works best, cooking the chicken through while keeping it juicy.
Yes, you can. Add an additional 8 to 10 minutes to the cooking time and check for doneness.
Yes. Just cut them to fit your air fryer and soak them for a few minutes before using.
No, you can place the skewers directly in the basket as long as it's lightly sprayed with oil.
Yes, flipping halfway through ensures even cooking and browning.
Marinate the chicken, don't overcook it, and use a little oil to help lock in moisture.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan - your favorite Italian dinner with all the flavors you love in just 30 minutes.
Easy Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer - taste like they've just come off the grill and they come complete with a toasted bun
Air Fryer Roast Beef from Supergolden Bakes - is a great way to make tender roast beef in under an hour
Air Fryer Pork Chops - healthy, moist, and delicious chops in just 10 minutes!
Find lots of easy air fryer recipes to make for dinner or dessert right here on 2CM!
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Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs (Chicken Skewers)
Ingredients
Marinade
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Shish Kabobs
- 2 chicken breasts cut in cubes
- ½ large sweet onion cut in wedges
- ½ red bell pepper ½ orange or yellow bell pepper, cut in strips then thirds
- 8 ounces mushrooms
- 1 can whole white potatoes (15-0z)
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients for marinade.
- Cut chicken into 1-½" cubes and place in bag with marinade. Place in refrigerator and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- To assemble, alternate chicken and cut vegetables and potatoes onto skewers. You can use the skewers and rack that comes with your air fryer or use wooden skewers cut to fit your air fryer. Soak the wooden skewers while cutting chicken and mixing marinade.
- Preheat air fryer on 380°F for 5 minutes.
- Place your skewers on the shish kabob rack or lay on the bottom on the air fryer basket that has been lightly sprayed with oil.
- Spray the tops of the shish kabobs and cook at 380°F for 10 minutes, turning halfway through and lightly spraying again. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°. Cook a little longer if necessary. DO NOT CROWD THE KABOBS. It may take 2-3 batches to get all the kabobs cooked.
- Remove when done and keep warm while cooking remaining kabobs.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with more helpful information. It was first published on May 14, 2022.
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