Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
Did you know you could make BBQ without actually BBQing? These Chicken Skewers come out so juicy and smoked to perfection using an air fryer and a little trick using a piece of coal. It’s the ultimate hack!
The Marinade
This marinade is packed with so much flavor, I kind of just made it up as I went along and hoped for the best. When I tried the final product, I was shocked at how good it turned out! Here are all the ingredients you need. I tried to keep it as simple as possible.
- tomato paste
- plain yogurt
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- 7 spice
- garlic
- ginger
- chili powder
- coriander
- chili flakes
To a small bowl, add all the ingredients for the marinade and combine together. Then it to a large bowl with some boneless skinless chicken thighs that’s been cubed. Mix all together and that’s it. If you have time, let it mariande for 30 minutes or longer. You can prepare it the night before as well.
After marinating, thread the chicken onto wooden or metal skewers. If using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them for at least 30 minutes before adding the chicken so they don’t burn. This recipe makes about 6 to 8 skewers with 8 pieces each. Whatever skewers you use, make sure they fit in your air fryer. Mine were too long so I had to trim them!
Cooking the Skewers
If your air fryer requires preheating, set it to 400°F. Spray the surface and add the skewers in. Air fry for about 6 to 8 minutes or until golden and charred on top and then rotate. Spray with oil again and air fry for another 6 to 8 minutes! And that’s it, you have chicken kabobs in 15 minutes all in the air fryer.
The Smoking Trick
If you love the smokey taste of BBQ but don’t have a grill or the weather is not great outside, this hack will change the game for you! All you need is a piece of coal and oil. To an open flame, add a piece of coal and let it get completely white on one side, it will take a few minutes. Flip over and repeat on the other side. Once it is all white, transfer it to a small bowl made of foil. Add it to the air fryer after the skewers have cooked – the air fryer is off at this step. Drizzle a bit of oil on the coal and it will start to smoke. Seal the air fryer shut and let the kabobs smoke to infuse that flavor. Leave it shut for about ten minutes. And that’s it! This trick works well for just about anything. You could even smoke rice or chicken in a pot or pan using the same technique.
What Air Fryer Do I Use?
My go-to air fryer in my kitchen is the Ninja Speed Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer! I’ve been using it for about a year now and LOVE it. This comes from someone who swore they would never fall for the air fryer. Well, now I use it every single day! This air fryer cooks things so fast and I love that you don’t have to preheat it. Another air fryer I recommend is the Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer. My mom has it and raves about it all the time!
Watch How to Make It
More Skewer and Kabob Recipes to Try!
- Moroccan Chicken Skewers
- Oven-Baked Kefta
- Chicken Satay
- Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers
- Tandoori Chicken Skewers
- Beef Koobideh
If you tried this recipe and loved it, drop by down below and let me know how you liked it with a rating and comment! Feel free to also leave a question there about this recipe and I’ll get right back to it.
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Dinner | Main Course
Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons ginger paste
- 1/4 cup plain whole milk yogurt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon 7 spice
- 1 teaspoons coriander
- 1 teaspoons chili flakes
Instructions
- To a bowl, add the cubed chicken along with lemon juice, tomato paste, olive oil, salt, garlic, ginger, yogurt, chili powder, 7 spice, coriander, and chili flakes. Mix together and if you have the time let it marinate from 30 minutes up to overnight.
- After marinating, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers. If using wooden skewers, make sure they have soaked in water for 30 minutes to prevent them from burning. I like to add about 6 to 7 pieces onto each skewer.
- Add the skewers to the air fryer and air fry for about 6 to 8 minutes at 400°F. Rotate the skewers and air fry again for about 6 to 8 minutes so both sides are golden!
- Turn off the air fryer and keep it open so the skewers stop cooking.
- Over an open flame, add a piece of coal and cook it until it's white all over.
- Transfer the coal to a piece of foil shaped into a small bowl and add it to air fryer. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil onto the coal so it starts smoking and seal the air fryer shut. The air fryer is NOT on, just sealed so the skewers can get a nice smokey taste. Leave it covered for about 10 minutes.
- Then take it out of the air fryer and serve warm!
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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS RECIPE?
HI, I’M HAJAR
Welcome to Moribyan! This is my blog where I love to share all my favorite recipes and lifestyle tips with you all. If I’m not cooking here, I’m either at Trader Joe’s, the gym, or eating a bagel.
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I made this without the coal, and it was DELICIOUS. I can’t wait to try it with coal.