Skip the grill and make these tender, juicy Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs in no time! Marinated for maximum flavor and air-fried to perfection, these skewers are packed with smoky, savory goodness—without the hassle of an outdoor grill. The air fryer locks in moisture while giving the chicken a beautifully charred edge, making this an easy, foolproof way to enjoy kebabs any night of the week.
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Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
- Skinless Chicken Breasts – A lean yet juicy protein that cooks quickly and soaks up the flavors of the marinade and seasonings. Cutting the chicken into even pieces ensures tender, evenly cooked kebabs.
- Soy Sauce or Liquid Aminos – Adds a deep flavor while also acting as a natural tenderizer. The saltiness helps enhance the overall seasoning of the chicken. Liquid aminos offer a similar taste with a slightly milder profile.
- Chicken Rub Seasoning – A blend of spices that enhances the flavor of the chicken, adding a balanced mix of savory, smoky, and slightly spicy notes. It helps create a flavorful crust on the chicken as it air-fries.
- BBQ Rub/Seasoning – Brings in a sweet, smoky, and slightly tangy flavor that complements the chicken and veggies. This seasoning helps create that "grilled" BBQ taste even without a grill.
- Bell Peppers – These add a pop of color, crunch, and natural sweetness to the kebabs. They hold up well in the air fryer, developing a slight char while staying juicy.
- Zucchini – A great veggie choice for kebabs, as it absorbs seasoning well and softens slightly while still maintaining a bit of bite. Cutting it into thick rounds prevents it from overcooking.
- Onions – Provide a slight sweetness when caramelized, adding depth of flavor to the kebabs. Red onions offer a mild, slightly tangy taste, while white or yellow onions add a bit more sweetness.
- Grape Tomatoes – These little bursts of flavor add a juicy, slightly tangy contrast to the other ingredients. They soften and blister beautifully in the air fryer, adding a fresh, vibrant element to the kebabs.
What Size Skewers Fit in the Air Fryer
The best skewer size for an air fryer depends on your specific model, but here are some general guidelines:
1. Length:
- 6-inch to 8-inch skewers fit most standard basket-style air fryers.
- 10-inch skewers may fit in larger air fryers or oven-style air fryers.
- If using longer skewers, you can cut them down or arrange them diagonally for a better fit.
2. Material:
- Wooden (Bamboo) Skewers – Soak them in water for 20-30 minutes before air frying to prevent burning.
- Metal Skewers – Great for reuse and don’t need soaking, but ensure they’re short enough to fit inside your air fryer.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes.
- Season and marinate the chicken.
- Thread the chicken onto the skewers with veggies.
- Air Fry.
Cook Time/How Long to Cook
I cook for 18-22 minutes until the temperature reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Air Fryer Temperature
I cook the grilled chicken at 350 degrees. When I fry chicken in my air fryer, I usually use 400 degrees. For this recipe that will result in the veggies becoming overcooked.
Can You Stack the Kebabs?
I don't recommend stacking the chicken. I had one kebab that was slightly stacked, but I don't recommend anything beyond that. It will take the chicken longer to cook if stacked. If needed, cook in batches.
How to Use Frozen Chicken
Yes, you can make kebabs in advance and freeze them. If cooking from frozen add an additional 8-10 minutes of cook time.
Recipe Tips
- Use Evenly Sized Pieces – Cut the chicken into uniform chunks (about 1 to 1.5 inches) to ensure even cooking.
- Marinate for Maximum Flavor – Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours) for juicy, flavorful kebabs. A marinade with oil, acid (like lemon juice), and spices works best.
- Soak Wooden Skewers – If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20-30 minutes before air frying to prevent burning.
- Don’t Overcrowd – Arrange the skewers in a single layer with space between them for even air circulation. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Rotate Halfway Through – Flip or rotate the skewers halfway through cooking for even browning on all sides.
- Check Internal Temperature – Cook the chicken to an internal temp of165 degrees to ensure it’s fully cooked but still juicy.
- Olive Oil – I like to spray olive oil onto the chicken before cooking. These helps the chicken stay juicy.
- Let Them Rest Before Serving – Resting for 2-3 minutes after cooking allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the chicken tender and juicy.
Pair these chicken skewers with Air Fryer Roasted Garlic, Air Fryer Asparagus, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Air Fryer Homemade French Fries or Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes.
Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs (Tender and Juicy)
Skip the grill and make these tender, juicy Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs in no time! Marinated for maximum flavor and air-fried to perfection, these skewers are packed with smoky, savory goodness—without the hassle of an outdoor grill. The air fryer locks in moisture while giving the chicken a beautifully charred edge, making this an easy, foolproof way to enjoy kebabs any night of the week.
Save this recipe here.
Servings 4 kebab skewers
Calories 136kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz skinless chicken breasts Cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or liquid aminos
- 1 tablespoon Chicken Rub Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon BBQ Rub/Seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ green pepper sliced
- ½ red pepper sliced
- ½ yellow pepper sliced
- ½ zucchini sliced
- ¼ red onion sliced
- 4-5 grape tomatoes
- cooking oil spray optional
Instructions
- Marinating the chicken is preferred but not required. If you plan to marinate the chicken, place the chicken in a sealable plastic bag or large bowl with the soy sauce, chicken seasoning, BBQ seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Shake the bag to ensure the chicken is evenly coated and seasoning. If using a bowl, cover the bowl. Marinate for at least one hour to overnight in the refrigerator.
- Remove the chicken and thread it onto a skewer. Your hands will get very messy during this process. You may want to have a towel close by to wipe your hands.
- Layer the chicken with the peppers, zucchini, and onions. Top each skewer with a grape tomato at the top. I sometimes like my grape tomato to be served cooked and soft. It may be harder to get the skewers to fit into your air fryer with the tomato (depending on the brand). You can always add the tomato after the chicken and veggies have finished cooking.
- Spray the chicken and veggies with cooking oil (I use olive oil). This is optional and yields juicy chicken.
- I like to line the air fryer with parchment paper liners for easy clean up.
- Place the skewers on a grill rack in the air fryer basket. Cook for 10 minutes on 350 degrees.
- Open the air fryer and flip the skewers. Cook for an additional 7-10 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to test the inside of one of the pieces of chicken.
Video
Notes
This recipe will make 4-5 chicken kebabs.
You can make your own chicken seasoning using ¼ teaspoon of the following: onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and sage. You can also simply use salt and pepper.
Soy sauce is used in this recipe to make the chicken moist and juicy and to add flavor.
I have not tested this recipe without using the grill rack.
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)
Serving: 1kebab | Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 3g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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Laura says
I love how the air fryer cooks everything so quickly and crispy! Delish!
Jillian says
These were so tasty! I love that I now have another go-to airy fryer recipe!
Debra says
Great recipe. Taste really good.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Mugen says
I am surprised that you've asked for cooking chicken breasts in an Air Fryer. I read that the only way to cook chicken breasts without draining them of their existing juices is the pan fry.
Could you please throw some light on this? Don't your chicken pieces get rubbery kinds?
staysnatched says
Air fryer chicken is amazing and juicy. Try it. I've never made rubbery chicken.
Candy says
This is a new go to recipe for my family. Absolutely love it. Better than using the grill.
staysnatched says
It's ours too! So glad you liked them!
Debbie says
Can you use bamboo skewers for this recipe in the air fryer?
staysnatched says
I've never tried it. I use what my air fryer user manual recommends, which is these.
Anne D says
Another great recipe! Second time using my air fryer skewers and this time worked out better than my first attempt! I happened to have all the veggies suggested in the recipe and it was the perfect meal for a warm day. Paired it with Brandi’s cucumber salad and I am already looking forward to the leftovers for lunch!
staysnatched says
That sounds like a great pairing!
Catherine Cormier says
I love kebabs but hate standing over the bbq while they cook so this seems like a much easier option! Will definitely be trying soon since this is the perfect weeknight meal.
staysnatched says
Let me know what you think!
pat says
what a great recipe .and so easy
to make.thank you.pat.
staysnatched says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Carm says
I have the ninja foodie grill, you say to put on grill grate, am I to use the grill setting or air fry setting
staysnatched says
I’ve never used a ninja foodi grill. I would refer to the manual and do as it suggests.
Buddy Alves says
@staysnatched, I also have a Ninja Foodi that has both grill and air fry features. What are the settings for both features (time/temperature)(grill/air fry)?
staysnatched says
I’ve never used a Ninja Foodi. I would test it with the same temperature and watch it.
Sam Ennes says
Made these last week and wow so easy! I had been planning on doing kebabs on the grill, but I remembered seeing this recipe so I decided to go for it - definitely a repeater!
staysnatched says
Glad to have you add it to the rotation.
M.T. says
This is genius. I never thought to do kabobs in the air fryer! I cant wait to try it
staysnatched says
I hope you enjoy them!
Amanda says
No lies were told labeling this recipe as easy! So much flavor, chicken and veggies that are not boring.
staysnatched says
haha! Love to hear it.
Anne says
I agree with Laura..just did your recipe & we both loved it..will do again soon!! Thxxx
staysnatched says
Glad to hear it.
Lynda says
WILL THE GRILL RACK & SKEWERS WORK IN A SQUARE COSORI AIR FRYER?
staysnatched says
Get the rack made for the Cosori air fryer. They have them.
Lisbeth Marrs says
On the instant pot air fryer do you use the grill or airfry setting?
staysnatched says
I've never used the Instant Pot air fryer. I assume air fry setting this since this is being air fried.