Lemon and pepper might sound simple—but when they come together with juicy chicken and a buttery citrus glaze, they create a flavor explosion that’s anything but basic. These air fryer lemon pepper chicken skewers are bold, zesty, and perfectly charred. Think: grilled flavor, fast weeknight cooking, and a buttery finish you’ll want to put on everything. This is a high-protein, low-carb dinner that tastes like sunshine on a stick.
Whether you’re meal prepping for the week, hosting a casual cookout, or just trying to jazz up your weeknight menu, these skewers have you covered. And the best part? They’re made in the air fryer—no grill required!
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make these flavor-packed skewers, you’ll need pantry staples with a citrusy twist. Here’s what goes into the marinade and sauce:
For the Chicken:
- 1 kg chicken breasts or thighs (cubed for skewers)
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- Zest + juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground red chili
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp your favorite chicken spice blend
- Salt, to taste
- Optional: ½ tsp Aromat or any savory all-purpose seasoning
For the Lemon Butter Sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp tangy mayonnaise
- 1 tsp crushed garlic
- ½ tsp lemon pepper seasoning
- Dash of heavy cream (optional but recommended)
- Salt & freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
🔪Prepping Your Chicken Like a Pro
First things first—get those skewers soaking. If you’re using wooden skewers, submerge them in cold water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning in the air fryer. This also helps keep the chicken juicy.
While the skewers soak, cut your chicken into even, bite-sized cubes. Consistency matters here—uneven pieces cook at different rates and can dry out easily.
🧴Marinate for Maximum Flavor
The magic starts in the marinade. Combine all marinade ingredients in a large bowl, and toss the chicken cubes until evenly coated. The combination of zesty lemon, warm spices, and savory herbs creates layers of flavor that go beyond your typical skewered chicken.
Pro Tip: Let the chicken marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight if you have time). This allows the citrus and garlic to deeply infuse the meat, making each bite more tender and flavorful.
🍢Assemble Your Skewers
Once your chicken has marinated, it’s time to thread it onto your soaked skewers. Don’t pack the chicken too tightly—a little space between pieces allows for more even cooking and that signature air-fried char on the edges.
🌬️How to Cook Skewers in the Air Fryer
Here’s where the air fryer shines. You get crispy edges, juicy centers, and fast results—all without heating up your kitchen.
- Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (356°F).
- Place the skewers directly in the basket. Do not use baking paper—you want that airflow!
- Air fry for 12 minutes, then brush generously with your lemon butter sauce.
- Flip and air fry for another 8 minutes until golden and slightly crisp on the outside.
- Brush with more sauce after cooking for extra shine and flavor.
🧈Make the Lemon Butter Glaze
While your chicken cooks, whip up this tangy, buttery glaze that takes everything up a notch.
In a small pan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and stir in the rest of the sauce ingredients. The addition of mayonnaise and cream gives it a silky, rich texture, while the zest and lemon juice punch up the brightness.
Brush this onto your cooked skewers for a final burst of flavor—or serve it as a dipping sauce on the side.
🍽️Serving Suggestions
These skewers are a complete flavor package on their own, but if you’re building a meal, here are a few fresh ways to serve them:
- With rice or couscous: Light grains soak up the citrusy butter sauce beautifully.
- On a salad: Slice chicken off the skewers and toss over mixed greens, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes with a yogurt-lemon dressing.
- As wraps or bowls: Wrap in pita with tzatziki and slaw or pile over quinoa with roasted veggies for a Mediterranean-style bowl.
- Meal prep: These reheat like a dream—just air fry for 3–4 minutes to crisp them back up.
🧊Storing & Reheating
These skewers keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Want to freeze them? Skip the sauce until after reheating, and they’ll last up to 3 months in the freezer.
To reheat:
- In the air fryer: 180°C for 4–5 minutes
- In the oven: 180°C for 10 minutes
- In the microwave: 2–3 minutes (but you’ll lose the crispiness)
🛠️Tips & Variations
Make it your own:
- Swap chicken for shrimp or paneer for a pescatarian or vegetarian version.
- Add veggies between chicken pieces—like bell peppers, red onions, or zucchini.
- For more heat, increase chili flakes or drizzle with sriracha before serving.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of mayo in the butter sauce for a tangy twist.
🏁Final Thoughts
These air fryer lemon pepper chicken skewers bring big flavor without the fuss. They’re quick, healthy-ish, and endlessly versatile—perfect for anyone craving a punchy, protein-rich dinner that doesn’t skimp on taste. Whether you’re hosting or meal-prepping, you’ll be reaching for this recipe again and again.
Save it. Share it. Serve it with pride.
Now it’s your turn—fire up that air fryer and get skewering! 🍢🔥
Zesty Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
Marinade Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken breasts or thighs cut into cubes
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lemon zest from 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground red chili
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 tsp chicken spice blend
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 0.5 tsp Aromat seasoning optional
- to taste salt
Lemon Butter Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise tangy
- 1 tsp crushed garlic
- 0.5 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
- 0.5 tsp Aromat seasoning optional
- a dash heavy cream optional, for richness
- to taste freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Soak wooden skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Cut chicken into even bite-sized cubes for consistent cooking.
Marinating
- In a large bowl, combine garlic, lemon zest and juice, olive oil, paprika, red chili, chili flakes, lemon pepper, chicken spice blend, garlic powder, onion powder, Aromat (if using), and salt.
- Add chicken cubes and toss well to coat evenly.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to marinate deeply.
Assembling Skewers
- Thread marinated chicken cubes onto soaked skewers, leaving slight space between pieces.
Cooking
- Preheat air fryer to 180°C (356°F). Place skewers directly in the basket without baking paper.
- Air fry for 12 minutes.
- Brush skewers generously with lemon butter sauce.
- Flip skewers and cook for an additional 8 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Brush with remaining lemon butter sauce before serving.
Lemon Butter Sauce
- To prepare lemon butter sauce, melt butter and mix in lemon juice, lemon zest, mayonnaise, crushed garlic, lemon pepper, Aromat (if using), heavy cream (optional), salt, and pepper until smooth.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents burning during air frying.
- You can substitute heavy cream with full-fat yogurt for a lighter sauce.
- Adjust chili flakes to your preferred spice level.
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