Zesty Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
These air fryer lemon pepper chicken skewers deliver a vibrant, tangy flavor with tender, juicy chicken cubes marinated in lemon, garlic, and warm spices. Perfectly cooked in the air fryer, they offer a quick, low-carb, high-protein meal that’s bursting with citrus and buttery glaze. Ideal for easy weeknight dinners, meal prep, or gatherings, this gluten-free recipe brings fresh, bold flavors with minimal effort.
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.