Looking for a healthy and delicious weeknight wonder? These Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs are fast, flavorful and family-friendly! They’re seasoned just right and pack a big punch without a lot of work—getting you in and out of the kitchen in a flash using simple, colorful ingredients.
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These skewered chicken and veggies stay juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside—and they keep this same texture, even when meal prepped for the week! Chicken kabobs are satisfying, bite-sized, and handheld, making them ideal for families with little hands or for serving a variety of flavor palettes.
What makes these kabobs so quick and delicious? The air fryer, of course! Skewered with tender chunks of chicken breast, sweet pineapple, two kinds of crisp bell peppers, and savory teriyaki sauce, this dish comes together in under 30 minutes from prep to plate.
Looking for more easy chicken recipes? Try these Baked Chicken Tacos, Chicken Broccoli and Rice, or Chicken and Potato in Foil Packets next!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: These kabobs come together with just a handful of everyday ingredients and deliver boldness in every bite.
- Fast and Family-Friendly: With just a few minutes of prep and a quick cook time, these air fryer chicken skewers are accommodating for busy weeknights and kid-approved for little hands.
- Versatile and Meal-Prep Ready: Easy to swap out different veggies, sauces or protein, these skewers hold up for any meal throughout the week.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces create the juicy, protein-packed base for these air fryer kabobs. Swap out for pork, beef, extra-firm tofu, or shrimp in place of chicken if you prefer – just make sure to adjust the cook time.
- Peppers and Pineapple: Red and green bell peppers, chopped into 1-inch squares, add bright color and a hint of sweetness. Pineapple brings a fruity spin that complements the savory flavors.
- Teriyaki Sauce: Acts as both a marinade and glaze, tenderizing the chicken and veggies while layering in rich, sweet, and salty umami flavor.
- Metal Skewers: Essential for holding together the chicken skewers in the air fryer, ensuring even cooking, and making the kabobs easy to handle and serve.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add More Veggies and Aromatics: Add sliced onions, zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, or garlic cloves for even more nutrition, color, and fresh aromatic flavor.
- BBQ-Style: Swap half of the teriyaki sauce for your favorite BBQ sauce to give these chicken kabobs in the air fryer a smoky, sweet spin.
- Add a Spicy Kick: Marinate with red pepper flakes, or brush the kabobs with a spicy sriracha-teriyaki mix before air frying to turn up the heat!
How to Air Fry Chicken Kabobs
Making these air fry chicken kabobs is super easy. In just 3 simple steps, you’ll have a delicious meal on the table for the whole family! To start, preheat your air fryer for 3 minutes at 380°F, grab your metal skewers, chop up your chicken and veggies, and let’s get skewering:
- Step 1: Marinate the Chicken. In a medium bowl, sprinkle the seasoning over the cubed chicken and pour in the teriyaki sauce. Then, stir until the chicken is fully coated, then set aside to marinate.
- Step 2: Assemble the Skewers. Thread a piece of chicken onto the skewer, followed by red pepper, pineapple, more chicken, green pepper, and another pineapple chunk. Continue this pattern until the air fryer skewers are full.
- Step 3: Air Fry and Enjoy. Place the skewers on the air fryer tray and cook at 380°F for 9 minutes. Carefully remove the skewers, plate them up, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
These air fryer kabobs are a great main dish because they pair well with so many sides. Whether you’re planning a casual dinner or a party spread, here are a few delicious options to serve them:
- Pair the skewers with coconut rice, white rice or easy fried rice for a simple, Asian-inspired meal.
- Make it interactive with a dipping spread! Serve alongside jalapeno cilantro dip, cheesy corn dip, or spinach artichoke dip.
- Round out the meal with more veggie favorites like corn fritters, lemon pepper asparagus, or roasted potatoes.
Expert Tips
- Use Tongs When Removing: Metal skewers get really hot, so always use tongs (or other kitchen tools) when removing the kabobs from the air fryer.
- Chop Evenly: Cut all your chicken and veggies into uniform pieces to ensure everything cooks evenly and finishes at the same time, without burning or remaining undercooked.
- Preheat and Grease: Always preheat your air fryer for even cooking—yes, you do need to preheat! Make sure to lightly spray or grease the air fryer basket or rack so nothing sticks.
- Storing and Reheating: Store leftover air fryer chicken shish kabobs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place them in a baking dish with a couple of tablespoons of water, cover with foil, and bake at 400°F for 5–10 minutes until heated through.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Skewers are perfectly safe to use in the air fryer, just like they are in a traditional oven. Metal skewers work great in the air fryer, and if you’re using wooden skewers, it’s a good idea (though not required) to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before skewering. This helps prevent the wood from burning and keeps the meat from sticking.
The chicken should be browned and crispy on the outside, and the internal temperature (checked with a meat thermometer) should reach at least 165°F, especially at the thickest parts.
Dry kabobs usually mean the chicken wasn’t marinated long enough. To help keep them juicy, marinate for at least 15 minutes (longer if you can!) and baste the kabobs with a little oil or melted butter halfway through cooking.
Try These Delicious Air Fried Chicken Kabobs Today
These chicken kabobs in the air fryer are loaded with flavor, not work. It only takes a little prep and a few minutes in the air fryer to make this easy, tasty dish. It’s the perfect quick and easy dinner. Give it a try, and I know you’ll find yourself making it again and again.
More Delicious and Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Also, try this Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn from Great Grub, Delicious Treats. The easiest way to make this favorite recipe.
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Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch squares
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch squares
- 1 fresh pineapple, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1 cup Teriyaki sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- Metal skewers
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 for 3 minutes.
- Add chicken to a medium bowl.
- Sprinkle seasoning over chicken, stir.
- Pour teriyaki sauce into the bowl, stir to coat. Set aside.
- While the chicken is marinating, cut peppers and pineapple.
- Add a piece of chicken, followed by red pepper, pineapple, chicken, green pepper and pineapple, and chicken to metal skewers.
- Place skewers on the metal air fryer rack and cook at 380° for 9 minutes.
- Carefully remove skewers from the air fryer and enjoy.
Notes
- Always preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes to ensure even cooking and crispy results.
- Make sure chicken and veggies are uniform in size so everything cooks at the same rate.
- Metal skewers get very hot—use kitchen tongs to safely remove them from the air fryer.
