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Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers

Tender chicken skewers coated in ranch seasoning and smothered in a rich garlic Parmesan butter sauce. Perfect for air fryer, oven, or grill - ready in under 30 minutes for weeknight dinners or weekend cookouts.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Skewer Soaking Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs chicken tenders or thighs/breasts, cut into 3-inch pieces
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1.5 tbsp dry ranch seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried dill
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
  • 8 garlic cloves minced (8-10 cloves)
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce adjust to taste
  • 2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 0.33 cup fresh parsley minced
  • 1 tbsp dry ranch seasoning for sauce
  • 1 tsp dried dill for sauce
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder for sauce

Equipment

  • Wooden skewers
  • Air fryer or oven or grill
  • Large mixing bowl
  • small saucepan
  • Basting Brush

Method
 

  1. Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ranch seasoning, dill, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Add chicken pieces and olive oil, tossing until evenly coated.
  3. Thread chicken pieces tightly onto soaked skewers, leaving minimal gaps between pieces.
  4. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in Parmesan cheese, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, parsley, ranch seasoning, dill, and onion powder until well combined.
  5. Reserve two-thirds of the garlic Parmesan sauce for final basting. Use the remaining one-third for basting during cooking.
  6. For Air Fryer: Preheat to 400°F. Cook 2-3 skewers at a time for 5 minutes. Flip, baste with sauce, and cook 2 more minutes. Flip again, baste, and cook 5-6 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  7. For Oven: Preheat to 450°F. Place skewers on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake 14 minutes, flipping halfway and basting throughout. Broil for 2 minutes at the end for caramelization.
  8. For Grill: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill skewers 5-6 minutes per side, basting with garlic butter as they cook.
  9. Remove skewers from heat and immediately drizzle with reserved garlic Parmesan sauce. Sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

For best results, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese rather than pre-shredded. Chicken thighs will be slightly juicier than breasts. Adjust hot sauce to taste - start with less if serving children. Leftover chicken can be removed from skewers and used in pasta, salads, or wraps.
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