Air Fryer Chicken Skewers - Shish Kebabs
Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, also known as Shish Kebabs, are a fantastic way to bring the joy of grilling into your kitchen with minimal fuss.
Ingredients
Marinade for the Chicken
- ¼ cup olive oil (60 ml)
- ¼ cup milk (full fat or semi-skimmed)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp red pepper paste (optional, could be replaced with tomato paste)
- ½ tsp chili flakes (adjust to your taste)
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Chicken Kebabs
- 800 g boneless skinless chicken breast or thigh meat
- 1 medium red onion
- 2 Turkish green chilies (or 1 large green bell pepper)
- 10 cherry tomatoes (or 1 large tomato)
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into chunky cubes, each about 4-5 cm (1 ½" - 2") in size.
- In a bowl, combine olive oil, milk, tomato paste, red pepper paste (if using), chili flakes, paprika, freshly ground black pepper, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
- Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss them in the marinade until evenly coated.
- Cover the bowl, place it in the fridge, and let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
- Peel the onion and cut it into chunky cubes similar in size to the chicken. If using large tomatoes, wash and cut them into wedges. Cut Turkish chili peppers into quarters. If using bell peppers, cut them into chunky cubes similar in size to the chicken.
- Thread the chicken and vegetables onto kebab skewers. Try to leave a little space between each piece to allow for even cooking.
- Set your air fryer to 392°F (200°C), and place the skewers in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook them in batches.
- Cook the skewers for 14-16 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly on all sides. Check with a meat thermometer to make sure the core temperature reaches 74 °C (165 °F) before serving.
Notes
- Ensure that the chicken cubes are uniform in size for even cooking your chicken shish kebabs.
- I opt for using milk over yogurt in the marinade because it imparts a softer texture and enhances the meat's flavor.
- You can use this marinade to marinate chicken wings or a whole chicken. It's versatile and perfect for any chicken cut!
- Avoid marinating the chicken for more than 24 hours, as the acid in the marinade can break down the meat's texture.
- The cooking time for tavuk sis may vary on the size of the chicken cubes and the type of your air fryer.