Did you know you could make BBQ without actually BBQing? These Chicken Skewers come out so juicy and smoked to perfection using an air fryer and a little trick using a piece of coal. It’s the ultimate hack!
The Marinade
This marinade is packed with so much flavor, I kind of just made it up as I went along and hoped for the best. When I tried the final product, I was shocked at how good it turned out! Here are all the ingredients you need. I tried to keep it as simple as possible.
To a small bowl, add all the ingredients for the marinade and combine together. Then it to a large bowl with some boneless skinless chicken thighs that’s been cubed. Mix all together and that’s it. If you have time, let it mariande for 30 minutes or longer. You can prepare it the night before as well.
After marinating, thread the chicken onto wooden or metal skewers. If using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them for at least 30 minutes before adding the chicken so they don’t burn. This recipe makes about 6 to 8 skewers with 8 pieces each. Whatever skewers you use, make sure they fit in your air fryer. Mine were too long so I had to trim them!
Cooking the Skewers
If your air fryer requires preheating, set it to 400°F. Spray the surface and add the skewers in. Air fry for about 6 to 8 minutes or until golden and charred on top and then rotate. Spray with oil again and air fry for another 6 to 8 minutes! And that’s it, you have chicken kabobs in 15 minutes all in the air fryer.
The Smoking Trick
If you love the smokey taste of BBQ but don’t have a grill or the weather is not great outside, this hack will change the game for you! All you need is a piece of coal and oil. To an open flame, add a piece of coal and let it get completely white on one side, it will take a few minutes. Flip over and repeat on the other side. Once it is all white, transfer it to a small bowl made of foil. Add it to the air fryer after the skewers have cooked – the air fryer is off at this step. Drizzle a bit of oil on the coal and it will start to smoke. Seal the air fryer shut and let the kabobs smoke to infuse that flavor. Leave it shut for about ten minutes. And that’s it! This trick works well for just about anything. You could even smoke rice or chicken in a pot or pan using the same technique.
What Air Fryer Do I Use?
My go-to air fryer in my kitchen is the Ninja Speed Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer! I’ve been using it for about a year now and LOVE it. This comes from someone who swore they would never fall for the air fryer. Well, now I use it every single day! This air fryer cooks things so fast and I love that you don’t have to preheat it. Another air fryer I recommend is the Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer. My mom has it and raves about it all the time!
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Yes, it's perfectly fine to put skewers (metal or bamboo skewers) in the air fryer, as long as they fit without touching the heating element. Soak the wooden/bamboo skewers before using to prevent it from burning. What is the best way to cook kebabs? Air frying, grilling or the oven are a great wat to cook kebabs.
Place the chicken on the skewer sticks and then place the stand inside the pot of the Ninja Foodi. Use the air crisp function and cook at 390*F for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165*F. Carefully remove and serve.
Just follow the instructions and make sure you keep an eye in the temperature of the chicken in the final minutes. Since the Air Fryer works with convection heat, there is no need to cook chicken at very high temperatures, as it may quickly dry out and turn rubbery.
On a grill pan or skillet: cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping once halfway through. In the oven: set to 400°F for 8 to 9 minutes, flipping once halfway through. In the microwave: cook for 3 minutes—that's right—flipping once halfway through.
Start by soaking the wooden skewer for at least 30 minutes. This helps to prevent the meat from sticking to the skewer while cooking and it prevents the wood from burning. I like to use 6-inch or 8-inch skewers (that's what fits inside my air fryer).
Can you put skewers in an air fryer? Yes! Both stainless steel and bamboo skewers can be used in air fryers. If using bamboo skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes (an hour is better) to keep them from burning.
Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.
Yes, you can use wooden skewers with the Ninja Foodi Grill. However, it is important to soak the wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using them. Soaking the skewers prevents them from burning or catching fire during the grilling process.
While I do recommend very lightly spraying the fried chicken with oil before and during air frying, you don't submerge the pieces entirely in oil, and as a result, they undoubtedly absorb less oil in the process.
Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.
A dry surface browns more quickly than a wet one. Moisture on the surface will steam, leaving a soft and sometimes gummy exterior, so we patted meats and some vegetables with paper towels before cooking.
Cook skewers on the preheated grill, turning and brushing frequently with barbeque sauce, until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
The tender and moist chicken skewers are fully cooked, so all you have to do is heat them up and place them on the table. They are on a STICK! Directions offer a variety of ways to heat them up: in the oven, microwave or on the grill. I heat mine up in the oven for 10 minutes, turning at the 5 minute mark.
The reason Costco's chicken is so juicy is because of a salt solution pumped inside, which is basically like super-brining. That makes the meat moist and evenly seasoned every time, delivering a consistent—though there has been some Reddit uproar about weird-tasting chicken lately in some states—tasting chicken.
One thing you should do both for crispy texture and to prevent sticking is use a small amount of oil. Cooking without any oil whatsoever may sound appealing, but fat promotes browning and can help food crisp up. It also makes it less likely to stick.
Yes, both metal and aluminum can be used in an air fryer as long as they are oven-safe materials. Always ensure that the items fit inside the fryer basket without impeding air circulation for optimal cooking results.
In a deep fryer heated to 375F, place skewers and fry until skewers float to top. If you don't have a deep fryer, use a deep pot, being sure to fill it with oil no more than half full.
Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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