Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are juicy, cheesy, and loaded with buttery garlic flavor. They cook quickly in the air fryer, oven, or grill and make an easy weeknight dinner or party favorite.

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Why You’ll Love These Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
These skewers are everything you want in a chicken dinner: flavorful, juicy, and simple. The combination of parmesan, ranch seasoning, and fresh garlic creates a bold, zesty coating that clings to every tender bite.
You’ll love how flexible the recipe is. You can make them in the air fryer for speed, on the grill for smoky char, or in the oven when cooking for a crowd. The prep is easy, and the results are consistently delicious.
They pair beautifully with rice, salad, or even tucked into cheesy garlic chicken wraps for lunch the next day. Whether you’re feeding family or hosting friends, these skewers always impress without keeping you stuck in the kitchen.
Best of all, the rich garlic parmesan butter sauce is brushed on multiple times while cooking, which locks in moisture and layers of flavor. The result is perfectly juicy chicken with a golden, garlicky finish.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Chicken
You’ll need about 2 pounds of chicken tenders, thighs, or breast meat. Cut into 3-inch chunks so they cook evenly. Coat them in olive oil and a seasoning mix of ranch powder, dill, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. This mix soaks into the chicken, creating flavor from the inside out.
Don’t forget to soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. This prevents burning and keeps them sturdy during cooking. The chicken should be packed tightly on skewers with no gaps, which helps lock in juices and prevents drying.
For the Garlic Parmesan Ranch Butter Sauce
The sauce is the star here. Melt butter gently with minced garlic, then stir in parmesan cheese, ranch seasoning, dill, onion powder, a splash of hot sauce, and red pepper flakes. The result is creamy, garlicky, slightly spicy, and cheesy.
Make sure to set aside two-thirds of the sauce before brushing it on raw chicken. That way, you’ll have plenty of safe, uncontaminated sauce to baste the skewers during cooking and drizzle over at the end.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
Prep the Skewers and Season the Chicken
Start by soaking wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cut chicken into chunks. Toss the chicken with olive oil, ranch powder, dill, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until all pieces are coated. Thread the seasoned chicken onto skewers tightly, leaving no empty gaps. This keeps them juicy.

Make the Garlic Parmesan Ranch Butter Sauce
In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant but not browned. Stir in parmesan, ranch seasoning, dill, onion powder, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes. Mix well. Remove from heat and reserve two-thirds of the sauce for basting after cooking.

Air Fryer Method
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place 2–3 skewers at a time in the basket. Cook for 5 minutes, then flip and brush with sauce. Cook 2 more minutes, flip again, baste, and finish for 5–6 minutes more. Check that the chicken reaches 165°F internally. Brush with extra sauce and sprinkle with parmesan before serving.

Oven-Baked Method
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a sheet pan with foil and arrange skewers in a single layer. Bake for 7 minutes, flip, and baste with sauce. Continue baking 7 more minutes. For extra caramelization, broil for 2 minutes. Brush with more sauce and parmesan before serving.
Grilled Method
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place skewers directly over the flame. Grill 5–6 minutes per side, basting with sauce during cooking. When the chicken reaches 165°F, remove from heat and finish with a final sauce brush and parmesan.
Expert Tips for Perfect Skewers Every Time
Soak your skewers thoroughly to avoid burning, especially when grilling. Always reserve sauce for post-cooking basting to prevent contamination. If your butter sauce separates, whisk in a spoonful of softened butter until it comes together again.
For extra juicy chicken, pack pieces tightly on skewers. Air fryer baskets can be small, so trim skewers if needed. Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking—juicy chicken is all about hitting 165°F without going over. Wash your basting brush between uses for food safety.
Flavor, Texture, and Serving Suggestions
These skewers have tender, juicy chicken wrapped in a buttery, garlicky coating with mild heat from red pepper flakes. Parmesan adds a nutty, cheesy finish that clings to every bite.
Serve them over rice, toss them with pasta like this creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta, or add them to a fresh salad. For leftovers, try stuffing them into cheesy garlic chicken wraps or alongside veggies for a quick meal prep lunch.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store cooked skewers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 350°F or in the air fryer for 3–4 minutes until warmed through. Avoid microwaving, which can dry out the chicken.
Recipe Notes and Troubleshooting
If your butter sauce looks oily or separated, whisk in a tablespoon of softened butter until smooth again. Always set aside sauce before brushing raw chicken to keep things safe.
When air frying, don’t overcrowd the basket. Cook in batches for even browning. If your skewers don’t fit in the basket, trim them down slightly. For grilled skewers, watch for flare-ups and move them as needed to avoid burning.
Related Recipes to Try
- Creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta
- Air fryer chicken breasts recipe
- Parmesan crusted chicken sheet pan dinner
- Cheesy garlic chicken wraps
- Honey garlic chicken breast recipe
- Garlic parmesan chicken recipes
Frequently Asked Questions About Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
How to keep chicken skewers from drying out?
Pack the chicken tightly on skewers and baste with sauce while cooking. Using a thermometer helps avoid overcooking past 165°F.
How to prepare chicken skewers from Costco?
Season and thread them onto skewers, then follow the same cooking methods. Adjust cook times depending on thickness.
How long can you keep chicken skewers in the fridge?
Cooked skewers last up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container. For best taste, reheat in the air fryer or oven.
How long on each side for chicken parm?
For grilled skewers, cook 5–6 minutes per side. In the air fryer, flip at 5 minutes, then again after 2 minutes before finishing.
Conclusion
Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are a quick, flavorful dinner that works for busy nights or weekend gatherings. The cheesy, garlicky butter sauce makes them unforgettable, and you can choose your favorite cooking method.
Whether you serve them over rice, tuck them into wraps, or enjoy them straight from the skewer, these skewers bring big flavor with very little effort. For more dinner inspiration, you can check out more ideas on Pinterest.
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Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
- Total Time: 54 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Juicy Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers with a buttery, garlicky sauce. Air fryer, oven, or grill. Quick, cheesy, and perfect for dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
2 lbs chicken tenders (or thighs/breast), cut into 3-inch pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
1.5 tbsp dry ranch seasoning (for chicken)
1 tsp dried dill (for chicken)
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Wooden skewers, soaked 30 minutes
1 stick butter
8–10 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus more for finishing
1 tbsp hot sauce
2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
1 tbsp dry ranch seasoning
1 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp onion powder
Instructions
1. Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes so they do not scorch.
2. Toss chicken with olive oil, 1.5 tbsp ranch seasoning, 1 tsp dill, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Thread chicken tightly onto soaked skewers with no gaps so juices stay in.
4. Melt butter gently in a saucepan. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, not browned.
5. Stir in hot sauce, red pepper flakes, parmesan, ranch seasoning, dill, and onion powder. Mix until creamy.
6. Reserve two-thirds of the sauce in a clean bowl for basting after the chicken is cooked.
7. AIR FRYER: Preheat to 400°F. Cook 2–3 skewers for 5 minutes. Flip and baste lightly. Cook 2 minutes, flip and baste again, then cook 5–6 minutes more until internal temp is 165°F.
8. OVEN: Preheat to 450°F. Bake skewers 7 minutes, flip and baste, then another 7 minutes. Broil 2 minutes, baste again, and finish with parmesan.
9. GRILL: Heat grill to medium-high. Cook skewers 5–6 minutes per side, basting with sauce, until chicken reaches 165°F. Finish with parmesan.
Notes
If sauce separates, whisk in 1–2 tbsp softened butter to re-emulsify.
Always reserve sauce for post-cooking basting to avoid contamination.
Trim skewers if they do not fit in the air fryer.
Pack chicken tightly on skewers to keep it juicy.
Wash basting brush between raw and cooked uses.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes (includes soaking skewers)
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dinner Recipes
- Method: Air fryer, Oven, or Grill
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: Not specified
- Sugar: Not specified
- Sodium: Not specified
- Fat: Not specified
- Saturated Fat: Not specified
- Unsaturated Fat: Not specified
- Trans Fat: Not specified
- Carbohydrates: Not specified
- Fiber: Not specified
- Protein: Not specified
- Cholesterol: Not specified
