Garlic Honey Butter Chicken Skewers

Glazed garlic honey butter chicken skewers are plated on a blue patterned dish for serving.
With juicy chunks of chicken thigh brushed with a garlic honey butter glaze, these skewers are seriously one of the best things you can make for a party. It's the kind of food that's easy to scale, super easy to make, and will have no leftovers for you to take home!
Watch me make Garlic Honey Butter Chicken Skewers
Servings: 3 servings
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 27 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredients 

Chicken & Marinade

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into ½-inch chunks
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp paprika

Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley, optional

Instructions 

  • Cut your chicken thighs into ½-inch chunks. In a bowl, marinate with sesame oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika for at least 15 minutes.
  • Place the marinated chicken onto skewers, spacing the pieces evenly.
  • Lightly oil your air fryer basket and place the skewers in. Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through if needed.
  • For the sauce, melt butter in a pan. Add minced garlic and honey, stirring for 1 minute, then add salt and parsley. Mix until smooth and glossy.
  • Brush the honey butter garlic sauce over the cooked skewers until evenly coated.
  • Serve on a plate and optionally brush on even more sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 33gFat: 23g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Table of Contents

There’s always one appetizer at the dinner party that is the most popular, and if it isn’t mine, I get so jealous! But these Garlic Honey Butter Chicken Skewers are it! They’re so easy to make, but are so complex in flavor that it’s almost like cheating! The chicken thighs are juicy, the glaze is sweet and sticky, and the air fryer gives it that char that replicates that BBQ flavor, even without the grill! It’s everything you want in an appetizer and is perfect for Thanksgiving, family dinners, or even just to enjoy by yourself.

A close-up shot shows the sticky, caramelized garlic honey butter coating on each chicken skewer.
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The Secret To The Sauce

The chicken is great by itself, but the sauce is the real reason that these are so popular. A lot of people know that garlic, butter, and honey are classic flavors when combined, but when it’s brushed over these chicken skewers, it turns it into something truly amazing. The butter adds that extra layer of richness, the honey balances the salty flavors, and the garlic adds that aromatic layer that emphasizes all the other flavors. You can add some extra salt or parsley if you’d like, but you don’t have to! It’s perfect either way.

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Garlic Honey Butter Chicken Skewers

Chicken & Marinade

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into ½-inch chunks
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp paprika

Honey Garlic Butter Sauce

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)

How to Make Garlic Honey Butter Chicken Skewers

Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks and marinate with sesame oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Let sit for at least 15 minutes.

Garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper are sprinkled over raw chicken pieces in a metal bowl.

Place chicken onto skewers, spacing pieces slightly so they cook evenly.

Chunks of marinated chicken are threaded onto bamboo skewers for even cooking.

Lightly oil your air fryer basket. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through if needed.

Chicken skewers are carefully laid inside an oiled air fryer basket before cooking.

While the chicken cooks, melt butter in a small pan. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in honey, salt, and parsley.

Golden honey is poured into a saucepan of melted butter and sautéed garlic.

Brush sauce over the hot skewers, making sure every piece gets coated.

Cooked chicken skewers are brushed with glossy garlic honey butter glaze for extra flavor.

Serve immediately and optionally brush on some extra sauce.

The finished chicken skewers get one last brush of garlic honey butter sauce before serving.

Tips & Variations

Use wooden skewers?

Soak them in water for 15–20 minutes first to keep them from burning!

Want extra heat?

Add chili flakes to the glaze, but add a teaspoon at a time and add as needed.

Don’t have an air fryer?

Bake at 400°F (205°C) for 20–22 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prep these ahead of time?

Yes! I actually highly recommend doing so if you’re cooking for a party. I like to marinate and skewer the chicken the night before, then cook and glaze when ready to serve. The sauce also reheats well.

What if I don’t have skewers?

Just air fry the chunks on their own and toss in the sauce. It’s still amazing!!

How do I store leftovers?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes to warm them back up.

Can I use chicken breast instead?

You can, but thighs are more forgiving and juicy in the air fryer. If you use breast, just don’t overcook.

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About Mitchell Masuda

I'm a home (and self-taught) cook based in New York sharing easy, delicious, and approachable Asian food recipes!

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