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Air fryer bang bang chicken skewers brushed with creamy sweet-spicy sauce and served with extra dip.

Chicken Skewers for Easy Grilled Lunch Ideas Everyone Will Love

These bang bang chicken skewers are the kind of recipe thatfeels easy, fun, and just a little addictive. The chicken stays juicy, thesauce brings a creamy kick, and the whole thing comes together quickly enoughto make again anytime you need a fast dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • For the bang bang sauce
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce plus more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Method
 

  1. Season the chicken.
  2. Add the chicken cubes to a bowl and toss them with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavor has time to settle in.
  3. Mix the sauce.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, honey, and salt until smooth. Set some aside for serving and dipping later.
  5. Build the skewers.
  6. Thread the chicken pieces onto skewers, leaving a little space between each piece so the heat can circulate evenly.
  7. Brush with sauce.
  8. Coat the skewers lightly with some of the bang bang sauce before cooking.
  9. Air fry.
  10. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Arrange the skewers in a single layer and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches 165°F.
  11. Finish and serve.
  12. Brush with a little more sauce once cooked, then garnish with parsley, sesame seeds, or chili flakes if you like. Serve hot with the extra sauce on the side.

Notes

Soaking wooden skewers in water for about 30 minutes helps keep them from scorching during cooking. The recipe calls this out directly, and it’s especially useful if you’re using the air fryer often.
Try to cut the chicken into even pieces. That small detail makes a big difference because it helps all the skewers cook at the same pace instead of leaving some pieces underdone and others dry.
Marinating for at least 30 minutes is worth it. The recipe notes that this helps the flavor soak into the chicken and keeps the meat juicier.
A meat thermometer is the easiest way to avoid overcooking. The target temperature is 165°F, which keeps the chicken safe and still tender.
If you want to keep the recipe low-carb, the notes suggest using full-fat mayo, low-carb sweet chili sauce, keto-friendly hot sauce, and sugar-free honey.