Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Spiedini
Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Spiedini made in the air fryer in about 30 minutes. Tender chicken with a breadcrumb coating and a lemon garlic butter sauce.
A Quick Chicken Meal
Have you ever heard of chicken speidini? You might have had something at a restaurant like Carrabbas where they have a shrimp version. But it is basically breaded chicken on a skewer with a lemon garlic sauce on top. A fancy name for a very simple dish. I love making these in the Air Fryer but they can also be baked in the oven or prepared on the grill depending on what works best for you. Great served with pasta, rice, potatoes, or a simple salad!
Outstanding recipe! Super tasty and easy to make!
– Jeff
Frequently Asked Questions
It goes great with a salad, potatoes, or rice. I also love serving this with angel hair pasta.
No but spiedini is made with skewers. Also, I haven’t tested this with the chicken just being in separate in the air fryer so it might cook a but faster.
I prefer chicken tenderloin as you can cut it easily into cubes. Additionally, you can use chicken thighs or diced chicken breasts.
Yes, you can double the sauce used to coat the chicken and use it as an additional sauce.
You could make it on the oven. I would mention that I think this turns out best in the air fryer though so please proceed knowing that recommendation.
I would cook on a baking pan (preferably a baking pan with a cookie cooling rack on top for air circulation and so juices can drip down and not gather around the chicken) for about 20-25 minutes at 400F. You can flip half way through if you think the other side isn’t browning enough. Always use a meat thermometer to be sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F.
I prefer to use both breadcrumbs as they add different textures. You can use just one if that’s what you prefer. If you don’t want to use any breadcrumbs, I have a similar Lemon Garlic Chicken Skewers recipe that doesn’t use any coating.
I have made this with marinating for 1 hour and just coating before baking. There is a bit more flavor if the chicken is marinated for an hour. I don’t marinate any longer than an hour, as the lemon juice can break down the chicken if marinated too long.
This is best served immediately, as it is crispy. You can keep this in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can preheat the chicken in the air fryer oven to make it crispy.
Ingredients Needed: (See Recipe Card Below For The Full Recipe)
- chicken tenderloins – I prefer to use chicken tenderloin because it’s easier to cut up into cubes. But, chicken thighs or chicken breasts can be used.
- oil – I’ve really been into avocado oil lately. It has a high smoke point and I find it doesn’t cause.a bunch of stickiness in the air fryer basket.
- chicken stock – you can use chicken broth or even a dry white wine if that is your thing.
- lemon zest + lemon juice – make sure you use fresh lemon juice. Also, a great tip is make sure you zest your lemon first before juicing (don’t ask me how I know 😉
- garlic cloves – if you don’t have garlic cloves on hand, you can use jarred garlic (but you know the fresh stuff is always going to give you the best taste.
- Italian seasoning, coarse kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika – one of my favorite seasoning power house combos. Please feel free to experiment and use flavors you enjoys.
- Italian seasoned breadcrumbs + Italian Panko breadcrumbs – you can use plain breadcrumbs, but I prefer the Italian for more flavor. I liked the combination of these two. It added flavor and texture. However, you can use just one or the other if you prefer (instead of both.)
- Parmesan cheese – make sure you use grated Parmesan over shredded as the shredded doesn’t cling as well to the chicken.
- unsalted butter – I used unsalted here since I thought there was plenty of salt already in the recipe but obviously, don’t go out an buy unsalted just for this recipe. Use what you have.
- parsley – this is optional if you forgot to buy it. It’s adding some color. You could also use dried parsley.
How To Make Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Spiedini
If using wooden skewers, soak the skewers in water. To a bowl or ziploc bag, add the chicken, avocado oil, chicken stock, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Seal the bag and gently move the chicken around so the sauce is evenly distributed and the chicken is fully coated. Set this aside. You can marinate this for up to one hour before baking. To another bowl or ziploc bag, add the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.
Add the chicken to the breadcrumb mixture. Seal the bag, then gently shake it and press the breadcrumbs onto the chicken.
Thread the chicken onto the skewers. Preheat a 6 quart (or larger) air fryer to 400° F. Spray the air fryer and the chicken with olive oil. Cook for 6 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 6-9 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165° F.
While the chicken is cooking, add the butter, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, lemon juice, and parsley to a bowl. Mix until combined. Remove the chicken and coat it with the butter sauce.
Serve and enjoy.
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Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Spiedini
Ingredients
Chicken Ingredients
- 4 wooden skewers (can use metal skewers, just be very careful when removing)
- 2 pounds chicken tenderloins, cubed
- ¼ cup oil (olive or avocado oil)
- ⅛ cup chicken stock (or broth or white wine)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ lemon for lemon juice
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Dry Ingredients
- ¾ cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Basting Sauce
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- juice from ½ lemon
- 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley (optional, can use dried)
Instructions
- If using 4 wooden skewers , soak the skewers in water.
- To a bowl or ziploc bag, add the 2 pounds chicken tenderloins, cubed, ¼ cup oil, ⅛ cup chicken stock, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1/2 lemon for lemon juice, minced 4 garlic cloves, minced, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Seal the bag and gently move the chicken around so the sauce is evenly distributed and the chicken is fully coated. Set this aside. You can marinate this for up to one hour before baking.
- To another bowl or ziploc bag, add the ¾ cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, ¾ cup panko bread crumbs, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Mix until combined.
- Add the chicken to the breadcrumb mixture. Seal the bag, then gently shake it and press the breadcrumbs onto the chicken.
- Thread the chicken onto the skewers.
- Preheat a 6 quart (or larger) air fryer to 400° F. Spray the air fryer and the chicken with olive oil.
- Cook for 6 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 6-9 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165° F.
- While the chicken is cooking, add the ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, minced 3 garlic cloves, minced, juice from ½ lemon, and 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley to a bowl. Mix until combined.
- Remove the chicken and coat it with the butter sauce.
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
I would love this but without the lemon cause I don’t like lemon. I will be trying this one!
I made this and it’s very easy and delicious. Wouldn’t change anything. But I would like to know if you can bake this in the oven if having a large group and at what temperature?
what other method of cooking can be used besides air fryer?!
I answer that above in the frequently asked question section 🙂
Excellent! I love having more recipes to make in my air fryer! My oven has been on the fritz so we’ve been heavily relying on the air fryer. Honestly, this was one of the best things I have ever made!! Absolutely delicious and tender and flavorful!
Outstanding recipe! Super tasty and easy to make!