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Buffalo Ranch Chicken Skewers Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 83 reviews

These Buffalo Ranch Chicken Skewers are juicy, flavorful chicken tenders marinated in a spicy buffalo and tangy ranch seasoning blend, then air fried to perfection. Coated with a buttery sauce and packed with herbs, they make a perfect appetizer or main dish with bold flavors and a tender texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Marinade

  • 2 lbs chicken tenders (or breast/thighs, tenders preferred for moisture)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning (from ranch spice mix below)
  • 1 tablespoon buffalo dry rub (from buffalo spice mix below)

Buffalo Spice Mix

  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (reduce for less spice)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon ground mustard
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Ranch Spice Mix

  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives, minced
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 tablespoon dried dill
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Butter Mixture & Basting Sauce

  • 1 – 8 oz stick salted butter
  • 1.5 tablespoons buffalo seasoning (from buffalo spice mix)
  • 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning (from ranch spice mix)

Instructions

  1. Soak Skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
  2. Make Seasonings: In one small bowl, combine the buffalo spice mix ingredients. In another bowl, combine ranch seasoning ingredients. Set both aside.
  3. Prepare Chicken: Cut chicken tenders into approximately 3-inch pieces. Place them in a large bowl or zip-top bag and add olive oil, 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning, and 1 tablespoon buffalo dry rub. Toss to coat all pieces evenly.
  4. Assemble Skewers: Thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers, packing them tightly with no gaps to retain juiciness.
  5. Make Butter Mixture: Soften the stick of butter by heating it for around 15 seconds until creamy but not melted. Mix in 1.5 tablespoons buffalo seasoning, 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning, and the minced chives. Adjust seasoning to taste for desired spice level.
  6. Prepare Basting Sauce: Divide the butter sauce into two portions. Use one-third for basting the raw chicken before cooking. Reserve the remainder for basting cooked chicken, using separate utensils to avoid cross-contamination.
  7. Cook Skewers: Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 5 minutes.
  8. Flip and Baste: Remove skewers, flip them, and baste with reserved sauce. Return to air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes at 400°F.
  9. Final Cooking and Basting: Flip skewers back, baste again, then cook for another 5-6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Total cooking time is approximately 12-15 minutes, varying with air fryer model.
  10. Serve: After cooking, brush skewers with a final coat of buttery buffalo ranch sauce and sprinkle with extra chives if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

  • Soaking the wooden skewers prevents them from burning in the air fryer.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F for safety.
  • Adjust cayenne pepper quantity in buffalo seasoning for desired spice level.
  • Use separate brushes and bowls for raw and cooked chicken to avoid cross contamination.
  • This recipe works well with chicken breast or thighs but tenders are preferred for moisture.
  • Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model and size.

Keywords: Buffalo chicken skewers, buffalo ranch chicken, air fryer chicken skewers, spicy chicken skewers, buffalo sauce chicken, ranch seasoned chicken

Find it online: https://bitesizedbenny.com/buffalo-ranch-chicken-skewers-recipe/