Air fryer Chinese chicken on a stick is an easy recipe that's fun to eat. This version is made with boneless chicken breast meat that's been marinated in a simple homemade teriyaki sauce. Weeknight dinner just got a lot easier!
Want more chicken recipes? Try my Air Fryer Stir Fry, Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, or my Instant Pot Chicken and Broccoli.
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Recipe at a glance
- Air fryer Chinese chicken on a stick is delicious and easy-to-make. It's a great alternative to breaded chicken tenders.
- Chicken on a stick is a delicious recipe made with simple ingredients that can be made ahead. That means less stress at dinner time.
- Using an air fryer allows you to cook the chicken quickly and evenly, making it a great option for busy weeknights or impromptu gatherings.
- Family favorite that kids (of all ages) love!
What is Chinese Chicken on a Stick?
Chinese Chicken on a Stick is simply marinated chicken pieces skewered onto wooden sticks and cooked to perfection in the air fryer.
This recipe is inspired by Chinese Skewers, a flavorful street food you might find at your favorite Chinese restaurant or outdoor gathering.
It is a simple yet delicious dish that involves marinating chicken pieces, skewering them on wooden sticks, and air frying or grilling them to perfection.
Helpful Tips to Know Ahead
Check out these tips before you start the cooking process.
What Kind of Skewers to Use
When making air fryer Chinese chicken on a stick, it's important to choose the right kind of skewers to ensure that your chicken stays in place and cooks evenly.
- Wooden skewers: Soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent them from burning in the air fryer.
- Metal skewers can also be used, but they will get hot so be sure to protect your fingers when handling them.
- Choose the right size: Make sure your skewers are long enough to hold the chicken without it falling off, but not so long that they won't fit in your air fryer basket.
- Thread the chicken carefully: To prevent the chicken from slipping off the skewers, thread it through the thickest part of the meat and make sure it's secure.
Cooking equipment
Ingredients
- Boneless chicken breast or boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Honey - maple syrup or brown sugar can be used
- Vinegar - rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar or standard distilled vinegar
- Ginger - fresh ginger works best, but is optional
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Chili flakes - crushed red pepper, black pepper, hot sauce, or sriracha; optional. Use if you want a touch of spice
- Green onion and sesame seeds- diagonally sliced green onions for garnish; optional
- Optional additional marinade ingredients: hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, pineapple juice
How to make chinese chicken on a stick in the air fryer
STEP ONE: Soak wooden skewers in cold water for 15 minutes. This will help keep them from burning during the cooking process.
STEP TWO: Cut the chicken breasts into bit sized pieces. Place in a bowl or zip top freezer bag.
STEP THREE: Make the teriyaki marinade by combining soy sauce, sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder in a small bowl. Add optional ingredients if desired. Ginger should finely grated. Mix ingredients well.
STEP FOUR: Pour marinade over pieces of chicken. Cover chicken completely with marinade. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and up to 8 hours if making ahead.
STEP FIVE: Thread chicken pieces onto wooden skewers one by one. Pieces should be touching each other.
STEP SIX: Air fry at 400 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until cooked through. Flip them over at the half way point to be sure they brown evenly on all sides. Keep in mind that air fryers vary and cooking time may need to be adjusted for best results.
Grill instructions
- Soak skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill.
- Mix marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
- Add chicken to the bowl and toss to coat evenly.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to marinate.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread chicken onto skewers, placing them close together.
- Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Oven baked instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Soak skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning in the oven.
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, ensuring they are roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Mix marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
- Add chicken to the bowl and toss to coat evenly.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to marinate.
- Thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers placing them close together.
- Place a wire rack on a baking tray to elevate the skewers. This will allow any excess fat or juices to drip away and help the chicken cook evenly.
- Arrange the chicken skewers on the wire rack, ensuring they are not touching each other.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the chicken pieces and the specific oven.
- Halfway through the cooking process, you can flip the skewers to ensure they brown evenly on all sides.
More Tips
- Make with boneless chicken breasts: They are easy to cut into bite-sized pieces and cook quickly in the air fryer.
- Use boneless chicken thighs instead, but adjust the cooking time. Be sure to cook chicken meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Marinate the chicken: Marinating the chicken in a homemade or store-bought marinade will add flavor and keep it juicy.
- Don't overcrowd the basket: Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding and ensure that it cooks evenly.
- Double the recipe and cook in batches.
Yes, you can marinate the meat up to 8 hours ahead of time and cook the skewers when needed. You can also store cooked skewers in the refrigerator and reheat them until warmed through or serve them at room temperature.
Teriyaki chicken or chicken satay. You can usually find these dishes in the appetizer section of the menu. The dish is also common at Chinese buffet restaurants.
Serve with these favorite side dishes
- Instant Pot Basmati Rice
- Instant Pot Coconut Jasmine Rice
- Singapore Fried Rice
- Cucumber and carrot salad
Serve with these delicious dipping sauces
- Hot honey sauce
- Asian Dipping Sauce
- Three Ingredient Stir Fry Sauce and Dip
- Buttermilk Ranch Dressing and Dip
How to Make a Thai Peanut Sauce
This Thai peanut sauce is my favorite dipping sauce. It's a great recipe to whip up with all your favorite Asian food meals.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup water
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
- Gradually whisk in the water until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Serve the Thai peanut sauce alongside the Air Fryer Chinese Chicken on a Stick for dipping.
Storing and Reheating
To reheat the chicken in the microwave, place the chicken on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. For best results, use medium power.
If you have leftover chicken, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
To reheat, simply place the chicken in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes or until heated through. Wrap the chicken in aluminum foil if desired.
Remember, it's important to store the chicken properly to prevent any bacteria from growing. Make sure to let the chicken cool completely before storing it in the refrigerator. And when reheating, always make sure the chicken is heated through to an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure it is safe to eat.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chinese Chicken on a Stick
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless chicken breast boneless skinless thighs
Marinade
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil
- ¼ cup honey maple syrup, brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar apple cider vinegar or standard distilled vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger freshly grated, optional
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes - crushed red pepper black pepper, hot sauce, or sriracha; optional. Use if you want a touch of spice
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, pineapple juice optional marinade additions
Garnish
- sliced green onion , sesame seeds, fresh squeezed lime
Instructions
- Soak wooden skewers in cold water for 15 minutes. This will help keep them from burning during the cooking process.
- Cut the chicken breasts into bit sized pieces. Place in a bowl or zip top freezer bag.
- Make the marinade by combining soy sauce, sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder in a small bowl. Add optional ingredients if desired. Ginger should finely grated. Mix ingredients well.
- Pour marinade over pieces of chicken. Cover chicken completely with marinade. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and up to 8 hours if making ahead.
- Thread chicken pieces onto wooden skewers one by one. Pieces should be touching each other.
- Air fry at 400 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until cooked through. Flip them over at the half way point to be sure they brown evenly on all sides. Keep in mind that air fryers vary and cooking time may need to be adjusted for best results.
Notes
- If you have leftover chicken, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
- To reheat, simply place the chicken in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes or until heated through. Wrap the chicken in aluminum foil if desired.
- Remember, it's important to store the chicken properly to prevent any bacteria from growing. Make sure to let the chicken cool completely before storing it in the refrigerator. And when reheating, always make sure the chicken is heated through to an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure it is safe to eat.
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