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Buffalo Ranch Chicken Skewers Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 88 reviews

These Buffalo Ranch Chicken Skewers are a deliciously spicy and savory appetizer or main dish featuring moist chicken tenders marinated and coated in a flavorful buffalo and ranch seasoning blend. Cooked to juicy perfection in the air fryer with a rich, buttery buffalo ranch sauce for basting, they are perfect for game day, parties, or a quick weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Marinade

  • 2 lbs chicken tenders (or breast or thighs, but tenders preferred for moisture)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning (for marinade)
  • 1 tablespoon buffalo dry rub (for marinade)

Buffalo Dry Rub

  • 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 Seasoning

  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 tablespoon dried dill
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dried chives (for garnish and sauce)

Butter Sauce

  • 1 stick (8 oz) salted butter
  • 1.5 tablespoons buffalo seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives, minced

Instructions

  1. Soak Skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during cooking.
  2. Prepare Seasonings: In one small bowl combine the buffalo dry rub ingredients to create the buffalo spice mixture. In another bowl combine the dried parsley, dill, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create the ranch seasoning blend.
  3. Prep Chicken: Cut chicken tenders into approximately 3-inch pieces. Place the chicken pieces in a bowl or zip-top bag and add olive oil, 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning, and 1 tablespoon buffalo dry rub. Toss or seal and shake to coat all pieces thoroughly.
  4. Skewer Chicken: Thread chicken pieces tightly on the soaked wooden skewers, ensuring no gaps to keep the pieces juicy while cooking.
  5. Make Butter Sauce: Place butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for about 15 seconds until softened but not fully melted. Stir in 1.5 tablespoons buffalo seasoning and 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning, then fold in the minced fresh chives. Adjust seasoning to taste by adding more buffalo or ranch spices as desired.
  6. Prepare for Basting: Reserve about one-third of the butter sauce in a separate bowl for basting the raw chicken. This avoids cross-contamination when basting cooked chicken later. Keep the remaining sauce for basting cooked chicken and wash the basting brush between uses.
  7. Air Fry Chicken: Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Remove and flip the skewers, then baste with the reserved uncooked butter sauce. Return the skewers to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
  8. Continue Cooking & Basting: Flip skewers back to the original side, baste again with the sauce, and cook for another 5-6 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). total cook time should be around 12-15 minutes, depending on your air fryer.
  9. Finish & Serve: After cooking, generously brush the skewers with the remaining buttery buffalo ranch sauce and sprinkle additional fresh chives on top. Serve immediately with ranch dressing for dipping if desired.

Notes

  • Soaking the skewers is essential to prevent them from burning during air frying.
  • Adjust the cayenne pepper quantity in the buffalo rub to moderate the spicy heat.
  • Ensure chicken is cut into uniform sizes for even cooking.
  • Use immediate refrigeration of leftover sauce to maintain freshness.
  • Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure safety.

Keywords: Buffalo chicken skewers, air fryer chicken, buffalo ranch chicken, spicy chicken skewers, game day recipes

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