Air Fryer Chicken Suya from @sliceofjess

Air Fryer Chicken Suya
Yield 8 skewers
Author Slice of Jess-Changing the Way You Eat, One Slice at a Time
Prep time
10 Min
Cook time
16 Min
Inactive time
30 Min
Total time
56 Min

Air Fryer Chicken Suya

The marinade is everything here, as it helps flavor the meat and creates a super delicious, caramelized crust on the exterior. This recipe was inspired by a Nigerian dish that's normally skewered and then grilled. However, Jess loves to revamp traditional recipes into air fryer versions!

Ingredients

Marinade
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
  • 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne
  • 1/2 tablespoon chicken bouillon
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon dalt
  • 2 tablespoon peanut oil
Chicken Suya
  • 8 - 10 wooden skewers, soaked in water
  • 1.5 lbs Springer Mountain Farms Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
  • Italian parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Whisk together all of the ingredients for the marinade and set aside.
  2. Prepare the chicken but cutting the thighs into smaller bite-sized pieces and trimming any excess fat.
  3. Fold the chicken into the marinade, & marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
  5. Slide chicken onto skewers, packing them tightly together.
  6. Divide the skewers evenly among both racks (about 4 - 5 skewers each) and cook for 16 minutes, making sure to rotate the racks halfway through.
  7. The chicken will be done once the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
  8. Enjoy immediately with your favorite sides and hot sauce.

Notes

*White pepper is a little milder than black pepper. Since you're adding cayenne for heat, white pepper makes this marinade a little more complex and earthy. If you don't have any on hand, you can certainly substitute with black pepper. Just make sure to start with a smaller amount, taste (before adding the chicken!), and adjust accordingly. 


If you want to kick things up a notch, you can add more cayenne, or a spoonful of garlic chili paste to the marinade. Sriracha tastes great as well!


I prefer the texture of the dried minced onion, but you can certainly replace that with onion powder if that's what you have on hand.

 

The wooden skewers aren't necessary, but I find that it helps the chicken cook evenly. Depending on what type of air fryer you are using, cooking times may vary. I use an Instant Pot Vortex, which has two racks. If you have a basket air fryer, you may need to cook in batches and flip the skewers over halfway through.


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These nutty chicken skewers are quickly becoming a family favorite at Jess’ house! Crispy on the outside, succulent in the middle… and thanks to the air fryer, they cook quickly! A perfect option for weeknight dinner. She served the Chicken Suya over Savory Jollof Rice and Spicy African Pepper Sauce. The combination was oh-so-yummy!

Check out A Slice of Jess Blog for this great recipe and so much more!

Heather Sinyard