Try making chicken and pineapple kabobs in air fryer! Air frying makes the chicken succulent and caramelizes the pineapple, creating a gorgeous mouthful.
These chicken and pineapple kabobs in air fryer are smothered with smoky BBQ and sweet teriyaki, enriching the crunchy bell pepper, red onion, and juicy pineapple. Tender chunks of chicken breast complete this light yet satisfying meal, wonderful on a warm summer's evening.
Making your pineapple chicken kabobs in air fryer guarantees you soft, evenly cooked chicken breast and crisp vegetables without spending your evening standing over a hot grill. The air fryer retains the moisture in the marinated meat while browning the outside to create a texture like nothing else.
You’ll love how quick and easy it is to make these crowd-pleasing air fryer chicken pineapple kabobs, almost as much as you’ll love eating them!
Ingredients you’ll need to make chicken pineapple kabobs
**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**
BBQ sauce. Tangy, sweet, and just a little smoky, BBQ sauce is just the thing for chicken pineapple kabobs. You can find it in most grocery stores - another sweet and tangy sauce you could use is duck sauce (also known as plum sauce).
Teriyaki sauce. If you can’t find teriyaki sauce, combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic.
Minced garlic and ginger. Many grocery stores sell garlic and ginger purees that you can use if you don’t feel like preparing them yourself!
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch chunks). Chicken breast is the best meat for bbq pineapple chicken kabobs because it’s the most tender part! Always choose meat that is springy and pink to ensure freshness.
Pineapple chunks. Not only is pineapple juicy and sweet, but it’s also loaded with nutrients, particularly Vitamin C. It also contains enzymes called bromelain that can help with digestion.
Bell pepper. Choose red bell pepper for a sweet flavor and green for a more bitter taste. You can substitute bell pepper for zucchini if you prefer.
Red onion. Red onion is a great addition to these kabobs because of its mild, mildly sweet, tangy taste. White onion also works well but has a much stronger flavor.
Tools used to make the recipe.
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How to make chicken pineapple kabobs in air fryer?
Making the sauce: In a bowl, combine the bbq sauce, teriyaki sauce, garlic, and ginger, and reserve ¼ cup of the mixture.
Marinating chicken: In a large bowl or ziplock bag, add the chicken chunks, salt and pepper, and the rest of the mixture, and toss to combine. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.
Air Frying: Discard the marinade and thread the chicken, pineapple, bell pepper, and onion onto the skewers. Transfer the chicken pineapple kabob to the air fryer basket, spritz with oil and cook to 380 for 12 minutes, turning halfway through. Brush with the reserved marinade and cook for 2 more minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
Serving: Remove from the basket and serve with the remaining sauce. Enjoy!
Recipe tips
- Marinade for at least 30 minutes and not longer than 6 hours, as marinating for longer than this can cause the meat to toughen.
- Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken to check for a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving. Ensure that you don’t touch the skewer with the thermometer, as this will affect the reading.
How long to cook chicken kabobs with pineapple in air fryer
It takes around 14 minutes at 380°F to cook chicken and pineapple kabobs in the air fryer. Cook them for 6 minutes on each side, and then add a final 2 minutes with extra marinade.
The cooking time will depend on the model of air fryer you are using, as well as the size of your chicken pieces, so it’s important to use a meat thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
What to serve with pineapple chicken kabobs
These chicken kabobs with pineapple are lovely served with a pile of fluffy brown rice and a helping of fresh black bean and corn salsa for a light meal that is an absolute treat!
Still need more options:
How to store leftovers chicken skewers
Store leftover chicken pineapple skewers in the fridge for 3-4 days and in the freezer for 4-6 months.
Leave the chicken and vegetables on the skewers (this makes them easier to reheat) and seal them in an airtight container. Then, move them to the fridge or freezer. Do this within 2 hours of cooking to avoid bacterial growth.
How to reheat chicken kebab
You can reheat the chicken kebab in the air fryer, the oven, or a skillet.
- Air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 300°F, and then put your pineapple chicken kabobs in the basket for 3-4 minutes until they reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F. If they are frozen, allow an additional 5-8 minutes.
- Oven: Lay the kebabs on a baking sheet, and place them in an oven preheated to 350°F. Cook them for 5 minutes until they reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F. If they are frozen, you will need to defrost them first.
- Skillet. Warm a little oil in a skillet over medium heat, and then add the skewers. Turn them often and heat them until they have reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F. If they are frozen, you will need to defrost them first.
FAQ’s
When choosing skewers for the air fryer, you can opt for either bamboo or steel and get good results.
These bamboo skewers are a great option if you are on a budget because they are well priced, light, and renewable.
If you want to invest a little more, you could go for a set of stainless steel skewers. They cost a bit more upfront, but you can wash and reuse them forever!
If you’re really into air frying, you can’t go wrong with a set of air fryer accessories, including a skewer rack to help the hot air pass more freely around your chicken Hawaiian kabobs and a basting brush to help with your marinating.
It’s completely fine to use bamboo skewers in the air fryer - if you use bamboo skewers, make sure you soak them for at least 20 minutes to avoid burning.
Teriyaki-BBQ is a fantastic marinade for chicken pineapple kabobs because it’s sticky and sweet but has a deep flavor. If you like sweeter marinades, honey-soy is another one that works well.
If you want to try something a little creamier, a middle eastern style marinade with a thick yogurt base and earthy spices like paprika and cumin is always a delicious option.
Yes! If you want to bake your kabobs rather than air fry them, preheat the oven to 450°F. Then, put the chicken pineapple kabobs on a baking sheet lined with foil, and bake them for 15 minutes.
Absolutely, you can make these kabobs ahead of time and freeze them ready for when you need them. For the best results, defrost the kabobs in the refrigerator before air frying them.
You can keep kabobs in the freezer for 4-6 months.
More Air Fryer Skewers you’ll Love
- Air Fryer Sausage Kabobs
- Air Fryer Steak And Shrimp Skewers
- Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
- Sausage and Shrimp Kabobs
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Air Fryer Chicken and Pineapple Kabobs
Try making chicken and pineapple kabobs in air fryer! Air frying makes the chicken succulent and caramelizes the pineapple, creating a gorgeous mouthful.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
- ⅓ cup teriyaki sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 bell pepper, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 red onion cut into 2-inch pieces
- Oil sprayer bottle with olive oil
Tools
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the bbq sauce, teriyaki sauce, garlic, and ginger, reserve ¼ cup of the mixture.
- In a large bowl or ziplock bag, add the chicken chunks, salt and pepper, and the rest of the mixture, and toss to combine. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours in the refrigerator.
- Discard the marinade and thread the chicken, pineapple, bell pepper, and onion onto the skewers. Transfer the chicken pineapple kabob to the air fryer basket, spritz with oil and cook to 380 for 12 minutes, turning halfway through. Brush with the reserved marinade and cook for 2 more minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- Remove from the basket and serve with the remaining sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
- Marinade for at least 30 minutes and not longer than 6 hours, as marinating for longer than this can cause the meat to toughen.
- Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken to check for a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving. Ensure that you don’t touch the skewer with the thermometer, as this will affect the reading.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 480Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 852mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 55g
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated, only the sodium in the other ingredients is calculated.