These air fryer Olive Garden dressing chicken kabobs are a quick and easy alternative to grilled skewers. Using a ready-made marinade and air fryer makes this a foolproof recipe that is perfect for a light dinner.
I love cooking chicken kabobs inside my air fryer. It is much faster and simpler than having to fire up the grill but I still get that satisfying summer’s day feeling of a barbecue.
I highly recommend this dish for when you want a light meal without too much fuss. This versatile recipe can be adjusted with whatever vegetables you have ready and pairs perfectly with many different side dishes.
Air Fryer Olive Garden Chicken Kabobs Ingredients
- Large Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Olive Garden Dressing
- Bell Peppers
- Yellow Onion
- Yellow Squash
- Zucchini
- Grape Tomatoes
- Wood or Metal Skewers – That will fit in you air fryer basket (My Ninja Foodi fits 8″ skewers)
Can you marinate chicken with Italian dressing?
Depending on how many skewers you can fit into your air fryer, the cook time can be as short as just 9 minutes. To make this dish come together even quicker, I use a bottle of Olive Garden Italian Dressing as the chicken marinade.
I hear you saying it, ‘wait, can you really marinate chicken with Italian dressing?’ Yes, you absolutely can and it is delicious!
The chicken breast soaks up all the fresh flavors of the Italian herbs as it sits in the fridge overnight. Then, once you place it in the air fryer the creaminess of the sauce helps to prevent the chicken from becoming dry.
Using Italian dressing is a great kitchen hack for when you don’t keep too many spices in the pantry or if you’re unsure about how to make a marinade. Plus, it keeps in the fridge for quite a long time so you don’t have to immediately finish the entire bottle.
Chicken does not need to marinate for very long but I recommend leaving it in a sealed tupperware box inside the fridge for at least one hour. If possible, let it marinate overnight so that the flavors can pop even more.
Is Olive Garden Italian Dressing Keto-Friendly and Low-Carb?
Amazingly, the Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing comes to only 2g of carbs (from sugars) per serving. So, if you are on a keto or low-carb diet, this is a good alternative to many other salad dressings that are loaded with carbohydrates.
I won’t say that this is a super healthy dressing – if you were to drown your salad with it you would be better off with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing. But as a chicken marinade, a little goes a long way.
As long as the bits of chicken breast are all evenly covered, there is no need to go overboard. Chicken is one of the best proteins for soaking up a quick marinade.
If you want to be extra careful, you can try to make your own copycat Olive Garden Italian dressing or shop around for an even more keto-friendly alternative.
Best Vegetables on a Chicken Skewer
For this recipe, I use bell peppers, squash, zucchini, yellow onion, and grape tomatoes as the skewer vegetables. I think this combination has great texture and flavors that pair really well with the Olive Garden dressing. The colors also look fantastic!
When choosing what vegetables to put on a skewer you have to think about the cook time. Either choose vegetables that have a similar cook time or vegetables that can also be eaten raw.
Another way to get an even cook on the vegetables is to cut them to a size according to their cook time. For example, in this recipe, I cut the zucchini and squash into ½” pieces and the peppers and onions into 2” pieces.
Since zucchini and squash generally need more time to cook, cutting them into smaller pieces makes sure I don’t have to pre-cook them. I wanted this recipe to be as hands-off as possible.
Other vegetables that pair well with the creamy Italian flavors of these chicken kabobs are mushrooms and pepperoncini peppers. Mix and match as you like.
Tips for Cooking Chicken Skewers in an Air Fryer
I love chicken kabobs but I simply don’t have the time to get the grill going on a weeknight. The air fryer is my go-to kitchen appliance when I want something healthy and quick to serve.
Since you’re cooking these chicken kabobs on the skewers, make sure that you choose a skewer length that will fit inside your air fryer. Mine fits three skewers.
Do not layer your skewers and don’t squish them together, either. If you do, the chicken won’t cook evenly. You might end up with extra dry bits or parts that are undercooked.
Don’t forget to lightly coat the air fryer basket with a cooking oil spray. This will prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom.
You won’t get those gorgeous grill marks by cooking in an air fryer but by rotating the chicken kabobs halfway you will still get a nice light char, even on the vegetables.
You won’t get those gorgeous grill marks by cooking in an air fryer but by rotating the chicken kabobs halfway you will still get a nice light char, even on the vegetables.
What to Serve on the Side?
Serve the chicken kabobs with a leafy salad to keep it a light meal (you can use the Olive Garden salad dressing to keep it keto). You can also go the full Italian route and make a quick pasta salad like this copycat recipe for Kraft’s Italian pasta salad.
If you want to continue experimenting with an air fryer, I recommend these garlic and paprika baby potatoes that come together in just 12 minutes. For a true treat, try these homemade parmesan french fries – warning, you can’t stop eating them!
Try out this air fryer Olive Garden chicken kabobs today. You can share your photo via @simplyhappenings on Instagram. I would love to see how it went!
Let me know what vegetables you used on the skewer or share with us if you have any other cooking hacks using Italian dressing. Feel free to comment below!
Recommended Air Fryer Recipes
- Chicken Parmesan
- Garlic Parmesan Crusted Salmon
- Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
- One-Pot Sausage, Peppers, Onions, and Potatoes
- Smoked Pork Belly Kabobs
- Steak and Chicken Kabobs
Enjoy!
Air Fryer Olive Garden Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients
- 2 Large Chicken Breasts
- 16 oz Bottle of Olive Garden Dressing
- 2 Bell Peppers
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 1 Yellow Squash
- 1 Zucchini
- Grape Tomatoes
- Wood or Metal Skewers
Instructions
- Cut chicken into 2" pieces and place in a Tupperware container. Cover chicken with Olive Garden dressing and toss to coat. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, overnight is even better.
- Rinse all vegetables. Cut peppers and onion into 2" pieces. Slice squash and zucchini into ½" thick slices.
- Begin making kabobs by placing chicken, onion, yellow squash, zucchini, chicken, peppers, chicken, and topping with a grape tomato. Follow this layering until all chicken is used.
- Spray air fryer basket with cooking oil and add a single layer of kabobs. I fit 3 in mine at one time.
- Cook for 8-9 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until chicken is cooked through to the center.
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