The Best Juicy Vietnamese Chicken Skewers Chicken on a Stick

These Vietnamese Chicken Skewers (chicken on a stick) are the best weeknight recipe. It is so easy to make and takes only 10 minutes to prep!

These Vietnamese Chicken Skewers are just like the chicken that you would find in your favorite Vietnamese Restaurant. This chicken on a stick is the star of any salad, banh mi sandwich, rice plate or vermicelli noodles. Traditionally Vietnamese chicken is topped with scallion oil (directions below) and served with a side Nước Chấm - Vietnamese dipping sauce (recipe here!). This is totally optional since the chicken is juicy and flavorful as is.

The best part of this recipe is that these JUICY Vietnamese Chicken Skewers only takes 30 minutes from start to finish when using an Air Fryer !

My favorite cut to use for these chicken on stick are boneless chicken thighs ! I love how juicy the chicken thighs turn out and paired with super crispy edges.

Chicken on a stick is so much fun!

Cooking for a family with 4 kids isn't always easy but cooking chicken on a stick is always a hit with the kids and makes mealtimes more fun.

Every Air Fryer is Different.

I have 3 Air fryers, and my newest one is a BEAST. I would recommend checking at 15 minutes the internal temp with a meat probe. You might need another 5 mins at 400 to finish the cook or brown up the chicken some more.

No Air Fryer? No Problem!

I try to always include alternate cooking instructions, and these chicken skewers are also great oven cooked. For making huge batches I actually do prefer using the oven.

Oven and Air Fryer cooking times and instructions for different cuts of chicken for chicken on a stick:

Chicken Skewers:

Air Fryer (15-20 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes flip over , baste and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.

Oven (20-25 minutes total) - 400°F for 10 minutes, flip over, baste and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin.

Bone In Chicken Thigh:

Air fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over , baste and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.

Oven (30-40 minutes total) - 400°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over, baste and cook an additional 20-30 minutes skin side up.

Drumsticks:

Air Fryer (20 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes, flip over. baste and cook another 10 minutes.

Oven (35-40 minutes total) - 400°F for 20 minutes and flip over, baste and cook another 15-20 minutes.

Chicken Breast:

Air Fryer (16-19 minutes total) - 360°F for 10 minutes, flip over and baste and cook another 6-9 minutes.

Oven (20-25 minutes total - 400°F for 10 minutes, flip over and baste and cook another 10-15 minutes.

If you LOVE this Vietnamese Chicken on a stick, here are some other Air Fryer recipes you might like. Check out these other Easy Air Fryer recipes:

• Hot Honey Wings
• Cha siu pork
• Salt & Pepper Wings

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• or Stove Top
• or Oven

Ingredients

For the Marinade (save half for basting)

• 2 lbs Chicken (I used boneless chicken thighs sliced)
• 2 tbsp Fish Sauce
• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp Sesame Oil
• 1 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp Oyster Sauce
• 4 tbsp Brown Sugar
• 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tbsp Onion Powder

Scallion Oil (Optional)

• 4 stalks Green onion
• ⅛ cup Vegetable Oil
• ⅛ tsp Salt
• ⅛ tsp Sugar

Instructions

• If you are using wooden skewers, Soak them first in water for 10-20 minutes
• Slice your chicken thighs into 3 strips the long way, and make 4 cuts horizontally. Each thigh should provide 12 pieces for the skewers.
• Mix the marinade ingredients together, and add half of the marinade to chicken and set aside for at least 10 minutes. The flavors will be even more amazing if you marinate overnight! Save the other half of the marinade for basting (2 tablespoon Fish Sauce, 2 tablespoon Soy Sauce, 1 tablespoon Dark Soy Sauce, 2 tablespoon Oyster Sauce, 2 tablespoon Sesame Oil, 4 tablespoon Brown Sugar, 2 tablespoon Garlic Powder, 2 tablespoon Onion Powder)

Air Fryer Cooking Instructions (Oven Cooking instructions below)

• Preheat air fryer to 380, and add in the chicken skewers. Check at the halfway point on the progress. Depending on your air fryer, it may take anywhere from 15-20 minutes to cook fully **Please see below for cooking times for other cuts of chicken.
• Chicken Skewers: Air Fryer (15-20 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes flip over, baste and cook an additional 5-10 minutes.
• Bone In Chicken Thigh: Air fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over , baste and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.
• Drumsticks: Air Fryer (20 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes, flip over. baste and cook another 10 minutes.
• Chicken Breast: Air Fryer (16-19 minutes total) - 360°F for 10 minutes, flip over and baste and cook another 6-9 minutes.
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!
• Enjoy!

Oven Cooking instructions

• Preheat your oven to 400°F
• Add in your chicken skewers on a baking rack.
• Chicken Skewers: Oven (20-25 minutes total) - 400°F for 10 minutes, flip over, baste and cook an additional 10-15 minutes.
• Bone In Chicken Thigh: Oven (30-40 minutes total) - 400°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over, baste and cook an additional 20-30 minutes skin side up.
• Drumsticks: Oven (35-40 minutes total) - 400°F for 20 minutes and flip over, baste and cook another 15-20 minutes.
• Chicken Breast: Oven (20-25 minutes total - 400°F for 10 minutes, flip over and baste and cook another 10-15 minutes.
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!

Stovetop Instructions for other cuts of chicken

• Boneless Chicken Thighs - Skin Side down 5 mins, flip and cook 5-6 min skin side up
• Bone In Chicken Thighs - 10 Minutes skin side down, flip and cook 5-8 min skin side up
• Drumsticks - 8 Minutes larger skin side down, flip and cook 8 mins skin side up
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!

Making the Scallion oil (Optional)

• Wash and slice your scallions (Green parts only) , Place into a heat safe bowl.
• Heat up oil in a pan for about 1 minute on medium heat
• Carefully pour the oil over your sliced scallions, mix well
• Let cool 5 minutes and add your sugar and salt
• Garnish over your chicken

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