Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Appetizer (gluten free)

It was so hard to find recipes that cater to more than one food allergy or restriction when I first found out about my almond allergy and that I was celiac and lactose intolerant. Afterwards, it was so important that every single one of my recipes cater to people with multiple dietary restrictions and/or food allergies!

This Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage recipe is a delicious and foolproof method to enjoy gluten-free chicken sausage and vegetables with a smoky BBQ twist! It is my new new go-to way to cooking sausages! Plus this is the healthier way instead of pan frying with olive oil. This recipe is perfect for a party appetizer or a easy recipe for an easy dinner idea. These Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Appetizers are super simple to make ahead of time and are perfect appetizer for a party, just like my gluten free pizza bites and my gluten free italian skewers appetizers! They are served on wooden skewers and packed with juicy chicken sausage and roasted vegetables. 

With this air fryer chicken sausage recipe you can have the perfect crowd pleasing appetziers ready in 8-10 minutes! This air fryer chicken sausage recipe is gluten free, dairy free, nut free, low fat and low carb!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Plus the best part about this recipe is you can pick any kind of chicken sausage flavor you want! Whether you prefer sweet chicken sausage, savory chicken sausage, or a chicken sausage with a kick, this air fryer chicken sausage recipe is for you. 

• These Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Appetizers are a fun colorful summer appetizer
• You can make it for a bbq even if you dont have a grill
• Its easy to make. This is the perfect lazy day meal since thid easy air fryer recipe uses minimal ingredients and only one pan!
• You can prep the sausage and peppers ahed of time
• These sausage and peppers are gluten-free and dairy-free
• These sausage and peppers are allergy friendly
• It packs a big charred flavor
• You can use the extras as meal prep for the week
• The recipe is a great option because its packed with vegetables
• These sausage and peppers are cooked without oil or butter

INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

Chicken sausages or Italian sausage: For this chicken sausage air fryer recipe you can choose any kind of sausage you want! Use precooked chicken sausage, raw chicken sausage or traditional italian sausages. The thicker sausages the better! My favorite brands are trader joe’s chicken sausage or alfresco. Any kind of chicken sausage links will work. Chicken sausage has less saturated fat. Any local grocery store will have many chicken sausage options to choose from. You can even choose turkey sausages if you prefer. Any italian or garlic flavor is ideal! You can also use apple chicken sausage for a fun twist!

You can use either pre cooked sausage or raw chicken sausage. The difference will just be the cooking time. For the purposes as this recipe I used raw sausage. If you use precooked sausage it will cook faster and char faster so cook for 5 minutes in the air fryer and then continue to check it every minute to make sure the peppers and onions are not burning. Make sure when cooking uncooked chicken sausage to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer after cooking chicken sausage before serving. 

Bell peppers (any color): For these Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Appetizers you can use any peppers you’d like. All colored air fryer bell peppers taste delicious. I prefer to select 2-3 bell peppers in various colors to keep these skewers colorful and fun. For a spicier option, you can also select 1-2 spicier peppers to give your skewers a kick. You can add jalapenos or chili peppers as well. 

Zucchini: One of the perks of this recipe is that you can use any vegetables you have and throw them on the skewer as well. I chose to add zucchini for some extra green nutrients but you can also add yellow zucchini, butternut squash, mushrooms or pineapple for a sweeter flavor. 

TASTE & TEXTURE

These Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Appetizers should be fully cooked to the point of being lightly charred. The edges of the vegetables should be crispy and dark. The sausage should be browned and fully cooked in the middle. They are seasoned with salt, pepper and sesame seeds. 

HOW TO MAKE

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Soak the wood skewers in water for 30 minutes to 1 hour to prevent burning.

STEP 2

Slice the tasty sausages and peppers into 1”-2” pieces. You want all the slices of fresh veggies to be similar to the thickness of the sausages so they cook evenly.

STEP 3

Slide the pepper slices, zucchini slices and sausages onto the skewers, alternating as you go; pepper, zucchini, sausage, pepper, zucchini, sausage, etc.

STEP 4

Once complete, spray with light cooking spray and season with salt, pepper and sesame seeds.

STEP 5

Place the skewers into a preheated air fryer on 390 or high heat and cook for 8-14 minutes or until sausage is fully cooked and both sausage and vegetables are lightly charred. Check at the 8 minute mark since the size of the sausages will effect the cook time. 

EXPERT TIPS & TRICKS

• To make these Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Appetizers skewers even healthier you can increase the amount of peppers. You can also add a variety of other vegetables such as yellow zucchini, onions, butternut squash, or mushrooms. All these vegetables have a similar cook time. 
• You can add pineapple chunks to the skewers for a sweeter flavor.
• These air fry chicken sausages should be fully cooked to the point of being lightly charred with crispy skin on the outside. The edges of the vegetables should be crispy and dark. The sausage should be browned and fully cooked in the middle. They are seasoned with salt, pepper and sesame seeds.   
• To prep ahead of time, you cut the vegetables and store the slices in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 3 days before grilling.   
• Use any leftover sausages as breakfast sausages in your breakfast the next day!
• To make this a full rounded meal you could serve with green beans, broccoli florets, brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes on the side. 

HOW TO SERVE & STORE

To cut down on prep time you can chop the vegetables ahead of time and store the slices in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days before grilling.  

For best results, serve these straight out of the air fryer so they are warm and charred. This dish can be served as a main dish as a delicious meal for a busy weeknight or as an appetizer for a summer bbq!

I serve the sausage and peppers with a carolina BBQ sauce but any bbq sauce will work! It can be dark or light in color. The BBQ sauce can be served straight out of the frige or at room temperature. 

Store leftovers of the chicken sausage and peppers can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Appetizer (gluten free)

Kayla Cappiello

This recipe is a delicious and easy way to enjoy gluten-free chicken sausage and vegetables with a smoky BBQ twist! Perfect for a party appetizer or a quick and easy meal.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 days d

Cook Time 10 days d

Ingredients

  

• 6 gluten-free chicken sausages Italian or garlic flavor
• 2-3 bell peppers any color, sliced into 1-2 inch pieces
• 1 zucchini sliced into 1-2 inch pieces
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• Your favorite gluten-free BBQ sauce for dipping
• Cooking spray
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Prep the skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour, to prevent burning.
• Prepare the vegetables and sausage: Slice the bell peppers and zucchini into uniform 1-2 inch pieces. Cut the chicken sausages into similar-sized pieces.
• Assemble the kabobs: Thread the pepper slices, zucchini slices, and sausage pieces onto the soaked skewers, alternating as you go. Aim for a colorful and balanced combination on each skewer.
• Season and cook: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly coat the kabobs with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the sesame seeds evenly over the kabobs.
• Air fry: Arrange the kabobs in a single layer in your air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t touch. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the sausages are cooked through and the vegetables are tender-crisp.
• Serve: Let the kabobs cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm with your favorite gluten-free BBQ sauce for dipping.

Notes

You can use any type of gluten-free sausage you like, such as chorizo, apple, or cranberry.
For extra flavor, marinate the chicken sausages in your favorite marinade for 30 minutes before assembling the kabobs.
If your air fryer basket is small, cook the kabobs in batches to ensure even cooking.
Serve the kabobs with other dipping options like ranch dressing, honey mustard, or aioli.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave before serving.