Chicken Skewers Recipe
If you are looking for a new and exciting way to make chicken skewers, then this recipe is a must-try. My skewers are easy to make, super colorful, and marinated to create a rich, tender, and succulent texture.
And, if there is any element you don’t like, you can easily adjust it to your liking without worrying about how it will affect the other components!
These grilled chicken skewers are perfect for a hearty dinner, Sunday picnic or beach day, and really any other occasion. And if you’re looking for an Asian twist, check out Joyce and her delicious Grilled Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers!
What Do You Need To Make Chicken Skewers
Today’s chicken skewers are incredibly easy to make. All that you need is chicken, some veggies, and a delicious homemade marinade.
Now, the most important thing to remember about this recipe is that it is super versatile. You can change virtually any element to suit your liking. But, try to stick as close to the called-for ingredients as possible. It’s truly an uber-tender, succulent combination already.
The vegetables that I decided to use today are simple. They include yellow and green zucchini with red and orange bell peppers. This creates a rainbow chicken skewer that will almost be too pretty to eat!
You can substitute the veggies you don’t like with similar alternatives.
Then, I developed an easy homemade chicken marinade for kebobs. Most of these ingredients will already be in your pantry if you are an advent cook.
All you need is olive oil, mixed dried herbs, onion and garlic powder, paprika, chili pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper. It’s that simple! And again, you can play around with the flavors as much as you like until you are happy with what you have.
Once your chicken has marinated and the skewers have been assembled, all that’s left to do is grill the chicken on medium heat until they are golden and cooked.
Tips And Tricks
- Chicken can be left to marinate for hours – even days! The longer you leave the pieces, the more tender and flavorful they will become. However, after about 2 days, the chicken won’t get better. I recommend marinating the chicken skewers for 2 hours. But, if you are in a rush, 30 minutes will also be fine (just never less).
- When preparing and cutting the vegetables, try getting the pieces the same size. This will do two things. The first is that it will make your skewers look much more appetizing and neat. The second is that it will help your vegetables cook at the same time. It’s important because that will help prevent some veggies from being overcooked while others are still raw.
- If you are using wooden skewers, you have to leave them to soak. If you don’t, the wood will start to burn. Depending on the temperature, it may even catch alight!
- To make the cleaning process a breeze, I always line my grill or grilling pan with a sheet of foil. This will catch all of the drippings from the chicken. When your chicken is finished, simply take out the foil and toss it away. It also helps protect your grill or pans and gives them a longer shelf life.
- If you have any leftover kebabs, place them in an airtight container. Leave them inside the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Always check if they are still good before reheating and eating them. And remember, never reheat anything, let alone chicken, more than once.
FAQs
Are chicken skewers healthy?
As I always say, it’s relative to what is “healthy” for you. These skewers are definitely not super low in calories, but they do contain a ton of nutrients from the protein and veggies.
What do you serve with chicken skewers?
This is one of the most versatile dishes you can serve accompaniments with. You can serve them with something as simple as a Russian Potato Salad, or something a little more complex like Dominican Kipes. But as I’ve said, there really isn’t a limit as to what works and not. And don’t forget to make a delicious dipping sauce! Smoky Red Pepper Crema is a great option!
Can you make chicken skewers in an air fryer?
This recipe will also be great if you make it inside an air fryer. Set the temperature on high using the grilling or roasting setting. Then, leave the skewers for 10-15 minutes while monitoring them every couple of minutes. The air-fryer can dry out the chicken quickly which is why I prefer making oven kebabs.
Chicken Skewers Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken Skewers
- 1 Yellow zucchini
- 1 Green zucchini
- 1 Red bell pepper
- 1 Orange bell pepper
- 2 pounds chicken breast, skinless and boneless
- 12 Soaked wooden skewers or metal skewers
Marinade
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Mixed dry herbs
- 1 tsp Chili flakes
- ½ tsp Onion powder
- ½ tsp Garlic powder
- ½ tsp Paprika
- ½ tsp Ground black pepper
- ½ tsp Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tsp Cumin
Instructions
Marinate The Chicken
- First, whisk together all of the ingredients that you need to make the marinade. Set it aside until you need it again.
- Next, cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. I like mine about 1 1/2 inches each.
- Add the chicken pieces into the bowl with the marinade mixture. Toss the chicken pieces well so they are all coated.
- Wrap the mixing bowl with plastic or saran wrap. Place the seasoned chicken inside the fridge for at least 30 minutes. For better, more tender results, leave the chicken to marinate for 2 hours.
Prepare The Other Elements
- Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables. Make sure that they are all washed, deseeded (if applicable), and cubed into smaller bite-sized pieces. Set the veggies aside.
- You can also soak the wooden skewers in room-temperature water. They only have to soak for 10 minutes. If you are using metal skewers, this step doesn't apply.
Assemble The Skewers
- Once the marinating time has elapsed, start assembling your chicken kebabs.
- Thread pieces of chicken, yellow and green zucchini, red pepper, and orange bell pepper onto the wooden or metal skewer. Alternate between ingredients to create a colorful pattern.
Cook The Chicken Kebabs
- Preheat your grill or the grill in your oven to medium heat. This is usually somewhere between 300-400ºF (150-200ºC). If you can choose a specific temperature, set it at 360ºF (180ºC).
- Place the grill rack over a foil-lined roasting tray.
- Neatly place the chicken skewers on the rack without allowing them to touch each other. This will help them cook more evenly.
- Then, allow the chicken to grill for roughly 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Turn the chicken at every 5-minute mark to prevent it from overcooking (and browning) on one side.
- Once cooked, remove the skewers from the oven and allow them to rest for 3 minutes.
- Finally, serve them hot with your favorite accompaniment.
Video
I love these chicken skewers! The seasoning was great and I also added in some jalapenos, for a spicy kick!
I love chicken skewers and these, with chunks of red bell peppers, were absolutely delicious! Easy to prepare and so flavorful. Thank you for the recipe!
Your Chicken Skewers recipe looks amazing! 🍢🔥 The combination of flavours and the grill marks are making my mouth water. Can’t wait to try this at my next barbecue. Thanks for sharing this delicious idea!
These skewers are quite good. I like the basic marinade but it has a lot of flavor. I cooked them on a grill pan – can’t wait to do them on the grill!