Indulge in the sizzling flavors of summer with these mouthwatering grilled chicken kabobs, packed with tender marinated chicken, juicy pineapple, vibrant peppers, earthy mushrooms, burst-in-your-mouth cherry tomatoes, and a delightful touch of grilled red onion.
I can't help but get excited about this amazing grilled chicken kabob recipe. It's become my go-to dish for summer weekends and holidays, and let me tell you why!
Marinated Grilled Chicken Kabobs
When the weather warms up, there's something magical about firing up the grill and cooking outside. Grilling adds a delightful smoky flavor to food, and these chicken kabobs perfectly capture the essence of summer.
With marinated chicken, juicy pineapple, bright peppers, earthy mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and the wonderful touch of grilled red onions, each skewer is bursting with flavor!
Perfect for Weekends & Holidays
Weekends and holidays are the perfect time to gather with family and friends, savoring good food and creating memories. These grilled chicken kabobs are an absolute crowd-pleaser, making them ideal for special occasions. They're not just delicious... They're also fun to assemble!
You can involve your kids in the process, from marinating the chicken to threading the ingredients onto the skewers. It's a great way to let everyone customize their diner!
Versatility & Customization
One of the best things about this recipe is it's versatility. You can easily customize the kabobs to suit your taste and preference.
you can add or substitute your favorite vegetables like: zucchini, cherry tomatoes, or even chunks of red potatoes. The marinade can be adjusted to your liking too, adding a touch of sweetness, tanginess, or a hint of spice!
Healthy & Nourishing
Even though grilled chicken kabobs are delicious, they are also a healthy choice for your summer menu!
Packed with lean protein from the chicken and lots of vegetables, these kabobs make a nutritious meal.
So, whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue, planning a picnic, or enjoying a leisurely weekend meal, these grilled chicken kabobs are a must-try!
Ingredients
Marinade
Note: This recipe yields approximately 8 servings.
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Kabobs Ingredients
- 3 lbs (1.4 kg) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups pineapple chunks
- 2 red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 green bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 16 white mushrooms, cleaned and halved
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 red onions, cut into wedges
- Bamboo or metal skewers
Instrcutions
1. Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, minced garlic, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper until well combined.
2. Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken cubes in a resealable bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight, allowing the flavors to infuse into the chicken.
3. Soak the Skewers: If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent burning.
Prepare the Grill
For Gas Grill: Preheat your gas grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F/200°C).
For Charcoal Grill: Prepare a charcoal grill for direct grilling and preheat until the coals are ashed over and glowing.
5. Assemble the Kabobs: Thread the marinated chicken, pineapple chunks, bell peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and red onion wedges onto the skewers, alternating the ingredients.
6. Grill on a Gas Grill: Place the assembled kabobs on the preheated gas grill. Close the lid and cook for about 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables have softened with some char marks. Check the internal temperature of the chicken to make sure it reaches 165 degrees F.
7. Grill on a Charcoal Grill: Place the assembled kabobs directly over the hot coals on the charcoal grill. Cook for about 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, or until the chicken is cooked through, at 165 degrees F, and the vegetables have softened with some char marks.
8. Baste the Kabobs: While grilling, brush the reserved marinade over the kabobs occasionally for extra flavor and moisture.
9. Rest and Serve: Once cooked, remove the kabobs from the grill and let them rest for a couple of minutes. Serve the delicious grilled chicken kabobs hot. These kabobs go great with a side of BBQ Baked Beans, a crisp salad, or some warm sourdough corn bread.
Recipe Card
Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Mouthwatering grilled chicken kabobs, packed with tender marinated chicken, juicy pineapple, vibrant peppers, earthy mushrooms, burst-in-your-mouth cherry tomatoes, and a delightful touch of grilled red onion.
Ingredients
- Marinade Ingredients:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Ingredients:
- 3 lbs (1.4 kg) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups pineapple chunks
- 2 red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 green bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 16 white mushrooms, cleaned and halved
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 red onions, cut into wedges
- 1 zucchini sliced into 1 inch rounds
- Bamboo or metal skewers
Instructions
- Gather Marinade Ingredients.
- In a bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients until well combined. Set aside a small portion of the marinade for brushing the kabobs during grilling.
- Place the chicken cubes in a resealable bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight, allowing the flavors to infuse into the chicken.
- If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread the marinated chicken, pineapple chunks, bell peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and red onion wedges onto the skewers, alternating the ingredients.
- Place the assembled kabobs on the preheated grill. Cook for about 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, or until the chicken is cooked through to 165 degrees F, and the vegetables have softened with some char marks.
- While grilling, brush the reserved marinade over the kabobs occasionally for extra flavor and moisture.
- Once cooked, remove the kabobs from the grill and let them rest for a couple of minutes.
- Serve the delicious grilled chicken kabobs hot. They pair well with a side of rice, a crisp salad, or some warm pita bread.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers: If you're using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water for about 30 minutes before threading the ingredients. This helps prevent them from burning on the grill.
- Uniformly sized ingredients: Cut the chicken and vegetables into uniform-sized pieces to ensure even cooking. This helps prevent some pieces from being overcooked while others are undercooked.
- Preheating the grill: Make sure to preheat your grill before adding the kabobs. This ensures proper searing and helps prevent the food from sticking to the grates.
- Adjust grilling time: Grilling times may vary depending on the heat of your grill and the thickness of the chicken pieces. Keep an eye on the kabobs and adjust the cooking time as needed to achieve your desired level of doneness.
- Separate skewers for chicken and vegetables: Consider using separate skewers for the chicken and the vegetables. This allows you to adjust the cooking time for each ingredient, ensuring they are cooked to perfection.
- Basting with marinade: Brushing the kabobs with the reserved marinade while grilling adds extra flavor. However, avoid basting during the last few minutes of cooking to prevent cross-contamination with raw chicken juices.
- Resting before serving: Allow the grilled chicken kabobs to rest for a couple of minutes after removing them from the grill. This helps the juices redistribute, resulting in more tender and flavorful meat.
- Meal prep tip: You can marinate the chicken in advance to save time on the day of grilling. Marinate it overnight, and when ready to cook, simply assemble the kabobs and grill.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 391Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 18gCholesterol 38mgSodium 1279mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 3gSugar 25gProtein 18g
Notes & Tips
Soaking wooden skewers: If you're using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water for about 30 minutes before threading the ingredients. This helps prevent them from burning on the grill.
Uniformly sized ingredients: Cut the chicken and vegetables into uniform-sized pieces to ensure even cooking. This helps prevent some pieces from being overcooked while others are undercooked.
Preheating the grill: Make sure to preheat your grill before adding the kabobs. This ensures proper searing and helps prevent the food from sticking to the grates.
Adjust grilling time: Grilling times may vary depending on the heat of your grill and the thickness of the chicken pieces. Keep an eye on the kabobs and adjust the cooking time as needed to achieve your desired level of doneness.
Basting with marinade: Brushing the kabobs with the reserved marinade while grilling adds extra flavor. However, avoid basting during the last few minutes of cooking to prevent cross-contamination with raw chicken juices.
Grilling pineapple! Grilling pineapple brings out its natural sweetness and adds a caramelized flavor.
Resting before serving: Allow the grilled chicken kabobs to rest for a couple of minutes after removing them from the grill. This helps the juices redistribute, resulting in more tender and flavorful meat.
Meal prep tip: You can marinate the chicken in advance to save time on the day of grilling. Marinate it overnight, and when ready to cook, simply assemble the kabobs and grill!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!