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Grilled BBQ Chicken Kabobs – marinated chicken with chunks of pineapple, peppers and onions, grilled to perfection then basted with tangy BBQ sauce! So good!
GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN KABOBS FOR THE WIN!
My friends, this grilled chicken kabobs recipe will change your grilling game this summer. It’s loaded with flavor, and the chicken is so tender and delicious. Combined with pineapple, veggies and BBQ sauce? It’s the perfect combination of sweet and savory, and a recipe you will turn to over and over again.
Can we also acknowledge that kabobs are fun to eat? What is it about meat and veggies on a stick that make it so much more exciting than meat not on a stick? Also, simply saying the word “kabobs” is fun. :)
I loved using the leftover pieces of chicken, pineapple and veggies on a salad. I started with a bed of lettuce, tossed in some quinoa and gave it an extra drizzle of BBQ sauce. It was the perfect summer lunch!
Grilled BBQ Chicken Kabobs will be a recipe you turn to all summer long for family dinners, barbecues and summer gatherings. Let’s cook this together, shall we? ❤️-Ashley
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Pin It NowHow to Make Grilled BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Making BBQ Chicken Kabobs is simple. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Prepare the chicken: cut chicken breasts or thighs by trimming any excess fat and removing any of the “icky” parts (for lack of a better word). You know what I’m talking about. Then cut the chicken into 1 inch cubes.
- Prepare the marinade: in a large bowl combine soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, olive oil, salt and black pepper.
- Marinate the chicken: add the chicken to the marinade, toss to coat, then cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- SOAK YOUR BAMBOO SKEWERS: that’s if you’re using bamboo skewers, of course. If you are using metal skewers, skip this step. Bamboo skewers need to soak for about an hour.
- Prepare the vegetables and pineapple: cut the red bell pepper, onions, and pineapple into bite-sized pieces.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade: after removing chicken from the marinade, I like to add a little of my favorite poultry rub to the chicken, peppers and onions.
- Pre-heat grill: medium-high heat works best when grilling chicken kabobs.
- Thread the skewers: alternate adding chicken, pineapple, peppers and onions to the skewers while the grill pre-heats.
- Grill: grill the kabobs for about 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally so that the chicken, vegetables and pineapple cook evenly.
- Baste with BBQ Sauce: during the last 5 minutes of grilling, baste the kabobs with BBQ sauce. This adds a flavorful, tangy coating to the chicken.
Grilling Chicken Kabobs
Wondering how long to grill chicken kabobs? Here are a few tips and tricks for perfect kabobs!
- Pre-heat the grill: make sure that you pre-heat your grill. I like to lightly oil the grates to ensure that the kabobs don’t stick.
- Cook time: it will take about 10-15 minutes for the chicken kabobs to gook through. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Farenheit.
- Use an instant read thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked through.
- Don’t overcrowd the skewers: allow a bit of space between each piece to ensure that everything cooks evenly.
It will take about 10-15 minutes over medium-high heat for chicken kabobs to cook through. You will know that the chicken kabobs are done when the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soak wood / bamboo skewers for at least 30 minutes up to an hour before using them. While they soak, they will absorb water which ensures that they will not burn on the grill. A shallow baking dish works well for this step.
Cooking Kabobs Without a Grill
Are you wanting to make these kabobs but don’t have a grill? No problem! I recommend baking them in the oven. Follow all of the steps as listed, but instead of adding the kabobs to a pre-heated grill, add them to a 400 degree oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Alternatively, you can use a grill pan.
Chicken Kabobs Marinade
Marinating chicken enhances the flavor and helps to tenderize chicken. Here are the marinade ingredients that you will need:
- soy sauce
- canned pineapple juice: the canned part is important. Do not use fresh pineapple juice because it contains bromeliad which can over-tenderize the chicken which can make it mushy.
- brown sugar – light or dark brown sugar works
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
Shish Kabob Side Dishes
There are a variety of side dishes that pair well with shish kabobs. Here are some suggestions:
- Rice: fluffy rice is pairs well with these grilled BBQ chicken kabobs. Alternative grains include quinoa, or even couscous.
- Macaroni Salad
- Cucumber Salad
- Grilled flatbread: flatbread or naan is a delicious side dish to pair with these kabobs!
Don’t forget to serve these BBQ chicken kabobs with extra BBQ sauce for dipping. Yum!
If you make these Grilled BBQ Chicken Kabobs or any of my other recipes, let me know what you think! I love hearing from you! Enjoy!
Grilled BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients
KABOB INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 cups pineapple cut into 1 inch chunks
- 2 red bell peppers, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 red onion, cut into bite-sized pieces
- poultry rub *optional
- 1 cup bbq sauce (more or less to taste)
MARINADE INGREDIENTS
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup canned pineapple juice
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: trim excess fat from chicken, then cut chicken breasts or thighs into 1 inch pieces.
- Prepare the marinade: in a large bowl combine soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, olive oil, salt and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken to the marinade, toss to coat, then cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- If using bamboo skewers, soak the skewers in water while the chicken marinates.
- Prepare the vegetables and pineapple by cutting them into bite-sized pieces.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade. Optionally – sprinkle the chicken with your favorite poultry rub.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread the chicken, peppers, onions, and pineapple onto wood or metal skewers, alternating between each of the ingredients.
- Add kabobs to the pre-heated grill and grill for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees. Rotate the kabobs periodically so that all sides cook evenly.
- During the last 5 minutes, brush the kabobs with your favorite BBQ sauce.
