Learn how to make the easiest and juiciest grilled chicken kabobs with colorful vegetables! This recipe is perfect for your next backyard party, or a quick family dinner!
Grill and oven instructions included.
The grilling season is still not officially here, but it’s getting warm and sunny, and our grill and skewers are now dusted off and are ready for the season!
These grilled chicken kabobs are a summer classic that I always make, I use the simplest seasonings that are flavorful and make sure that the chicken stays juicy and tender. I also always make grilled shrimp kabobs, and these delicious grilled veggie kabobs for the vegetarians in our family, so make a mix of both for an awesome grilling feast!
For a different version of these chicken skewers, try my fajita chicken kabobs recipe.
Another grilled chicken skewer recipe that I love is this Lebanese Shish Tawook, chicken is marinated in a lemon garlic yogurt-based marinade then grilled under juicy and tender.
Recommended Tools for Grilling
- Skewers – If using wooden skewers like these, I recommend soaking them in water for 20-30 minutes prior to grilling as they can get burnt really easily over a hot grill. If using metal skewers, make sure that you handle them with care using a hot pad or kitchen tongs as they will get pretty hot.
- Grill – Use a proper grill, a BBQ, a grill pan, or an oven.
The Ingredients
- Chicken breasts – boneless and skinless. Check the label if the chicken is brined, if not then read below for instructions on how to brine the chicken. You can also use chicken thighs. If using frozen chicken, then thaw completely in the fridge overnight.
- Vegetables – I like to use things like zucchini, bell peppers, and sweet red onion. I don’t recommend grilling things like carrots or broccoli on skewers as they have different cooking times.
- Seasonings – Smoked paprika, garlic, black pepper, and salt. You can also use Italian seasoning, dried herbs, or even a spicy blend such as a fajita seasoning.
- Oil – I prefer olive oil and buy the one with a high smoke point, but feel free to use other kinds of oils with high smoke points such as avocado oil, or grapeseed oil.
How to Brine Chicken Breast Prior to Cooking
Brining the chicken prior to grilling, roasting, and smoking helps the chicken keep its moisture. It takes just 15 minutes of your time for such small pieces of chicken, and although it’s optional, it’s totally worth it in my opinion.
You CAN buy brined chicken at the grocery store, so make sure to check the label. But if not, you can totally do this yourself.
To brine the chicken, you will need to dissolve ¼ cup of salt in 4 cups of room temp water. That is enough for 4 chicken breasts. Brine for at least 15 minutes (but you can do 2 hours if you have time), then rinse the chicken with fresh water and pat dry with paper towels.
To learn more about brining, check out my chicken brine recipe post. It’s a basic skill that every home cook needs to know about and take advantage of!
How to Cook Chicken Kabobs
Prep the vegetables and the chicken. Cut the brined chicken into 1-inch cubes, and cut up the vegetables into similar size. You want to think about how the chicken and the vegetables will be threaded on the skewers, and have a similar size so they cook evenly.
Make the marinade. To make the marinade, combine all of its ingredients in a small bowl.
Season the chicken and the vegetables. Toss the vegetables in half of the marinade, and add the rest to the chicken and give it a good mix so the chicken is coated evenly and well seasoned.
Heat up the grill on medium-high heat or 375℉ (190℃).
Thread the chicken and vegetables onto your skewers. I do this randomly but try to alternate between chicken and different colors of vegetables. I like to use red onions at the beginning and end of each skewer as they are the firmest vegetable.
Tip!
Make sure that you don’t thread the chicken and vegetables too tightly, as crowding the skewers will prevent the heat from circulating and cooking evenly.
You can prep the skewers ahead of time, cover with plastic wrap, and store in the fridge for up to 3 hours. I noticed that after 3 hours the chicken will start breaking down, so I don’t recommend marinating it for longer than 3 hours.
But if you would like to prep this a day before, you can chop everything up and prepare the marinade then marinate and thread onto skewers on the next day.
How Long to Grill Chicken Kabobs
Grill! Place the skewers on your preheated grill, the grilling will take around 10-15 minutes turning halfway through (about 5-7 minutes per side). Make sure that the chicken is cooked through and is golden brown, but avoid overcooking the chicken as it can dry out and become tough. So keep a close eye on the chicken.
Serve – serve the chicken kabobs warm while they’re still tender and juicy.
I usually serve grilled chicken kabobs with turmeric rice for its vibrant color and summer taste with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice.
How to Cook Chicken Kabobs in the Oven
If you’re not grilling, you can totally make this in the oven for an easy dinner on a summer (or spring) day! Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C), and cook for 20-25 minutes turning halfway through.
How to Check the Doneness of the Chicken
The best way to check the doneness of the chicken is by inserting a kitchen thermometer in the center of the chicken piece, and the internal temperature of the chicken should read 165°F or 75°C.
If you don’t own a kitchen thermometer, I highly recommend that you invest in one to use for chicken, meat, bakes, and candy making. The one that I’ve been using for the past 6 years is this one, it gives you accurate instant readings within 3 seconds. And I really love it!
Serving Chicken Kabobs and Vegetables
You can serve these grilled chicken kabobs on their own, but I like to jazz things a little and add things like rice, salad, and dips to create a complete meal. Here are my favorites:
- Turmeric rice – a great way to add even more color to the food, and it’s just like sunshine on a plate!
- Creamy coleslaw! A classic that works great with any type of grilling.
- Hummus – serve with garlic hummus, or beet hummus as a dip on the side.
- Salad – A potato salad is always on the menu, this tahini salad is great with chicken kabobs, and a simple pasta salad for the little ones!
- Baked potatoes on the grill and grilled portobello mushrooms are also amazing!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipe
Equipment
- Skewers
- sharp knife
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 zucchini sliced into 1/3 inch slices
- 2 bell peppers sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 1 onion quartered into 1-inch pieces
- 1½ pounds chicken breasts skinless boneless – cubed into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
To brine the chicken:
- Dissolve ¼ cup of salt in 4 cups of lukewarm water. That is enough for 4 chicken breasts. Brine for at least 15 minutes (but you can do 2 hours if you have time), then rinse the chicken with fresh water and pat dry with paper towels.
Make the marinade:
- In a small bowl whisk the olive oil with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Season and cook:
- Toss the vegetables in half of the marinade, and add the rest of the marinade to the chicken. Mix and make sure that everything is well coated.
- Heat up the grill on medium-high heat or 375°F (190°C).
- Place the skewers on your preheated grill, the grilling will take around 10-15 minutes turning halfway through. Make sure that the chicken is cooked through and is golden brown, but avoid overcooking the chicken as it can dry out and become tough. So keep a close eye on the chicken.
Oven directions:
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C), and cook for 20-25 minutes turning halfway through.
Notes:
- Use your favorite seasonings, here are some ideas: Italian seasoning, dried herbs, fajita seasoning, taco seasoning, shawarma seasoning.
- If using bamboo skewers, I recommend soaking them in water for 10-30 minutes prior to grilling as they can get burnt really easily over a hot grill. If using metal skewers, make sure that you handle them with care using a hot pad or kitchen tongs as they will get pretty hot.
- The best way to check the doneness of the chicken is by inserting a kitchen thermometer in the center of the chicken piece, and the internal temperature of the chicken should read 165°F or 75°C.
- Serve the chicken kabobs warm while they’re still tender and juicy. I recommend serving with a simple side salad, or rice for a proper meal!
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
SusieG says
Best kabobs I have ever made by using this recipe. I made this last night for dinner and it was a hit! I was hesitant at first to “brine” the chicken breast but I’m glad I did. I brined the chicken breast whole for 2 hours and after I pulled it out I chopped it into cubes. The chicken breast was moist after grilling and was not salty on the inside like I thought it would be. The seasoning mix was delicious. The smoked paprika was not overpowering at all. We paired it with the turmeric rice recipe which was just as delicious. We will definitely be making this again for future family barbecues.
Diana says
So glad to hear that you loved this recipe, Susie! Brining the chicken is definitely a great idea if you have the time to do it. That’s so awesome that you also got to try the turmeric rice, indeed, it goes so well with the chicken kabobs!