How Well Done Do You Want It
Another factor that determines how long the you are cooking kabobs on the grill is how well cooked you want everything. The longer you cook your meat and vegetables for, the drier they will be. You have to be careful about overcooking them and drying out your dish.
When you consider how long to grill chicken kabobs on gas grill , think about how juicy and tender the components of the kebab will be. Its definitely tempting to cook everything until the chicken is done, but your various ingredients may need to cook at a different heat for a different duration than the vegetables.
Thats why its advisable to cook at least the meat on its own and then add it to the rest of the kebab and finish cooking them together.
So, when youre looking at how long to cook chicken kabobs on gas grill , you may actually be looking at two separate cook times- one for the initial meat cooking and one for when you grill the kebabs as a whole.
What Goes On A Kabob/skewer
Anything goes on a kabob, really.
As long as you respect cooking times, you can put anything. Even fruit can be put on a kabob, which makes for a very interesting combination.
You can mix meat and vegetables, of course. But make sure to balance out the meats cooking time by using thicker slices of vegetables.
Of course, thats not always possible, so you may need to cook them separately.
For example a light meat, like fish or chicken, will be done about the same time as an inch-thick piece of Portobello mushrooms, or zucchini .
You can balance things out, which is what most people will try to do in order to make their kabobs as delicious as possible.
But I say marinating your kabobs, the meat ones, will add enough flavor that you can grill the vegetables separately. Ill get to the marinade in a bit.
How Do You Make Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
The base of this recipe is a marinade that packs tons of flavor with soy sauce, pineapple juice, fresh ginger and a lot of other great ingredients. The chicken needs to marinate for at least an hour, so plan accordingly. After the chicken comes out of the marinade it gets threaded onto skewers with pineapple, red and green bell peppers and red onions. Throw the skewers on the grill, baste them with reserved marinade and dinner is served!
I like to serve these Hawaiian chicken kabobs with a side of coconut rice to complete the tropical theme. You can use fresh or canned pineapple in this recipe, if you go with fresh, its also fun to throw some wedges of pineapple on the grill to serve as a complement to the meal.
These Hawaiian chicken kabobs would make the perfect entree for a summer party, or just for when its cold and raining out and you want to pretend like youre on a beach somewhere sunny. Im not waiting for warmer weather to make them, Ive got this recipe on my menu plan again for next week!
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Prepare Chicken And Vegetables
Cut chicken into about 1 1 1/2 pieces. Cut peppers into the same size as the chicken along with the red onion. Clean the mushrooms and keep whole. TIP: You want to be sure all of the pieces are the same in size or some will burn while other will remain uncooked.
Place everything into a large bowl and pour the marinade. Toss to combine well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Tips To Store And Reheat Chicken Kabobs
- To Store. Refrigerate leftover chicken and veggies in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F until hot. You can also reheat the chicken and vegetables in the microwave.
- To Freeze. Remove the skewers, then freeze leftover chicken and vegetables in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The vegetables may become watery and soggy once thawed, but they will still be tasty.
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How Do You Make Fruit Kabobs
Im always looking for ways to create healthy snacks that the kids will love, and these fruit kabobs definitely fit the bill. I picked up these decorative skewers at a party supply store if youre serving these to young kids, you can simply cut off the pointed end with kitchen shears. I like to put a rainbow of fruit on these skewers in this case I used raspberries, clementine oranges, pineapple, kiwi and grapes. I used a small metal cookie cutter to cut the kiwis into fun shapes, but thats completely optional. Other great choices would be strawberries, blueberries, bananas, green grapes, or even melon!
I serve these fruit kabobs with a simple dip of vanilla yogurt, topped with rainbow sprinkles for good measure. Ive found my girls will eat anything if it involves sprinkles! These fruit skewers are also perfect for parties I served them for my youngest daughters birthday and they were a huge hit.
I like to use Greek yogurt for the dip because it has more protein than regular yogurt, and I find that adding a little protein to snack time helps to keep my kids full for longer.
Grilled Chicken Kabob Ingredients:
To make these grilled chicken kabobs, you will need:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts : You can either purchased fresh or frozen chicken . Also, note that some chicken also comes pre-brined nowadays! So check the label, and if your chicken has already been brined, skip that step below.
- Oil: Since we will be grilling over high-heat, I recommend any olive with a higher smoking point such as avocado oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil, or just a regular olive oil.
- Kosher Salt: An essential ingredient in our brine, which we will also use to season the chicken.
- Seasonings: I included an all-purpose blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper in the recipe below, which is super-delicious and goes with pretty much anything. But feel free to sub in any dry seasoning blend that you prefer.
You will also need:
- Skewers: Either reusable metal skewers or wooden skewers
- Grill: Time to fire up the charcoal or gas grill! Or if you prefer to cook the chicken indoors, you can use a grill pan instead.
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How Long To Cook Salmon Kabobs On The Grill
These Mediterranean Grilled Salmon Kabobs are simple, healthy and ready quickly for the perfect summer family dinner or outdoor BBQ.Paired with fresh veggies and tzatziki sauce for the perfect finish.
Grill season is almost here and I am so pumped for warm weather and the glorious smell of a weekend cookout. These Mediterranean Grilled Salmon Kabobs are simple, healthy and completely mouthwatering.
The salmon skewers are cooked on the grill resulting in charred, flaky salmon and tender and juicy veggies. This recipe pairs wonderfully with tzatziki sauce for the perfect Mediterranean feel. No grill? No problem, this recipe can be made indoors in the oven or stove top. I hope and your family enjoy this grilled salmon and veggies recipe all summer long!
Mediterranean Salmon Kabobs are perfect for grilling all summer long!
How To Serve Tender Chicken Kebabs
Arrange the grilled kebabs on a serving platter and finish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley. The long, slender skewers make serving easy, since everyone can add a skewer or two to their own plates. Just remember that metal skewers can remain hot even off the grill, so use tongs when youre plating them up.
Serve the charred chicken with summery sides like grilled vegetables, or slide the pieces off of the skewers and serve atop crunchy salad greens or pasta salads.
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Best Instant Read Thermometer: Smak Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Don’t like standing over a hot open oven while you wait for your meat thermometer to come to temperature? With this Smak instant thermometer, you won’t have to. It provides an accurate digital readout in 3 seconds or less. This rapid response time means less energy lost from your oven as you read the temperature and less hassle for you as you wait for the reading.
The No 1 Mistake In Kabob
First things first: Wed like to dispel a common kabob-making myth. Multicolored kabobs loaded up with alternating pieces of meat and vegetables look gorgeous, but youll end up sacrificing flavor for beauty. Meat and vegetables cook at different rates, so its better to make separate skewers for meat, poultry, seafood and vegetables. Its OK to combine items with similar cooking timeslike onions and peppersbut it would be a mistake to put potatoes and shrimp on the same skewer.
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Can I Bake These Chicken Kabobs In The Oven
Bake chicken kabobs in the oven preheated to 350 degrees for 25- 30 minutes on a lightly oiled pan.
If you have chicken on the bone, my oven-baked chicken drumstick recipe will give you an idea of how long to cook. You can use this marinade with the chicken legs too!
If you love recipes like this, you should try my super easy Crockpot Shredded Chicken Tacos. So tasty, and makes an easy weeknight meal.
Why This Recipe Works
My family loves these kabobs. They are delicious and very juicy. I love making them because, as you can see from the steps listed above, it’s such an easy recipe. You simply cube the chicken, toss it in a marinade, thread on skewers, and bake.
Finishing them under the broiler is not mandatory, but it does brown them nicely.
I also like making this recipe because let’s face it, chicken breast is not that exciting. Yet, it’s accessible and affordable, so I buy it quite often.
Turning chicken breast into kabobs makes it much more flavorful because the ratio of meat to oil and seasonings is better than when you bake a whole chicken breast. Plus, who doesn’t like food on a stick?
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Why Are My Kebabs Dry
There are a few tips that ensure tender, juicy chicken kabobs even if you use chicken breast.
How Do You Cook Skewers Without A Grill
Cut the meat into evenly sized pieces. Marinate if desired. Cook kebabs in a 375 F oven for 20 to 30 minutes, turning occasionally. Although it takes slightly longer than grilling, roasting your meat and vegetable kabobs in an oven is an effective and equally as delicious method for cooking your kabobs.
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What To Serve With Chicken Kabobs
These grilled chicken kabobs have your protein and veggies covered! Theres no specific side that you should serve with kabobs, but here are a few of my favorite ideas:
- Grains. A bed of Lemon Rice is a delicious complement to this dish. White, brown, or cauliflower rice would also work well.
- Bread + Hummus. Serve the kabobs with some warm pita bread and hummus for dipping. YUM!
- Salad. Top a bed of chopped romaine, arugula, or spinach, with a drizzle of a creamy dressing or vinaigrette and the kabobs. < This is my favorite way to eat the leftovers! I like ranch or a simple vinaigrette like the one in my Italian Farro Salad.
How Long To Marinade Chicken Kabobs
This marinade is so flavorful, you could literally toss the ingredients in the marinade, skewer the chicken and veggies, and then grill immediately.
For Maximum Flavor Place the chicken and the veggies, along with almost all of the marinade in a large plastic bag and refrigerate for 1 hour, or even better, overnight. The longer the meat and veggies sit in the marinade, the deeper the flavor will be. Be sure to discard the marinade from the chicken, but use the reserved for brushing on the kabobs while grilling.
For Fast Turn-Around If you are in a crunch for time, you will still get amazing flavor without letting the chicken and veggies sit in the marinade for an extended time. Even 15 minutes is great! Be sure to save some of the marinade for brushing on the kabobs while grilling.
EXPERT TIP: After you have placed the chicken and veggies on the skewers, place them in a large baking dish and place it in the fridge until ready to use. If preparing the kabobs ahead of time, simply cover them with plastic wrap or foil until ready to use!
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What Are The Best Skewers For Kebabs
When it comes to skewering chicken for kebabs, I always reach for 9- to 12-inch metal skewers. Heres why.
- Unlike bamboo or wooden skewers, which need a 30-minute soak before hitting the grill, metal skewers are ready at a moments notice.
- They can be used again and again, making them a great no-waste option.
- Their pointy tip can easily pierce chicken . Just be sure to use tongs or an oven mitt when turning metal skewers, because they will get hot over the flames.
If you choose to use bamboo or wooden skewers, remember that they dont conduct heat as effectively as metal, so the chicken may take an extra minute or two to cook. I recommend soaking an entire package of at the start of the summer, then wrapping the bundle in plastic wrap and freezing. The moisture stays in the skewers and you can use them straight from the freezer.
How Do You Keep Kebabs Moist
Grating a small sweet onion gives the kebabs so much wonderful flavor and keep the meat very moist. Dont worry about any strong onion flavor when you GRATE the onion, it breaks the onions cellular walls, releasing all of its stinging, spicy gas. Whats left is a more mellow, liquid-like onion thats tame in flavor.
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Tips For Perfect Chicken Kabobs With Veggies
Prep Your SkewersRemember, if using wooden skewers, youll need to soak them in water for 30 minutes before grilling. Fill your sink with water and then place the wooden skewers at the bottom of the sink. Place a plate on top of the skewers and then add a heavy pot or dish to hold the skewers in place.Ensure the Chicken Is Perfectly CookedBe sure to use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked between 160°F to 170°F. If you squeeze the veggies and chicken too tightly on the skewer, it could cause uneven cooking, and therefore causing some of the chicken to overcook and other parts to not cook enough.Dont Forget the SauceThese kabobs are perfect when served with some sort of dipping sauce. We think the White BBQ Sauce, or Alabama White Sauce, is ideal. The sauce can be made up to 2 to 3 days in advance. In a pinch, bottle BBQ sauce will work just fine.
How Do You Grill Kabobs Without Burning Vegetables
Cut your meats and veggies in similar shape and size so they cook evenly. Cut your meats and veggies bigger than the space between the grills. Wooden planks need to be soaked in water for about 30 minutes beforehand so they dont burn. Wooden skewers need to be soaked as well.
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How Long To Grill Chicken Kabobs:
Grill on the grill, rotating them often for about 15 minutes until chicken is cooked through. We use grilling tongs so we didnt burn our hand. I have also heard that these grilling mitts work great.
The time may vary slightly depending on how large you cut the pieces of chicken and how thick each piece is.
Serve with your favorite sides!
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 its optional, its 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 , 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. Its a basic skill that every home cook needs to know about and take advantage of!
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What Do I Need For This Chicken Kabob Recipe
- 1.5 pounds of chicken- cut these evenly into 1 inch pieces so they cook evenly.
- Olive oil- Avocado oil can also be used
- Seasoning for the marinade- A mix of oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, a little bit of caynne pepper and lime juice makes the marinade delicious
- 2 Red peppers- cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 Green peppers- cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 Purple onion- cut into 1-inch pieces
