How Long To Grill Kabobs Chicken

What You Will Need

How to Grill Chicken Kabobs
  • boneless chicken breasts Since this cut of meat can vary in thickness throughout, this process provides uniformity.
  • cutting board and knife A sharper knife will allow you to cut through the chicken breast with ease.
  • meat tenderizer A helpful tool that comes in handy for many different types of protein.
  • plastic wrap Keep your space tidy while pounding the chicken breast.

Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs

These Grilled Chicken Shish Kabobs are flavorful & easy to make! The chicken is marinated with bright Mediterranean spices on a skewer with fresh veggies.

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These Mediterranean chicken shish kabobs are so tender, juicy, and flavorful that youll never want to make them any other way! The chicken is marinated with a combination of classic Middle Eastern spices, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Its then grilled over an open flame until the chicken, and the vegetables are slightly charred. The result is a chicken kabob that is bursting with flavor and is sure to be a hit at your next cookout.

Theres something just irresistible about grilled chicken on skewers, especially when the weather gets warmer. These juicy, tender grilled chicken kabobs, often referred to as chicken shish kabobs, are no exception, and they are a big part of Lebanese-style barbecues. These kabobs are made with juicy chicken breasts that are marinated in a delicious Mediterranean seasoning blend.

The result is a chicken kabob that is absolutely bursting with flavor! The combination of the juicy, tender chicken with the slightly charred vegetables makes for a truly irresistible dish. And because this recipe is so easy to make, its perfect for any occasion from a casual backyard barbecue to a more formal dinner party. So, fire up the grill and get ready to enjoy the best chicken kabobs youve ever had!

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 Level Of Completion Do You Require To Grill Chicken Kabobs On Gas Grill

Another aspect that influences how long you cook kabobs on the grill is how thoroughly you want everything to be cooked. The dryer your meat and veggies are, the longer you cook them. You must avoid overcooking them and causing your meal to dry out. Consider how juicy and tender the kebabs components will be when determining how long to roast chicken kabobs on a gas grill.

While its tempting to cook everything until the chicken is done. Your other components may require a different heat and cooking time than the veggies.

As a result, its best to cook at least the meat separately before adding it to the rest of the kebab and finishing the cooking process together.

When determining how long to cook chicken kabobs on a gas grill, you may need to consider two distinct cook times: one for the initial cooking of the meat and another for grilling the kebabs as a whole.

How Do You Grill Kabobs Without Burning Vegetables

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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 To Store & Reheat Grilled Shish Kabobs

Chicken kabobs keep wonderfully in the fridge. Store them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with foil or plastic wrap.

When ready to eat, remove the chicken from the skewers and heat it up in a skillet over medium-high heat until warmed through. You can also use the oven to reheat your kabobs, preheat to 350°F, and heat on the skewer until just warmed through, about 10-15 minutes.

Ingredients To Make Marinated Grilled Chicken Kabobs

  • Chicken breast: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. They are easy to work with and cook evenly on the grill.
  • Vegetables: I typically use bell peppers and onions but feel free to mix it up and use your favorite vegetables.
  • Mediterranean spice blend: I like to use paprika, cumin, a touch of cinnamon, and salt and pepper, of course. The combination of these spices creates a wonderfully flavorful kabob.
  • Garlic: I always use fresh garlic in this recipe. It really adds a lot of flavor to the chicken. If you dont have any fresh garlic, you can use 1 ½ tablespoons of garlic powder instead.
  • Lemon juice: This helps to tenderize the chicken and adds a nice brightness to the kabobs. Lime will also work, but I prefer the flavor of lemon.

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Cooking Kabobs Without A Grill

Weve all been there. You plan a great grilling recipe, and the clouds roll in and rain starts to fall. Or maybe youre out of gas or charcoal. Or just plain dont have an outdoor grill. Weve got ya covered! There are two great options here:

  • First, you can use a stove-top grill pan and grill as the recipe states. If you do this though, you may want to open some windows and turn on a fan, because it can get pretty smoky.
  • Secondly, you can use your broiler. This is my preferred indoor cooking method because its way less smoky, and so easy. Broiling these kabobs take about 10-15 minutes, plus a minute or two to caramelize the BBQ sauce. I have all the details in the recipe towards the bottom of the page!
  • How To Check The Doneness Of The Chicken

    How to Grill Chicken Kebabs

    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 dont own a kitchen thermometer, I highly recommend that you invest in one to use for chicken, meat, bakes, and candy making. The one that Ive been using for the past 6 years is this one, it gives you accurate instant readings within 3 seconds. And I really love it!

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    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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    What To Serve With Chicken Kebabs

    I served up my BBQ Chicken Kebabs with all the classic summer BBQ sides like potato salad, macaroni salad, potato chips, and ice-cold beer, all of which I was able to pick up at ALDI along with the ingredients for the kebabs in one quick shopping trip. I also spotted some mango pico de gallo and had to grab that, too, because I thought that would go great with the pineapple on the kebabs!

    When all was said and done, I was able to get all the ingredients for this summer BBQ feast at ALDI for only $34.60! Now do you see why Im so obsessed with ALDI?? And if you are up for making your own sides, ALDI has the high-quality ingredients to make those from scratch, too. But hey, its summer, so Im taking it easy and buying a couple of those pre-made items. Heres a breakdown of what I bought :

    • Simply Nature Organic Chicken Breasts $8.21
    • Fresh Pineapple $1.99
    • Burmans Original BBQ Sauce $0.95
    • Park Street Deli Mustard Potato Salad $3.69
    • Park Street Deli Macaroni Salad $3.69
    • Park Street Deli Mango Pico de Gallo $3.19
    • Clancys Kettle Chips $1.65
    • Holland Lager 1839 $7.99

    And I have so many leftovers! Seriously, dont sleep on ALDI. Theyve got you covered for summer with high-quality ingredients, low prices, and a streamlined shopping experience.

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    Tips For Easy Grilling Kabobs

    This is going to be helpful in many ways, but there is no real, straight order to them. Tips and tricks Ive picked up along the years, so my kabobs end up great. Here they are.

    Always leave half an inch between meat bits on the skewer. You can of course cook your meat all bunched up on the skewer. But I recommend you leave a little space, even as the meat is raw. This prevents the meat from overcrowding, which leads to it being less cooked in the parts it meets.

    Always soak your wooden skewers or planks before using them. Leave them in cold water for 30-60 minutes before use, so they remain moist and dont burn while you cook with them.

    This also prevents them from catching fire, which may sometimes happen and no one wants that.

    If you want to be extra-safe, use metal skewers. Not only are they reusable, but they also have no chance of catching fire. They withstand heat much better than wood, and theyre usually flat instead of round. This means your kabobs ingredients wont slide around and thus will cook exactly the way you want them to.

    A great metal skewer set can be found on my Best Metal Skewers page, detailing a 10-piece set which is going to help you with any cookout.

    Oil will speed up the grill marks. If youre trying to grill fat free, kudos to you. But if youre looking for deep, dark grill marks youre going to need to apply a bit of fat to that kabob, be it meat or veggie.

    How Long Should I Grill Chicken

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    Grill for 9-10 minutes, depending on how hot your grill is. Halfway through the cooking time, turn the chicken breasts over. For the most part, I like to grill my chicken breasts for around 10 minutes each side, turning them midway through, in order to achieve lovely sear marks on both sides of the chicken.More

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    Grilled Chicken Kabob Marinade

    These kabobs are well cooked and well seasoned, thanks to the herbaceous marinade. It can often be a bit tricky to get the flavors just right when making kabobs, youve got to come up with just the right combination that works well on a number of vegetables as well as meat.

    You dont have to worry about that problem with this recipe. The lemon, white wine, and herb marinade on these grilled chicken kabobs is absolutely sublime! Everything in the marinade is bright and delicious, and seasons both the chicken and vegetables beautifully, without overpowering either.

    Heres what youll need for this chicken kabob marinate:

    • Red pepper flakes
    • Lemon zest and juice

    Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until dissolved. Add the chicken and vegetables and marinate.

    St Step: Make The Skewers To Grill Chicken Kabob

    We recommend investing in a set of quality stainless steel skewers since we like making shish kabob on a regular basis. Before assembling your ingredients, wipe them clean with a moist towel.

    If you dont have any steel skewers, you may use wooden bamboo skewers instead. Youll need to soak them in the water ahead of time to prevent them from catching fire on the grill. Allowing wooden skewers to catch fire can have an impact on the cooking process and the quality of the final product. Simply soak the skewers for at least 30 minutes in a mixing dish filled with cold water.

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    How Long To Cook Chicken Kabobs On Grill

    Determining the right time for grilling chicken kabobs is highly crucial, as you probably dont want to have over or undercooked kabobs at your next meal, right?

    So, how long should you grill your chicken kabobs? Well, the roughly estimated time for a chicken kabob to grill is around 10 to 15 minutes. However, one must always gauge doneness for meat by measuring the internal temperature to reap the best results.

    In addition, always keep in mind that the small pieces of meat will get cooked faster than the bigger size. Also, different types of meats distinguish doneness temperature. Hence, make sure to get a chicken mince of high quality.

    What To Serve With Chicken Kabobs

    Perfect Chicken Kabob Recipe – Juicy Grilled Chicken Kabob

    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.

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    Can You Cook Them In The Oven Instead

    If you dont have a grill or griddle, or the weather isnt great for cooking outside, you can even broil chicken skewers in the oven!

    Start by marinating the chicken and threading it, along with your chosen vegetables, onto metal skewers. Lightly oil a sheet pan and arrange the skewers in a single layer on the pan. Broil for 5 minutes, then flip the skewers and broil on the other side for 5 more minutes or longer until the chicken is fully cooked through .

    What Is Chicken Shish Kabob

    Chicken shish kabob is a dish that originates from the Middle East, Turkey, to be exact. It typically consists of chicken breasts or thighs that have been cubed and marinated in a combination of spices.

    The chicken is usually marinated for at least a few hours, but overnight is best. This allows the flavors of the spices to really permeate the chicken and results in a juicier, more flavorful kabob.

    Once the chicken has been marinated, it is threaded onto skewers with vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. The vegetables not only add flavor and color to the kabobs, but they also help to keep the chicken moist as it cooks.

    The kabobs are then grilled over an open flame until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are slightly charred. This gives the kabobs a beautiful smoky flavor that is simply irresistible.

    There are many variations of chicken shish kabob, but the basic ingredients remain the same. The most common spices used in the marinade include paprika, cumin, coriander, and garlic powder. Other popular additions to the marinade include onion powder, turmeric, and black pepper.

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    Why Butterfly A Chicken Breast

    Simply put, this technique allows for even cooking throughout a boneless chicken breast. The act of splitting the chicken breast in half and pounding it out flat, ensures uniformity throughout the cooking process. Try it out using our Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan recipe that is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

    How Long Does It Take To Cook Shish Kabobs On The Grill

    How to Prepare Yummy How Long Do I Cook Chicken Kabobs On The Grill ...

    Place the meat on a grill for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating 90 degrees every 4 minutes, until it is cooked to desired doneness. After removing the kabobs from the grill, allow them to rest for 3 to 4 minutes. Its as simple as eating meat on a stick.

    The kabobs should be brushed with olive oil before being grilled and going across the grate. Cook the chicken or beef for 6 to 7 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Kababs can be cooked in direct sunlight at temperatures as high as 400F. A kabob is extremely simple to prepare. Grilling them is as simple as marinate the meat, arrange them on skewers, wrap them in heavy duty foil, and place on the grill. The foil keeps the food juicy and flavorful. Grills, unlike ovens, do not heat up at a single point instead, medium heat ranges from 300 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit . Soak your bamboo skewers overnight in water if you want them to last longer.

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    How To Cook Kabobs In The Oven

    If you dont have a grill or its not grilling weather, you can cook these chicken kabobs in the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake chicken kabobs on the baking sheet at 425° F for 24-30 minutes, turning them occasionally, until chicken is cooked to 165° F. I use kitchen tongs to turn the kabobs, as the skewers are hot.

    Chicken kabobs can be served on the skewers or you can remove the chicken and vegetables from the skewers before plating. Just be sure to slide the chicken and veggies off the skewers before eating. And be careful if you use metal skewers, as they will get very hot while cooking.

    I hope you enjoy this delightfully colorful meal thats big on flavor and impressive in presentation. The inviting aromas that come off the grill as these chicken kabobs cook are enough to call everyone to the table!

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