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Chicken Kabobs

The BEST chicken kabobs that are juicy, tender and flavorful. Easy to make and grilled to perfection. These kabobs will become your favorite summer dinner!

Chicken kabobs on white plate.
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Juiciest Grilled Chicken Kabobs

We grill all types of chicken in the summer time. Whether it’s these kabobs, grilled chicken breast, bbq chicken or even a grilled chicken burger, we love it all. Always a big hit with the family!

Shish kabobs are a summer staple. They’re one of my favorite dinners during the summer and are so easy to make. Plus they’re ready in less than an hour from start to finish! These chicken kabobs are coated in my favorite simple marinade that tastes absolutely delicious. The chicken is always so juicy, tender and super flavorful and the veggies are charred to perfection. This is one of those recipes that the whole family will eat up right away!

Marinade over chicken in bowl.

Shish Kabob Marinade

I love to use my favorite grilled chicken marinade when making kabobs. It’s simple, easy and super flavorful. You could even use BBQ sauce or make a super easy marinade with olive oil and spices (like I do for my grilled chicken breast).

Be sure to let your meat marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes! I usually let it marinate for 1-2 hours for extra flavor.

  • Olive oil
  • Balsamic vinegar (or soy sauce)
  • Dijon mustard
  • Minced garlic
  • Salt and pepper

Tips for Cutting Chicken for Kabobs

Use a sharp knife. Make sure your knife is sharp and can easily cut through the meat. You want the pieces to have clean edges and still be thick enough to slide thread through the skewers.

Thaw and trim chicken. Before cutting, double check that your breasts are thawed completely. If they’re still frozen in the middle, they’ll be harder to cut through. Also make sure to trim any extra fat or skin off.

Cut all pieces evenly. It’s important that all pieces are cut the same size to ensure that they cook evenly on the grill. Aim for 1 1/2 to 2 inch chunks.

a white plate.

Favorite Veggies to Include

I love to add chopped bell peppers to my kabobs, as I’ve found they cook in the same amount of time as the chicken. Other veggies like mushrooms, onions, zucchini or squash all taste delicious too, however their cooking times may vary. I’d recommend putting the softer veggies on their own vegetable skewers so that you can remove them from the grill when they are tender.

  • Bell peppers
  • Zucchini
  • Squash
  • Onions
  • Mushrooms
  • Cherry tomatoes

How to Grill Chicken Kabobs

  1. Cut the meat. Thaw and trim chicken breasts. Pat down with a paper towel and cut into 1 1/2-2″ chunks. Place in a glass bowl or zip top bag.
  2. Add marinade and veggies. Add in the peppers and ingredients for marinade. Toss until everything is evenly coated, then place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Assemble kabobs. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Thread meat and bell peppers through skewers. Alternate between each until everything is used up.
  4. Grill kabobs. Place on grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until the meat has a nice char and the center is no longer pink.
Chicken kabobs are being cooked on the grill.

Grilling Tips

  • Cut the meat and veggies into similar sized pieces so that they cook evenly on the grill.
  • I like to use these reusable stainless steel kabob skewers from Amazon. If using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them for 15 minutes before using.
  • When grilling, make sure to keep turning the skewers so that all sides cook evenly.
  • The chicken is done when it has reached a temperature of 160° to 165°F on a meat thermometer.

What to Serve with Chicken Kabobs

Cooked chicken kabobs on white plate.

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cooked chicken kabobs on white plate

Chicken Kabob Recipe

5 from 11 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
The BEST chicken kabobs that are juicy, tender and flavorful. Easy to make and grilled to perfection. These kabobs will become your favorite summer dinner! 
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Refrigerate: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 4-6 chicken breasts
  • 2 bell peppers , cut into 1-inch pieces

Shish Kabob Marinade:

  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar , or lite soy sauce
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Thaw and trim chicken breasts. Pat down with a paper towel and cut into 1 1/2-2" chunks. Then place in a glass bowl or zip top bag. Add the bell peppers. Then add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss until it is mixed well. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
  • Thread chicken and bell peppers through skewers. Alternate the chicken and peppers until everything is used up. Then place on the grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side (or until a thermometer reads 160° to 165°F and the center is no longer pink).

Notes

Other vegetables you can add to the chicken kabobs: 
  • zucchini
  • cherry tomatoes
  • mushrooms
  • onions
 
Note: Some of the softer vegetables like zucchini and tomatoes will end up cooking faster. I’d recommend putting those on their own skewer so you can remove them from the grill when they are cooked. 

Nutrition

Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 789mg | Potassium: 653mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1285IU | Vitamin C: 52.8mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.9mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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