Description
Grilling Asian chicken skewers brings sizzling flavors straight to your backyard barbecue, making dinner feel like a tasty adventure. These marinated, tender chicken bites deliver a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory that will have your friends asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Vegetables and Fruit:
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 red onion
- 1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks
Marinade and Seasonings:
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup reserved pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 24 wooden skewers
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Craft the zesty marinade by blending ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, and 2 tablespoons sesame oil in a medium bowl. Whisk in 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and ½ teaspoon black pepper until thoroughly combined.
- Submerge 2 pounds of chicken cubes in the marinade, ensuring complete coverage. Seal the container and refrigerate for 2-4 hours, occasionally massaging to distribute flavors.
- Drain wooden skewers after soaking for 30 minutes. Create colorful kebabs by alternating 1-inch cubes of chicken, red, green, and yellow bell pepper pieces, red onion chunks, and pineapple chunks on each skewer.
- When grilling, heat to 400F. Position skewers across grill grates and cook for 10 minutes, rotating every 3-4 minutes. Verify chicken reaches 165F internal temperature using a meat thermometer.
- Transfer skewers to a serving platter. Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons sesame seeds and chopped green onions across the top for a fresh, vibrant finish.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for at least 2 hours helps develop deeper, more complex flavor profiles that really make these skewers pop.
- Soaking wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before assembling prevents them from burning during cooking and keeps your presentation looking great.
- When grilling, watch your heat carefully to prevent burning and ensure even cooking, as the sugars in the marinade can caramelize quickly.
- For a low-carb version, swap pineapple chunks for zucchini or replace honey with a sugar-free alternative to reduce overall sugar content.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-25 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 228 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 1020 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg