BBQ Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipe
Bring vibrant color and smokey flavor to your dinner table tonight with this quick and easy grilled chicken kabobs recipe! Prepared with tender chunks of chicken layered on a skewer with colorful bell peppers, sweet onion, and topped with your favorite BBQ sauce, these easy kabobs are the ultimate summer dinner. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or enjoying a night in the backyard, this simple meat and veggie dinner is sure to be a hit.
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Reasons You'll Fall in Love with This Chicken Kabob Recipe
Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or preparing a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe will quickly become your go-to summer staple. Here are five compelling reasons why this BBQ chicken kabob recipe deserves a permanent spot in your grilling repertoire.
- Simple Ingredients, Maximum Flavor: One of the greatest advantages of this BBQ chicken kabob recipe is its impressive ingredient list that's both accessible and affordable. With just boneless chicken breasts, colorful bell peppers, sweet onion, Lawry's Total Seasoning, and BBQ sauce, you can create a restaurant-quality meal without breaking the bank or making multiple trips to specialty stores.
- Perfect for Feeding a Crowd:BBQ chicken kabobs are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, making them ideal for summer gatherings, family reunions, or neighborhood barbecues. According to the National Barbecue Association, grilled chicken ranks as the second most popular grilled protein in America, making it a safe bet for satisfying diverse tastes.
- Quick Prep and Cook Time: In today's fast-paced world, recipes that deliver maximum taste with minimal time investment are invaluable. These BBQ chicken kabobs require just 15-20 minutes of prep time, including the crucial step of soaking wooden skewers to prevent burning. The actual grilling time is equally efficient-typically 12-15 minutes total with periodic turning to ensure even cooking.
- Endless Customization Options: While this basic BBQ chicken kabob recipe is delicious as written, it serves as an excellent foundation for endless variations. You can easily swap the Lawry's seasoning for Mediterranean herbs, Cajun spices, or even a simple salt and pepper blend to match your flavor preferences. Vegetable combinations are equally flexible-consider adding cherry tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, or pineapple chunks for different flavor profiles. The BBQ sauce can be tailored to your heat tolerance, from mild and sweet to spicy and tangy. This versatility means you can prepare the same basic recipe multiple times throughout the summer while keeping meals interesting and never getting bored with the same flavors.
What Do I Need to Make this Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipe?
This simple recipe is packed with color and flavor, but that doesn't mean you need a long list of ingredients to prepare it! Make your own chicken kabobs with fresh veggies at home using these simple ingredients:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Red bell pepper
- Yellow bell pepper
- Green bell pepper
- Orange bell pepper
- Sweet onion
- Lawry's Total Seasoning
- BBQ sauce
- Wooden skewers
How Do I Make This Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipe?
Packed with protein and loaded with veggies, this simple dinner is also a healthy option for your family! And the best part about whipping up this recipe for dinner is that is super simple to make. Just follow these easy instructions to prep and grill your own BBQ chicken kabobs tonight.
Step One: Prep the Ingredients
Before you can start grilling, you'll need to take a few minutes to get all of your ingredients ready to go. While the grill is warming up, place your wooden skewers in water and allow them to soak for 10 to 20 minutes. Then, cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces. Next, cut each bell pepper into cubes and slice your sweet onion into chunks.
Step Two: Season the Chicken
After you chicken has been cut, place it into a large bowl. Add the Lawry's Total Seasoning to the bowl and toss the chicken pieces until they're all evenly coated. Allow the chicken to marinate in the seasoning for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step Three: Assemble the Kabobs
Now that all your ingredients are prepped and ready to go, you can start assembling your skewers. Thread the chicken, bell peppers and onions onto the skewer, alternating the ingredients, until each kabob stick is almost full. Leave the end of the stick empty to make it easy to hold as you eat. Repeat with the remaining sticks.
Step Four: Grill the Skewers
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. When the grill is nice and hot, place the kabobs on and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning every few minutes. In the last five minutes of grilling, brush the kabobs with BBQ sauce, turning and basting a few times for a sticky, caramelized glaze. The kabobs are finished cooking when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.
Step Five: Serve the Chicken Kabobs
When the chicken has cooked through, remove the kabobs from the grill and allow them to rest for 2 to 3 minutes to cool. Serve with additional warm BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.
Can I Make This Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipe Ahead of Time?
This grilled chicken recipe tastes best when it's straight off the grill. So, I wouldn't recommend grilling the chicken in advance. But you can take the time to prep your skewers for cooking to speed up the process at dinner time.
You can chop, season, and assemble your BBQ chicken skewers in advance and store them in the refrigerator until you're ready to start cooking. Store the prepped kabobs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
How Do You Store BBQ Chicken Kabobs?
Everyone is going to love these delicious chicken kabobs! But if you have leftovers when dinner is over, they should be stored in the refrigerator. Transfer the kabobs to an airtight container and they'll stay good in the fridge for up to four days.
To reheat the kabobs, warm them in the microwave or a 350 degree oven until heated through.
Do I Need to Soak Wooden Skewers Before Grilling?
Using wooden skewers is a great way to serve your kabobs. But if you plan on grilling your kabobs over a flame, you'll need to take the time to soak the wood before you start cooking. This will keep the kabob sticks from burning as the ingredients cook. Simply place the kabob sticks in a large dish and submerge them in water. Allow them to soak for at least 10 minutes to ensure they don't burn on the grill.
BBQ Chicken Kabob Recipe Ideas
This basic chicken kabob recipe is a great place to start when coming up with your own ideas for a delicious BBQ dinner! But there are a variety of simple variations and additions you can make to create a unique grilled dinner your entire family will love.
- Try different veggies. Peppers and onions are a classic option when making kabobs. In addition to those delicious vegetables, you can also add zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, potatoes, or sweet potatoes.
- Use a different cut of chicken. In addition to chicken breasts, you could also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs to prepare your kabobs. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the cook time according to the size of your chicken pieces.
- Try a different protein. Chicken is just one protein option you can choose to make your own kabobs! Try adding cubes of steak, pork, tofu, or large pieces of shrimp.
Perfect Side Dishes to Serve with BBQ Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Whether you're hosting a summer gathering or enjoying a family dinner under the stars, choosing complementary sides will elevate your grilled chicken kabobs from good to absolutely incredible. From refreshing salads that balance the smoky flavors to hearty starches that satisfy hungry guests, we've compiled the ultimate list of accompaniments that will have everyone asking for seconds.
- Fresh Garden Salad with Herb Vinaigrette: A crisp, colorful garden salad provides the perfect contrast to your smoky grilled kabobs. The fresh vegetables and light vinaigrette help cleanse the palate between bites of rich, BBQ-glazed chicken.
- Grilled Corn on the Cob: Nothing says summer barbecue quite like sweet corn grilled to perfection alongside your chicken kabobs. The natural sugars in corn caramelize beautifully on the grill, creating a smoky-sweet flavor that pairs wonderfully with BBQ sauce. Brush the corn with butter and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a touch of paprika before grilling.
- Creamy Coleslaw: The cool, creamy texture of traditional coleslaw creates an ideal balance to the warm, seasoned kabobs. This classic side dish offers a refreshing crunch that contrasts beautifully with tender grilled chicken.
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad: For a protein-packed, nutritious side that's both filling and refreshing, try a Mediterranean quinoa salad loaded with fresh vegetables and herbs.
- Watermelon Feta Salad: This refreshing summer salad combines the cooling properties of fresh watermelon with the salty tang of feta cheese, creating a palate-cleansing side dish perfect for hot weather grilling.
Ready to create the ultimate backyard barbecue experience? These diverse side dishes ensure there's something to please every palate at your table. Start with 2-3 of these complementary sides to create a well-rounded meal that celebrates the vibrant flavors and colors of summer grilling. Your guests will be talking about this memorable feast long after the last kabob is enjoyed.
BBQ Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipe
Equipment
- Wooden skewers soaked in water for 20–30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 red bell pepper cubed
- 1 yellow bell pepper cubed
- 1 green bell pepper cubed
- 1 orange bell pepper cubed
- 1 sweet onion cut into chunks
- 3 tablespoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt or your favorite all-purpose seasoning
- 1 cup BBQ sauce plus more for basting
Instructions
Prep the Ingredients
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 20–30 minutes to prevent burning. Cut chicken and veggies into evenly sized cubes.
Season the Chicken
- Place chicken cubes in a bowl and toss with Lawry’s Total Seasoning until evenly coated. Let sit for 10–15 minutes while the grill preheats.
Assemble the Skewers
- Thread the chicken, bell peppers, and onion onto the skewers, alternating colors for a beautiful presentation.
Grill the Kabobs
- Preheat your grill to medium-high. Place the kabobs on the grill and cook for about 10–12 minutes, turning every few minutes.
- Baste with BBQ Sauce
- In the last 5 minutes of grilling, begin brushing the kabobs with BBQ sauce, turning and basting a few times for a sticky, caramelized glaze.
Serve
- Remove from the grill, let rest for 2–3 minutes, then serve warm with extra BBQ sauce on the side.
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