Grilling season is upon us, and I’m taking full advantage with easy, breezy Mediterranean grilled Chicken Kabobs.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Kabob Recipe
- Everyday Ingredients. Sometimes I like to play around with different flavor profiles for my grilled chicken skewer recipes (Fajita Chicken Kabobs, Grilled Pesto Chicken Skewers, lemon Chicken Marinade), but I designed this chicken kabob marinade to be made with pantry ingredients.
- Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser. Readers love serving up these grilled chicken kabobs for backyard BBQs and cookouts—they’re a step up from Grilled Chicken Breast and always a hit. They can be prepped ahead or assembled at the last minute.
- Light and Healthy. Some shish kabob recipes feature sugary, sodium-laden soy sauce marinades. This homemade marinade has just a touch of honey for balance, and you can add as much or as little salt as you like. Much better!
- Juicy and Flavorful. Tender, juicy chicken with smoky veggies and an herbaceous, Greek-inspired marinade. There’s a good reason these grilled chicken kabobs are a reader favorite.
- COLOR. Just look how gorgeous they are! The colorful veggie and char marks steal the show.
5 Star Review
These have been my go-to recipe for summer dinners when entertaining guests. So much can be prepared ahead of time. It’s worked perfectly and tastes delicious!
— Danielle —
How to Make Grilled Chicken Kabobs
The Ingredients
For the Chicken and Chicken Kabob Marinade:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. You can use chicken thighs instead if you prefer.
- Olive Oil. To keep the chicken from sticking. Also, for healthy fats and flavor.
- Red Wine Vinegar. For brightness, pop, and to help the chicken tenderize.
- Honey. To balance the acidity of the vinegar and help the chicken caramelize on the grill.
- Dried Herbs. To go with the Mediterranean chicken kabobs theme, I selected oregano and rosemary. Feel free to swap thyme or Italian seasoning, or create your own custom kabob mix.
- Garlic. Four cloves, no less. Go ahead and up the amount if you have a house of serious garlic lovers.
- Salt and Pepper. Kabob marinade essentials.
For the Vegetables:
- Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash. Cut these into 1/2-inch coins. No need to peel them first.
- Bell Peppers. Red are my favorite. Core them, then cut them into 1-inch pieces.
- Red Onions. Quarter, then cut into 1-inch pieces.
- Cherry Tomatoes. A yummy, vibrant addition to almost any chicken skewer. Thread them through the stem end.
Garnishes:
- Lemon Juice. I almost hate to call this one optional because it adds so much brightness. It’s my most recommended addition.
- Fresh Herbs. That bundle of [parsley/dill/thyme] you bought a few days ago for a different recipe and still have leftover? Chop it up and sprinkle it on your kabobs.
- Feta Cheese. Our Greek chicken kabobs just became a little more Greek. Salty, creamy, and just plain DELISH, you’ll be glad you added it.
The Directions
- Get Ready. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and whisk the marinade ingredients together.
- Marinate. Add the marinade to a bowl or ziptop bag with the chicken. Let the chicken marinate, and soak the skewers.
- Thread. Place the chicken and vegetables on the skewers.
- Cook. Grill the kabobs over medium-high heat (about 375 degrees F), until the chicken is cooked through. ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- How to Make Chicken Kabobs in the Oven. Bake the chicken in the oven at 450 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes, turning them once halfway through. Since the chicken isn’t touching the oven directly like it does on a grill grate, a higher temperature is needed.
- How to Use Different Types of Grills. If making chicken kabobs on a charcoal grill, propane grill, or natural gas grill, the temperature you should grill chicken kabobs at is about 375 degrees F (medium-high heat).
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftover chicken and veggies (removed from the skewers) in an airtight 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.
Leftover Ideas
Leftovers make a perfect pizza topping, especially with a healthy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough. I also like to roll the veggies and chicken into tortillas with cooked quinoa for protein-packed lunch wraps.
What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Kabobs
- Grains. A bed of Lemon Rice is a delicious complement to this dish. White rice, brown rice, farro, or cauliflower rice would also work well.
- Bread and Hummus. Serve the kabobs with some warm pita bread and hummus for dipping. For something a little different, try my Edamame Hummus.
- Salad. Top a bed of chopped romaine, arugula, or spinach with a drizzle of a creamy dressing or vinaigrette and the chicken kabobs. I like ranch or a simple vinaigrette like the one in my Italian Farro Salad. Green Goddess Dressing would be delicious too. Or, add the chicken to my Greek Salad.
- Garlic Yogurt Sauce. Check out the Greek Yogurt Tzatziki Sauce in my cookbook!
How Long to Marinate Chicken for Kabobs
One of the biggest challenges I run into when making kabobs (or any grilled meat) is building in time for the meat to marinate.
These grilled chicken kabobs need just 30 minutes! This amount of time is easy to accomplish while you are prepping other elements of the meal.
- Start with the chicken marinade, then set it aside to let it do its tasty thang.
- Move on to chopping the vegetables.
- Tidy up your kitchen and check Instagram. Before you know it, the chicken and vegetable kabobs are ready to grill.
The chicken can rest in the marinade for as little as 30 minutes and for a maximum of three hours. After three hours, the meat will start to break down.
If you are trying to get ahead on the recipe, chop and prep the ingredients but wait to add the marinade to the chicken until closer to the time when you plan to grill.
Tips for Skewering with Success
You can make this grilled chicken kabob recipe with metal skewers or wooden skewers.
- If using metal skewers like these or these, be sure not to touch the skewer ends after the kabobs are cooked, as they will be HOT. Use a hot pad or tongs to hold the skewer end while you remove the chicken and vegetables from them prior to eating.
- If using wooden skewers like these, soak the skewers in water for 20 minutes prior to grilling to prevent them from catching on fire. (Trust me, they will catch if you skip this step.)
- My other big skewer tip is do not crowd the vegetables and chicken together too tightly when threading. The chicken and vegetable pieces can lightly touch, but you want to make sure the heat can circulate so that the chicken cooks through.
How Long to Grill Chicken Kabobs
The length of time needed to grill this chicken kabob recipe will vary depending upon the size of your chicken pieces and how much the temperature of your grill fluctuates.
- Plan on about 10 to 15 minutes total, turning the skewers a few times throughout so that they brown nicely on all sides.
- The chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer and the juices run clear when a piece of chicken is cut.
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 large breasts
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme or dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 small red onion quartered into 1-inch pieces
- 1 small zucchini ends trimmed and sliced into 1/2-inch coins
- 1 small summer squash ends trimmed and sliced into 1/2-inch coins
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
- Canola oil for grilling
- 1 large lemon cut into wedges (optional but way better if it’s included)
For Serving:
- Chopped fresh herbs of choice (parsley and dill are two of our favorites)
- Crumbled feta cheese
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Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and place in a large ziptop bag, shallow baking dish, or bowl.
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In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.
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Pour over the chicken and stir to coat (or seal the bag, removing as much air as possible, and “squish” to coat). Place in the refrigerator to marinate for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours (do not let the chicken sit for longer or the vinegar will cause it to break down). If using wooden skewers, place the skewers in water to soak for at least 20 minutes.
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When ready to grill, preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 375℉). Brush the grill grates with canola oil or coat with nonstick grill spray.
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Thread the kabobs: Thread a piece of chicken onto the skewer (shake off the excess marinade when removing it from the bag. Add alternating pieces of the red onion, zucchini, yellow squash, and red bell pepper until you’ve reached the end of the skewer, ending with chicken. Repeat with the remaining skewers, then discard the excess chicken marinade.
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Grill the chicken until fully cooked through and the juices run clear, about 10 to 15 minutes, turning the skewers every few minutes so that each side has grill marks. Transfer to a serving plate and squeeze the lemon over the top. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and feta. Serve warm.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days. I love to use them to top salads for lunch throughout the week.
- TO MAKE IN THE OVEN: To make chicken kabobs in the oven, see the blog post above for suggestions.
Serving: 2 skewersCalories: 276kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 26gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 73mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8g
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Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to know when grilled chicken kabobs are done is to use an instant read thermometer; once the temperature reaches 165 degrees F, the chicken is safe to eat. Alternatively, you can cut into a piece of chicken to test it; if the juices run clear, it’s done cooking.
You can make this chicken kabob recipe up to 3 hours ahead of time; any longer than that and the vinegar in the marinade will begin to break down the chicken.
Yes, grilled chicken kabobs are cooked via direct heat, which means you put them right onto the grill grates. That’s how they get that nice char on them!
“Kabob” is the US spelling, while “kebob” is the British spelling. Both refer to marinated meat, fish, and/or vegetables threaded onto a skewer and grilled or roasted to tasty perfection.
Related Recipes
Grilling makes everything taste better! Here are some more recipes you can throw on the grill for easy summer dinners:
