Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Pineapple (Printable Version)
Charred chicken skewers with pineapple and zucchini in a honey-smoked glaze—great for barbecues or weeknights.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken Marinade
01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
04 - 1 tbsp honey
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Skewer Vegetables and Fruit
09 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
10 - 1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks
11 - 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
12 - Fresh parsley or cilantro, for garnish
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt until well combined.
02 - Add the cubed chicken to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
03 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat. If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
04 - Thread the marinated chicken, zucchini rounds, pineapple chunks, and bell pepper pieces alternately onto the skewers, distributing ingredients evenly.
05 - Place skewers on the grill and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred on all sides.
06 - Remove kabobs from the grill and let rest for 2 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and serve hot.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The pineapple caramelizes on the grill and creates this sticky sweet crust that makes everyone think you worked way harder than you did.
- Everything cooks on one skewer so there are barely any dishes to deal with afterward.
- It is naturally gluten free and dairy free which means you can serve it to almost anyone without a second thought.
02 -
- Do not rush the marinade time because chicken breast is lean and needs every bit of help it can get to stay juicy on a hot grill.
- Soak those bamboo skewers fully because one time I skipped it and watched three of them catch fire in under a minute.
03 -
- Pat the pineapple chunks dry with a paper towel before threading them on so they caramelize instead of steaming.
- If your chicken cubes are slightly uneven in size, put the smaller ones in the center of the skewer where the heat hits hardest.