Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs
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Super satisfying Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs made with bright pineapple, red onion, bell pepper, and the most delicious flavor-packed, marinated chicken. After soaking up the seasoning of the marinade they’re perfectly grilled for a light char to get that final flavor enhancement.
Easy Grilled Chicken Kebabs!
I first shared these chicken pineapple kebabs four years ago, but every summer they’re still a reader favorite so I decided to re-share them in case you’ve been missing out. Have you tried them yet?
Kebabs Video
I mean, who doesn’t love a tasty kebab recipe? And what better entree to serve on a warm summer day than these Hawaiian chicken kebabs? One bite of these will leave you craving more!
You will love the light sweetness and bright tang here paired with the pineapple, bell pepper, and red onion. And the chicken turns out perfectly flavorful and tender thanks to the simple chicken kebab marinade.
Threading everything onto the kebabs may take a little effort, but it’s well worth it! These are so fun for summer parties or an exciting island-inspired weekend dinner.
It’s a flavorful chicken dinner to switch things up and one the whole family can agree on!
Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs Ingredients
You don’t need any special ingredients to make these chicken shish kebabs, just pantry staples!
Chicken kebab marinade :
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce
- Pineapple juice
- Olive oil
- Rice vinegar
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Sesame oil
Skewer ingredients:
- Chicken breasts
- Bell pepper
- Pineapple
- Red onion
How to Make Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs
- Stir together marinade ingredients: in a mixing bowl whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add marinade to the chicken, rest: place chicken in a gallon-size resealable bag. Reserve 1/2 cup of the chicken kebab marinade in the refrigerator, then pour the remaining marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat a grill over medium heat to 400°F (200°C).
- Toss fruit and veggies with oil and season: drizzle 2 Tbsp olive oil over red onion, bell pepper, and pineapple and toss, season with salt and pepper.
- Thread ingredients onto skewers: thread red onion, bell pepper, pineapple chunks, and chicken onto metal skewers until all of the chicken has been used.
- Cook through on grill: grill chicken on oiled grill grates for 5 minutes then brush along tops with 1/4 cup of remaining marinade. Rotate to the opposite side and brush the remaining 1/4 cup of marinade on the opposite side.
- Allow to grill about 4 minutes longer or until chicken registers 165°F (75°C) in the center on an instant-read thermometer.
Can I Bake Chicken Kebabs Instead of Grilling?
Some readers have mentioned they’ve had success baking these chicken pineapple kebabs as well (I haven’t yet tried them myself because I love this grilled version). 400 degrees F on a well-greased baking sheet for about 15 – 20 minutes, rotating occasionally.
What to Serve with Chicken Skewers
These chicken shish kebabs pair nicely with any number of summer sides. A few of my favorite things to pair with pineapple chicken kabobs are:
- White rice or brown rice
- Coconut rice
- Coleslaw
- Macaroni Salad
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
Can I Make Extra Sauce for Rice?
Yes, if you’d like some sauce to pair with a side of white rice then you can make 1 1/2 the chicken kebab marinade recipe then reserve 1/3 of it for topping. Thicken it with a teaspoon or two of cornstarch mixed with equal parts water in a saucepan, bring to a simmer.
You can never have too much sauce, right?
Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead?
Yes, you could also use boneless skinless chicken thighs in place of chicken breasts they’ll just need to cook a bit longer and reduce the grill temperature as needed so they don’t burn.
Can I Prep Chicken Kebabs in Advance?
You can certainly marinate the chicken in advance and thread the veggies onto the skewers, but I don’t recommend cooking these chicken pineapple kebabs in advance and then reheating them. I worry that the chicken would become tough and dry that way.
Likewise, I don’t recommend assembling and then freezing these chicken shish kebabs. The vegetables would turn to mush and the texture of the chicken would also change.
Tips for the Best Chicken Kebabs
- If using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in cold water for at least 1 hour before using so they don’t burn while cooking.
- For best results, don’t use canned pineapple in place of fresh. The flavor isn’t near as good and the canned cubes aren’t very large.
- Don’t forget to baste the chicken skewers while grilling so they don’t dry out. This will also add extra flavor.
More Delicious Skewers Recipes To Try:
- Honey Lime Chicken Skewers
- Chicken Fajita Kebabs
- Greek Chicken Kebabs
- Caprese Chicken Kebabs
- Steak Kebabs
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Kebabs
Follow Cooking Classy
Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs
Ingredients
Marinade:
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup canned pineapple juice
- 4 Tbsp olive oil , divided, plus more for brushing grill
- 1 1/2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 4 garlic cloves , minced (4 tsp)
- 1 Tbsp minced ginger
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Kebabs:
- 1 3/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast , chopped into 1 1/4-inch cubes
- 3 cups (heaping) fresh cubed pineapple (about 3/4 of 3 lb pineapple)
- 1 1/2 large green peppers , diced into 1 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 large red onion , diced into 1 1/4-inch pieces
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger and sesame oil. Stir in 3/4 tsp pepper and season with salt if desired.
- Place chicken in a gallon size resealable bag. Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade in refrigerator then pour remaining marinade over chicken. Seal bag and refrigerate 1 hour, no longer (meanwhile soak 10 wooden skewer sticks in water for 1 hour).
- Preheat a grill over medium heat to 400°F (200°C). Meanwhile, drizzle remaining 2 Tbsp olive oil over red onion, bell pepper and pineapple and toss. Season red onion and bell pepper with salt and pepper, then thread red onion, bell pepper, pineapple and chicken onto skewers until all of the chicken has been used.
- Brush grill grates with olive oil then place skewers on grill. Grill 5 minutes then brush along tops with 1/4 cup of remaining marinade. Rotate to opposite side and brush remaining 1/4 cup of marinade on opposite side.
- Allow to grill about 4 minutes longer, or until chicken registers 165°F (75°C) in center on an instant read thermometer. Serve warm.
Notes
- If using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in cold water for at least 1 hour before using so they don't burn while cooking.
- For best results, don't use canned pineapple in place of fresh. The flavor isn't near as good and the canned cubes aren't very large.
- Recipe source: Cooking Classy