Best BBQ chicken kebabs

10
BBQ chicken kebabs in an orange bbq marinade - great for grilling chicken skewers as well as chicken fillets

We spend most of the winter time dreaming of those spring-summer barbeques, with cool drinks, warm sun and good company.
 
Kids tend to run around and are just happy to be outdoors, someone is assigned with cooking ‘duties’ and has a permanent place by the BBQ grill, and the rest of us just enjoy drinking and eating what comes off it!
 
This recipe for BBQ chicken kebabs is made an orange marinade that’s packed full of flavour. Kids gobble them up too!

 

Summary

Prep: 10 minutes
Cooking: 10 minutes
Ages: Toddlers to Teens
Difficulty: Easypeasy
Makes: 6 chicken skewers

How do you barbecue chicken kebabs?

If you’re cooking them out on a barbecue then we recommend marinating the chicken pieces in your orange marinade and refrigerating for 20 minutes or overnight. Just before cooking you can then thread the chicken onto your skewers and pop them straight on the grill. Keep the remaining marinade for basting.

Keep them on a medium heat so that the chicken pieces don’t burn on the outside before cooking on the inside. Flip the chicken skewers every few minutes to make sure that they’re being cooked evenly. After about 5-7 minutes on each side the chicken kebabs should be done. The pieces should be slightly browned on the outside and cooked through on the inside.

Spoon the leftover marinade over the chicken skewers while they’re cooking to keep them flavourful.

 

Are chicken kebabs healthy?

Chicken kebabs are a healthy option for BBQ lunches. Full of lean protein and cooked in a little olive oil (rather than being fried or cooked in butter), they give you the nutrition with less fat and calories than red meats.

This marinade has natural sweeteners like fresh orange juice and maple syrup. You can also find great tasting ketchup that’s sweetened naturally as well to make it completely free from refined sugars or artificial sweeteners.

Ingredients

BBQ chicken marinade

  • 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 2 tsp mild paprika, ground
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 3 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove crushed

Chicken skewers

  • 4 chicken fillets (about 120 grams each)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Coriander for garnishing

Instructions

  1. Mix the ingredients of the marinade together in a glass bowl. This includes the orange juice, Dijon mustard, ground paprika, maple syrup, ketchup, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and the crushed garlic clove. Stir until well combined.
  2. Cut your chicken fillets into cubes about 1 inch wide. Pop them into the bowl with the marinade and stir until well-coated in the sauce.
  3. If you have time, cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave it in the fridge for 20 minutes or overnight.
  4. When you’re ready to grill or BBQ, take the bowl out of the fridge and thread the pieces of chicken onto a skewer, about 5-7 pieces per skewer. If you’re using wooden skewers it’s a good idea to soak them in cold water for 20 minutes before you start.
  5. If you’re cooking on the BBQ, brush the grills with oil. If you’re cooking on a grill pan then heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over a medium flame.
  6. Cook the chicken kebabs for about 5-7 minutes on each side. Check that the large pieces on either end are cooked well, and that all pieces are cooked through.
  7. Serve with some grilled pitta bread and a refreshing summer salad.

BBQ chicken kebabs – our step by step guide:

1

BBQ chicken kebabs in an orange bbq marinade - great for grilling chicken skewers as well as chicken fillets
1

Make the BBQ Chicken marinade

Combine all the ingredients of the BBQ chicken marinade into a bowl and stir well.

These are the: orange juice, ground paprika, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, ketchup, olive oil and a crushed garlic clove.

2

BBQ chicken kebabs in an orange bbq marinade - great for grilling chicken skewers as well as chicken fillets
2

Marinate the chicken pieces

Cube the chicken fillets into pieces about 1 inch by 1 inch.

Place them in the bowl of marinade and stir until all the pieces are coated.

Cover with clingfilm and leave in the fridge for 20 minutes or overnight, if you have the time.

3

BBQ chicken kebabs in an orange bbq marinade - great for grilling chicken skewers as well as chicken fillets
3

Thread the chicken pieces

If you’re using wooden sticks for your chicken kebabs, then ideally submerge them in cold water for 20 minutes before you start threading the chicken. This can prevent them from burning too easily on the grill.

Thread the chicken pieces onto your skewers placing about 5 on each one.

4

BBQ chicken kebabs in an orange bbq marinade - great for grilling chicken skewers as well as chicken fillets
4

Grill the chicken kebabs

Put 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan (if cooking indoors) or brush your grill with olive oil if you’re making these on the BBQ.

Place your chicken kebabs flat on the grill or frying pan so that all the chicken pieces are touching down.

Cook on a medium heat for about 5 minutes each side. Keep flipping them to make sure they are cooked evenly and check that the pieces are cooked through before serving.

Serve these tasty BBQ chicken kebabs with baked potatoes or chips, and a summer salad!

 

BBQ chicken kebabs in an orange bbq marinade - great for grilling chicken skewers as well as chicken fillets

 

BBQ chicken kebabs in an orange bbq marinade - great for grilling chicken skewers as well as chicken fillets

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5 from 6 votes

Best BBQ chicken kebabs

This recipe for BBQ chicken kebabs is made an orange marinade that’s packed full of flavour. Kids gobble them up too!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 chicken kebabs
Author Mas & Pas

Ingredients

BBQ chicken marinade

  • 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 2 tsp mild paprika ground
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 3 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove crushed

Chicken skewers

  • 4 chicken fillets (about 120 grams each)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • coriander leaves for garnishing

Instructions

  • Mix the ingredients of the marinade together in a glass bowl. This includes the orange juice, Dijon mustard, ground paprika, maple syrup, ketchup, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and the crushed garlic clove. Stir until well combined.
  • Cut your chicken fillets into cubes about 1 inch wide. Pop them into the bowl with the marinade and stir until well-coated in the sauce.
  • If you have time, cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave it in the fridge for 20 minutes or overnight.
  • When you’re ready to grill or BBQ, take the bowl out of the fridge and thread the pieces of chicken onto a skewer, about 5-7 pieces per skewer. If you’re using wooden skewers it’s a good idea to soak them in cold water for 20 minutes before you start.
  • If you’re cooking on the BBQ, brush the grills with oil. If you’re cooking on a grill pan then heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over a medium flame.
  • Cook the chicken kebabs for about 5-7 minutes on each side. Check that the large pieces on either end are cooked well, and that all pieces are cooked through.
  • Serve with some grilled pitta bread and a refreshing summer salad.

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