Middle-Eastern Chicken Skewers
These Chicken Skewers are the tastiest way to prepare chicken for a crowd. They’re marinated with onion juice, lemon, and spices that make them incredibly easy to make but also something everyone is bound to enjoy!
What are Chicken Skewers?
Chicken skewers are marinated chunks of chicken threaded onto skewers, usually along with some vegetables as well (though not necessarily so). You can alternate the chicken pieces with vegetables, or just stack up cubed chickens on top of each other.
How Do I Prep My Skewers Before Grilling?
If you’re using bamboo or wood ones, soak your skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. If possible, soaking them overnight is best!
The reason why we do this is that the bamboo ones can catch fire or burn while grilling. Leaving them in water allows water to soak up the moisture from them and prevent any burning or breakage.
Can I Prep my Chicken Skewers the Night Before?
Absolutely! This is what makes them perfect for a barbecue party. While you can definitely marinate them for only an hour, leaving them marinated overnight will make them taste even better.
Just place the skewers in a pan or baking sheet and cover it with plastic wrap. Pop them in the fridge overnight, along with the vegetables in the skewers, and take them out before you’re about the start grilling them. Super easy and efficient!
Chicken Skewer Ingredients
Chicken: I’ve opted for skinless chicken breasts in my recipe, but you can also choose to use skinless chicken thighs instead.
Onions: The delicious flavor of the chicken, in part, comes from doing a nifty little thing to the onions! We’ll extract the juice from it (it’s super simple) but read on below to know how exactly. Trust me it’s way easier than it sounds.
Lemon juice and vinegar: Two different acidic agents but both add that extra tang and zest to the recipe.
Olive oil: We’ll only need 1 tbsp of it which makes this recipe great in terms of nutrition and low in calories!
Spices: Black pepper and paprika or red chili powder (optional) are all you need for it. And of course, salt to taste (I’ve used ½ teaspoon in the recipe).
Assorted veggies: I’ve used zucchinis in my recipe, but you can use cherry tomatoes, whole cloves of garlic, bell peppers, onions, or any other vegetable you feel like grilling!
How to Make Middle Eastern Chicken Skewers?
- Extract onion juice: Start by mincing or grating onions. Next squeeze them using your hands (make sure to wash them first!), and the juice will come out. Collect it in a bowl.
- Create marinade: To the onion juice, add vinegar and the rest of the ingredients excluding the chicken. Mix it all well. The color might turn pink, that’s normal when you mix onion juice with vinegar.
- Marinate chicken: Cut the chicken into 2-inch chunks and add them to the marinade you made in the previous step. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for four hours.
- Chop veggies: Pick whichever veggies you want and cut them into cubes as well.
- Skewer the chicken and veggies: Skewer the marinated chicken cubes and veggies on the skewers. Next, grill on a grilling skillet or an electric grill, but make sure the heat is high. Grill the chicken on each side, for 3 minutes or until done. You can reduce the heat to medium-high heat if you’re afraid to burn the chicken.
- Ready to serve: When done serve hot with salad on the side, or French fries (if that’s more your thing!).
Tips For the juiciest Chicken Skewers
- Grilling chicken on high heat will seal it from the outside and keep all the juices inside, this will cook the chicken breast and keep it tender.
- Marinating the chicken for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) will result in the best flavor.
- Make sure to soak your bamboo sticks for at least 30 minutes (or preferably overnight) so they don’t burn while you’re grilling the chicken.
- Use different veggies according to your preference to make this recipe your own!
- When skewering the chicken and veggies, you can do it in whatever order you prefer.
Please Review and Rate
If you have tried this Chicken Skewers recipe and liked it, please give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment below with your experience!
Middle Eastern Chicken Skewers Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 medium onions minced
- 1 ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- 500 gm skinless chicken breast cut into cubes
- Salt to taste I used around 1/2 teaspoon
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika or red chili powder optional
Instructions
- Squeeze the onion, and keep its juice to use in the marinade.
- In a bowl, add the onion juice and the rest of the ingredients except the chicken. Mix well. The color might turn pink, that’s normal when you mix onion juice with vinegar.
- Add the chicken and mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for four hours.
- Skewer the chicken cubes and grill on a grilling skillet or an electric grill, but make sure the heat is high. Grill the chicken on each side, for 3 minutes or until done.
- When done serve hot with salad and pita bread.
Notes
- Grilling chicken on high heat will seal it from the outside and keep all the juices inside, this will cook the chicken breast and keep it tender.
- I’ve used zucchini, but you can use bell pepper, tomatoes, or onions.
- Use chicken thighs if that is what you have.
- Instead of vinegar, you can go for lemon juice only.
- This post was published first in 2014.
Hi Muna, that’s a neat trick to get the charcoal-grilled flavour! I know about 5 million Irish people who will be very grateful to know it given that rain and bbqs go together in Ireland. Delicious photos!
These chicken skewers look mouthwatering and I like to use low fat and healthy chicken breast too.
Thanks Angie, they were very tender 🙂
These skewers look amazing, I”m with you – I don’t like bbqing outside either. Love the flavors you use:)
Mary
Thanks Mary 🙂
I should try to marinade chicken like this. It looks amazing!
If you ever try it, let me know how you liked it, or you can send me a pic too 🙂
I don’t like cooking outside, so I love my grill pan too! This is a great recipe for it.
I love the simplicity of this recipe and that the ingredients are all ones most people would have on hand. Trying to grill as much as possible before the cooler weather sets in so will be making these soon.
Hope you give it a try, I’m sure you’ll enjoy every bite 🙂
super good … moist .. tasty and eazy to make … i had this with vegetable and it was beautifull …i put this in a pita with garlic sauce the day after and it was delicious … thanks alot fortha good recipe
Hi Rafal,
This dish is my favorite for the same reasons you’ve mentioned 🙂 … I’m happy that you’ve enjoyed it, thanks for your feedback!