• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
101 Cooking For Two
  • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
  • 📋About
  • ❓FAQs/Help
  • 🛒Shop
  • 📮Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
  • 📋About
  • ❓FAQs/Help
  • 🛒Shop
  • 📮Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
    • 📋About
    • ❓FAQs/Help
    • 🛒Shop
    • 📮Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    🏠Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes

    BBQ Chicken Kabobs

    Jun 25, 2014 · Modified: Apr 10, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · Leave a Comment

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.34 from 3 votes

    Have your favorite BBQ chicken in 30 minutes with this never-fail easy kabob recipe. Coat with the BBQ sauce you love, then optionally add in some bell pepper, red onion, or even pineapple for a complete dinner. The whole family will love these simple chicken skewers.

    chicken kabobs on white plate

    Jump To:
    • 🐓Ingredients
    • 👨‍🍳How to Cook BBQ Chicken Kabobs
    • FAQs
    • 📖Kabob Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Introduction

    If you're an experienced griller, you might what to move on. You can do this. BUT if your grilling skills need a buff up, then read on.

    We will start by turning on your gas grill to preheat. It will be ready in the 10 minutes it will take to fix the kabobs. Next, we will trim and cut your normal skinless boneless chicken breasts into some 1-inch chunks. Coat with oil and a little salt and pepper and place on skews.

    Now careful grilling and a generous coat of your favorite BBQ sauce near the end. Done in 30 minutes.

    My Rating

    My rating system of a 4 out of 5 so very nice.

    A nice solid 4 in only 30 minutes.

    🐓Ingredients

    Chicken

    Generally trimmed and cut up skinless boneless chicken breasts. Cut them into 1-inch cubes approximately.

    Skinless thighs can also be used but cook to a bit higher internal temperature of a final internal temperature of 175°-180°.

    Vegetables or Pineapple

    Yes, most commonly, red or green peppers or red onions are cut into chunks. They will cook at about the same rate. Be sure to give them a good coat of oil.

    If cooked on separate kabobs, the standard onion and bell peppers will cook a bit faster than the chicken.

    Root vegetables like potatoes or carrots will not cook in the same time frame.

    BBQ Sauce

    I love my Memphis BBQ Sauce, but it takes a while to make. If you already have some made up, use it. But generally, just use the sauce you love.

    It is best to give the chicken a medium coat of your sauce near the end of cooking so the sugars in it do not burn.

    👨‍🍳How to Cook BBQ Chicken Kabobs

    1. Preheat grill with a surface temperature of 450°.
    2. Trim and cut two chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes.
    3. If using vegetables or pineapple, trim and cut into chunks.
    4. Tread onto metal skews.
    5. Coat the chicken with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Just oil on the vegetables and pineapple.
    6. Grill over direct heat, rotate every 5 minutes until 155°.
    7. Brush with BBQ sauce. Continue to grill until 165°. About 20 minutes total grill time.

    FAQs

    What skewers to use for chicken kabobs?

    Use metal skewers, especially for chicken, where some heat transfer along the metal will help the cooking. You can use wooden skewers if soaked first to prevent them from burning.

    What grill settings to use?

    A grill surface temperature of about 450° is suggested for this and most chicken cooking. Higher temperatures will tend to overcook and dry the outside before the center reaches the desired final internal temperature.

    On most gas grills, this will be a bit above medium. On charcoal grills, you will need to be careful with the number of coals and the vent settings.

    Please use a grill surface thermometer to get the right temperature. For more information on grill temperature, please see A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill.

    What is the final internal temperature for the chicken to be safe?

    The minimum safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°. While thigh meat is safe at 165°, it will not be tender. Generally, chicken dark meat has a better texture at about 180°.

    Can chicken kabobs be cooked in the oven?

    Yes, you can use a 450° oven for about 20 minutes. As always, you are cooking to a final internal temperature and not by time alone. Time varies by the oven, the tray, and the size of the chicken chunks.

    📖Kabob Recipes

    Marinated Steak Kabobs

    Easy Beef Kabobs

    Honey Garlic Chicken Kabobs

    Buttermilk Ranch Chicken Kabobs

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    BBQ Recipes, Chicken Breast Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    raw chicken with seasoning for kabobs.

    Start by preheating your gas grill to medium-high for most grills. You want your surface temperature of about 450°. Of course, clean and oil the grill.

    trimmed and cubed chicken on red board.

    Trim 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts. Cut into 1-inch cubes or a little bigger.

    mixing chicken with spices in metal bowl.

    Mix with two teaspoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon coarse salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

    cubes of chicken on skewers.

    Thread on to skews. I like metal, but wood will do, but you should soak them first.

    If using vegetables or pineapple, trim and cut into chunks. Add between the chicken and brush with oil.

    Brushing BBQ sauce on a cooking kabob on the grill grate.

    Place over direct heat and grill each side for 5-6 minutes before turning. Continue until internal temp of 155° or so. 13-15 minutes total here. Now brush all sides with your favorite BBQ sauce. Cook another 2 minutes per side (4 minutes total) until nice color and an internal temperature of 165°.

    piece of chicken on fork.
    graphic Subscribe to 101 Cooking for Two

    📝Recipe

    chicken kabobs on white plate

    BBQ Chicken Kabobs

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    Have your favorite BBQ chicken in 30 minutes with this never-fail easy kabob recipe. Coat with the BBQ sauce you love, then optionally add in some bell pepper, red onion, or even pineapple for a complete dinner. The whole family will love these simple chicken skewers.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.34 from 3 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 2

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts
    • 2 teaspoon olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ cup BBQ sauce

    Optional added ingredients

    • Green or red bell peppers
    • Red onion in chunks
    • Pineapple
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Start by preheating your gas grill to medium-high for most grills. You want your surface temperature about 450°.
      clean and oil grill crates
    • Trim 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts. Cut into 1-inch cubes or a little bigger.
      trimmed and cubed chicken on red board
    • Mix with 2 teaspoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon coarse salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
      mixing chicken with spices in metal bowl
    • If using vegetables or pineapple, trim and cut into chunks. Add between the chicken chunks and brush with oil.
    • Thread on to skews. I like metal, but wood will do, but you should soak them first.
      cubes of chicken on skewers
    • Place over direct heat and grill each side for 5-6 minutes before turning. Continue until internal temp of 155° or so. 13-15 minutes total here.
      two chicken kabobs on grill
    • Brush all sides with your favorite BBQ sauce. Cook another 2 minutes per side (4 minutes total) until a nice color and an internal temperature of 165°.
      brushing the chicken kabob with BBQ sauce
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    Your Own Private Notes

    Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. You can use chicken thigh meat for these kabobs but you should cook to an internal temperature of about 180°.
    2. The main trouble most people will have relates to too high of grill temperature causing the surface to burn before the inside is done.
    3. You can put a very light coat of sauce on the chicken at the start of cooking but not really needed and may burn if you are not careful.
    4. You can add green pepper and red onion chunks between the chicken and cook with the chicken. If you make separate vegetable kabobs, they will cook about 5 minutes faster.
    5. You can do this on a charcoal grill but not over hot coals. Make a cooler area for the chicken and check frequently.
    6. I usually cook these with a closed grill hood but you can do this open.
    7. You can also do this in an oven at 450° for about 20 minutes.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    BBQ Chicken Kabobs
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 327 Calories from Fat 63
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7g11%
    Saturated Fat 1g5%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 4g
    Cholesterol 140mg47%
    Sodium 1205mg50%
    Potassium 4mg0%
    Carbohydrates 25g8%
    Fiber 0.1g0%
    Sugar 21g23%
    Protein 48g96%
    Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
    Calcium 1mg0%
    Iron 0.1mg1%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Main Course
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editors Note: Originally Published June 25, 2014. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

    Protecting the homestead

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Grilled Whole Chicken without Spatchcocking
    • Super Moist Grilled Reversed Seared Chicken Breast with Marinade
    • Extra Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings
    • Baked Split Chicken Breasts (Bone-in)

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment (Policy Link in Footer) Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    DrDan image Hi, I’m DrDan, and welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photo instructions. About DrDan

    Popular Recipes

    • Baked Chicken Legs - Quick and Easy
    • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
    • Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Small Ribeye Roast
    • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    • Pan Seared Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
    kitchen reference sheet graphic wide blue
    graphic of sites that I work with or have had recipes featured or referenced.
    SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top ↑

    About

    • About DrDan and the Blog
    • Business Questions
    • Comment Policy

    Content

    • Food FAQ
    • Kitchen Reference Sheets
    • Recipes Featured in the Videos
    • Guide To Cooking for Two
    • Saved Recipes Collections

    dogs by the pond

    Privacy Policy | Terms | Contact

    COPYRIGHT © 2010-2023 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME