Caribbean Inspired Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipes

THE JUICIEST GRILLED CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• To brine the chicken breasts, fill a large bowl with 1 quart of warm water and 1/4 cup kosher salt. Stir to combine until most of the salt is absorbed. Add the whole chicken breasts and let them sit in the mixture to brine for 15 minutes. Or you can also also cover the bowl and refrigerate for up to 6 hours. Remove the chicken breasts from the brine, rinse them with cold water, then pat them dry with some paper towels. (If the chicken breasts you purchased have already been pre-brined in a sodium solution, skip this brining step completely.)
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 15 minutes before using.
• Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces. Add them to a large mixing bowl and drizzle evenly with the olive oil. Toss to combine.
• In a separate small bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika until combined. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the chicken. Then toss for 1 minute, or until the chicken is evenly coated with the seasoning. Thread the chicken evenly onto the skewers.
• Once the grill is hot, place the chicken kabobs evenly on the grill. Cook for 10-14 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (no longer pink on the inside).
• Transfer the kabobs to a clean plate, and loosely tent with aluminum foil. Let the chicken rest for at least 5-10 minutes.
• Then serve warm while the chicken is hot and juicy, drizzled with freshly-squeezed lemon juice if desired. Or, refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

CARIBBEAN CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat.
• Brush chicken with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Place chicken and jerk seasoning in resealable plastic food-storage bag. Shake bag to coat chicken with seasoning. Thread chicken, pineapple, bell pepper and onion alternately on each of eight 12-inch metal skewers, leaving 1/4-inch space between each piece. Brush kabobs with remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
• Cover and grill kabobs over medium heat 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center.

CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• If using wooden skewers, soak them in a dish of warm water for at least 20 minutes.
• Combine the chicken marinade ingredients in a zip-top bag or dish: olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, Italian seasoning and black pepper. Squish to mix in the bag or whisk if using a dish.
• Add the chicken pieces to the marinade. Make sure that all of the chicken is coated with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Place the zucchini rounds and chopped bell peppers in a baking dish or bowl. Drizzle with the 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss gently to coat. Add the onion to the bowl last and mix in very gently so that the onion layers stay together as best as possible.
• Put the chicken and vegetables on the skewers, dividing evenly between the 8 skewers and arranging the vegetable pieces in between the chicken pieces. Aim to put about 3 chicken pieces and 2-3 pieces of each vegetable per skewer. Discard all of the used marinade that held the chicken.
• Grill over medium heat for 12-18 minutes, turning every few minutes to cook all sides evenly. Kabobs are done when chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165° F.

GRILLED CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Spray cold grate of gas grill with cooking spray. Preheat to medium-high heat. Meanwhile, combine teriyaki sauce and soy sauce in small bowl.
• Thread pieces of chicken and vegetables on each skewer. Grill 5 minutes; turn over and brush with sauce mixture. Grill 5 minutes more or until chicken is no longer pink in center and vegetables are tender. Turn again and brush second side with remaining sauce; grill until sauce is hot, being careful not to burn.
• Heat rice according to package directions. Serve kabobs with rice.

MIDDLE EASTERN-STYLE GRILLED CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Thread the chicken onto metal skewers, folding if the pieces are long and thin, alternating with the red onions. Be sure not to cram the skewers. (Note: You'll need between 6-8 skewers.) Place the kabobs on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the marinade all over the meat, coating well. Cover and refrigerate at least eight hours or overnight.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. To grease the grill, lightly dip a wad of paper towels in vegetable oil and, using tongs, carefully rub over the grates several times until glossy and coated. Grill the chicken kabobs until golden brown and cooked through, turning the skewers occasionally, 13 to 15 minutes. (The yogurt marinade makes these kabobs prone to sticking to the grill grates; if necessary, use a metal BBQ spatula to scrape underneath the kabobs and release them.) Transfer the kabobs to a platter and serve.
• Note: I've specified boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe; they're juicier and more flavorful than chicken breasts, and they work better in this type of yogurt and lemon-based marinade. They're also much easier to cook without drying out.

CARIBBEAN JERK CHICKEN SKEWERS

Steps:

• Mix first 7 ingredients until well blended; pour over chicken in large bowl. Stir to evenly coat chicken. Refrigerate 30 min. to marinate.
• Heat grill to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Thread chicken onto 12 skewers alternately with bell peppers and pineapple.
• Grill 15 min. or until chicken is done, turning frequently.

CARIBBEAN CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Cut chicken in 1" cubes.
• Drain pineapple, reserving 1/3 cup juice. Set pineapple aside.
• Combine pineapple juice and next 4 ingredients for marinade. Marinate chicken for at l east 1 hour.
• Arrange chicken, pineapple chunks and vegetable on skewers. Reserve marinade.
• Place kabobs on broiler grid. Brush kabobs with marinade broil under flame 10 to 12 minutes, turning and basting several times while broiling. Serve over rice, if desired.

GRILLED CARIBBEAN CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the orange juice, orange peel, olive oil, lime juice, ginger, garlic, hot pepper sauce and oregano. Blend into a marinade.
• Place chicken breasts in a nonporous glass dish or bowl. Pour marinade over chicken, cover dish or bowl and refrigerate to marinate for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to broil OR preheat grill to medium high heat and lightly oil grate.
• Remove chicken from marinade (disposing of any leftover marinade) and grill or broil 6 inches from the heat source for about 7 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.