Middle Eastern-Style Grilled Chicken Kabobs
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You’ll make these flavorful chicken kabobs all summer long.
One of my go-to chicken recipes for summer cookouts, these Middle-Eastern style grilled chicken kabobs are wonderful over a bed of rice pilaf or served with a Greek salad. The chicken is marinated in yogurt, olive oil, lemon, garlic and spices, and then grilled over an open flame until juicy and golden brown. The only time-consuming part of the recipe is threading the meat and onions onto skewers. Short on time? Skip the skewers and grill the chicken pieces whole, and slice the red onions into large wedges and pop them right on the grill. A word to the wise: make more than you think you’ll need. The first time I made these chicken kabobs for a crowd, I actually ran out of food!
What You’ll Need to Make grilled Chicken Kabobs
I’ve specified boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe; they’re juicier and more flavorful than boneless skinless chicken breasts, and they also hold up better when using an acidic marinade; yogurt or lemon-based marinades can make boneless skinless chicken breasts leathery. Chicken thighs are also much easier to cook without drying out. (If you’d like to experiment with other chicken thigh recipes, BBQ-spiced chicken thighs and char siu chicken are both huge crowd pleasers.)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the Marinade
In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic.
Stir to combine.
Step 2: Prep the Chicken and Thread onto Skewers
Trim the chicken of any excess fat and gristle. Don’t worry about getting every last bit of fat; most of it will melt off on the grill. Then cut the meat into bite-size pieces. I think it’s easiest to use kitchen shears as opposed to a knife.
Thread the chicken pieces onto skewers alternating with the red onions. Metal skewers are ideal as they won’t catch fire on the grill. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes first so they’re slower to char on the grill.
Step 3: Marinate the Chicken
Place the kabobs on a baking sheet lined with foil, and then brush the marinade all over the meat, coating well. Cover and let the kabobs sit in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight.
Step 4: Grill the Kabobs
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, grease well, and then grill the kabobs until golden brown.
Serve and enjoy!
Chicken Kabob Video Tutorial
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- Perfect Grilled Chicken Breasts with Lemon, Garlic & Herbs
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Middle Eastern-Style Grilled Chicken Kabobs
You’ll make these flavorful chicken kabobs all summer long.
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (reduce to ½ teaspoon for less heat)
- Zest from one lemon
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon
- 1¾ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 2½ to 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1½-inch pieces (see note)
- 1 large red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
- Vegetable oil, for greasing the grill
Instructions
- 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.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Sugar: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 41g
- Sodium: 871mg
- Cholesterol: 186mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Comments
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Last night was the 4th time I made this recipe, and the 1st time I made it on a real grill, which was easier than the grill pan or George Forman. I have always grilled the thighs whole instead of on skewers. The chicken was tender and flavorful; absolutely delicious. This time, I paired it with your rice recipe as shown, and I think I will be officially adding this combo to our summer meal rotation. I was very proud of myself for putting together a meal that isn’t the usual Italian/American dinner, thanks to your clear instructions.
You know, Jen, I love the way you pair your recipes. I cook every week for a doctor couple, and the biggest Challenge is what to make for side dishes. Immensly helpful!
Thank you.
☺️
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. The chicken comes out moist and flavorful every time. Thank you!
Hey Jenn, I love your recipes and can’t wait to try this one. But I don’t have a grill. I’m wondering if cooking chicken thighs w/o skewers in cast iron griddle would turn out better than oven? Or stainless pan?
Hi Michelle, so glad you like the recipes! Typically I suggest broiling these (cook it for about the same time as indicated in the recipe — you’ll need to turn it occasionally just as you would on a grill so that it browns evenly) but a cast iron griddle would also work nicely. Hope you enjoy!
Made these and everyone complimented me saying they were great! I only had time to marinate 5 hours can’t wait to make them again and marinate longer!
Im prepping food for an outdoor wedding and was wondering if you tried preping and freezing these?
Yes, Stephanie, that should be fine. Hope you enjoy!
I made these exactly as written. Kabobs were time consuming but so worth it and looks impressive. They were delicious! The yogurt marinade really clung to the chicken even on the grill.
Can you use non-fat Greek yogurt?
Hi Laurie, It will work, but won’t be quite as rich and flavorful. Are you able to use 2%?
This is one of our go-to recipes for dinner. I love the flavors of the marinade, and the rice pilaf is a great side dish. I wish I could make it on the grill, but under the broiler works well, too.
How long did you cook in the
broiler?
This chicken is delish! I paired it with roasted carrots and giada’s Mediterranean couscous salad. My hubby said the best meal he’s had in a long time! I made the chicken as directed except used breast instead of thighs. I left out the lemon juice as suggested and it was PERFECT! Wish I could add a pic!
I just made this recipe for the first time using 5lbs of chicken — so double. I literally have no chicken left. It was amazing. Made it with the basmati fruit rice and the thyme carrots. Best meal I’ve done in a while. You never disappoint, Jen! Your cookbook is being delivered early next week. Can’t wait to try all of your recipes 🙂
Glad you enjoyed this and hope you find lots of new favorites in the cookbook – thank you for purchasing it! ❤️