The warmer weather has arrived, which means that grilling season is here! To celebrate, I will be sharing some brand new grilling recipes all month long. I am starting off with one of my favourite new recipes: Spiced Chicken Skewers.
My Spiced Chicken Skewers is a great recipe to serve for a quick weeknight meal or for a summer barbecue. Local chicken breast is coated in a unique spice mixture before being skewered and grilled. This spice mixture includes traditional seasoning spices like paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, but also contains some dried herbs to add an extra layer of flavour to this recipe. These Spiced Chicken Skewers are sure to be enjoyed by everyone this summer!
A Unique Spice Mixture
The spice mixture that I use on these Spiced Chicken Skewers is probably something that you have never had before. I combine traditional chicken seasoning spiced like sweet paprika, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder with some other unique seasonings including dried thyme, dried dill, dried parsley.
The addition of dried herbs adds an extra layer of flavour, making these Spiced Chicken Skewers more savoury and delicious. It’s such a simple trick and takes the spice mixture to a whole new level!
My Tips for Flavourful Skewers
Creating flavorful and tender chicken skewers involves a few key steps, from selecting the right chicken cuts to marinating and cooking techniques. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you achieve delicious results:
- Choose the right cut of chicken: The local high-quality chicken breasts that I use in this recipe are super flavourful. They come from our local butcher and are unlike any chicken breasts I have tasted before. If you buy your chicken from a grocery store, I would suggest using chicken thighs in this recipe as they have more flavour!
- Uniform Size: Cut the chicken into uniform pieces, about 1 to 1.5 inches, to ensure even cooking.
- Buttermilk Marinade: I opt to marinate the chicken in buttermilk and spices before skewering and cooking. The acid in the buttermilk tenderizes the chicken and really makes a difference. If you don’t have time to marinate the chicken, this recipe will still work out but the chicken won’t be as tender.
- Grilling and Resting: Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and has a nice char marks. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (75°C). Ensure to cover the chicken skewers and let rest for 10 minutes to redistribute the juices for a more flavourful and juicy chicken.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Chicken Skewers
Spiced Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
For the Spice Mixture:
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Chicken and Marinade:
- 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups buttermilk or 2 cups 2% milk and ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh chives finely chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Make the spice mixture by combining all the spices in a bowl. Mix to combine.
- Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk and 2 tablespoons of the spice mixture. Mix to combine then cover and refrigerate for 4 hours, or overnight.
- Drain the buttermilk from the chicken. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the chicken followed by the rest of the spice mixture. Mix to combine then skewer onto metal or soaked wooden skewers. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil before grilling.
- Preheat the grill to 400 degrees F. Once hot, add the chicken skewers and cook for about 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and has a nice char marks. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (75°C). Ensure to cover the chicken skewers and let rest for 10 minutes to redistribute the juices for a more flavourful and juicy chicken.
- Once rested, garnish with the fresh chives and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you do not have time to marinate the chicken, simply toss the chicken pieces in the spice mixture and grill. The chicken skewers will still taste delicious but won’t be as flavourful or tender.