Grilled Chicken Kabobs Skewers (Coconut Lime)

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Chicken Skewers are an easy and convenient way to make dinner, especially during the summer. And you can’t beat the subtle coconut and lime flavors that help bring a nice Asian flair to your meal. Besides, eating anything off a stick is always a good time.

Suitable for Paleo and Gluten Free diets. Weight Watchers Points included. 

These grilled Chicken Skewers are great as a main dish and can be served with anything. They’re the perfect summertime grilling quick dinner meal.

You can also cut the chicken bites up smaller to serve as appetizers when entertaining, throwing the neighborhood BBQ party, cookout and would be perfect to make on your portable grill while camping. Grilling season is much better with these and this is one one of my favorite recipes.

These juiciest grilled chicken kabobs are a family favorite food on a stick for sure. These restaurant quality and good recipe is simple to make.

And who doesn’t love not having to slave over a hot stove or stand by the oven on a steamy hot summer night. Plus, dinner on the grill usually means less clean up time and that is a bonus.

This juicy chicken is great spread out on a serving plate salads, vegetables and more. Everybody can tuck right in.

Love other grilled chicken recipes, then check out these Asian Grilled Chicken Tenders or these grilled Chicken Thighs or best ever Grilled Chicken Salad. You can also try these Grilled Lamb Kabobs.

Alternatively check out these crispy delicious Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs.

Why Make This Recipe

  • perfect recipe for entertaining.
  • easy to make on the grill, oven or air fryer.
  • moist and flavorful chicken on a stick, need I say more? 
  • the whole family will love it – especially the kids.
close up of grilled chicken kabobs on a table with sesame seeds garnish

What Are Chicken Skewers?

These kabobs are bite sized pieces of chicken and some recipes include vegetables that are put on a stick and grilled on the grill. A skewer is actually the piece of wood or metal that goes through the meat.

And sometimes you’ll find people, like myself, who refer to the entire food as a skewer, not just the stick itself. Skewers are the perfect party food, make for exciting barbeques and are definitely a kid favorite and this version will not disappoint. 

Ingredient Notes

  • Chicken – I prefer boneless chicken thighs for this as these do not dry out easily. You can use chicken breasts but brine these before hand so they stay juicy.
  • Gluten free soy sauce – you can use regular soy sauce if not following a gluten free diet.
  • Coconut milk – this uses coconut milk from a tin. I used full fat coconut milk for this but to cut the calories you can use half fat version.
  • Lime juice – fresh squeezed lime juice give the best flavour. But you can use freshly squeezed lemon juice also.
  • Maple syrup – this can be easily substituted with honey.
  • Flavors – minced garlic, minced ginger and sesame oil complete this. Feel free to use powdered garlic or ginger instead.

Soooo, let’s gather up these ingredients and I will show you……

image collage showing the first four steps for making grilled chicken skewers

How To Make Chicken Kabobs

Get complete ingredients list and instructions in recipe card below.

  1. Mix together marinade ingredients – gluten free soy sauce, coconut milk, lime juice, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger in a large mixing bowl or Ziploc Bag.
  2. Pat meat dry with paper towels and add chicken and let marinate for at least 2 hours (up to overnight). 
  3. Soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes.
  4. Thread the chicken pieces onto skewers.
  5. Oil the grill grates, then preheat the grill (or grill pan) to medium high heat (direct heat).
  6. Grill chicken kabobs for 10-15 minutes, turning them a couple of times and brushing on more marinade until golden brown and cooked through with grill marks. (To make sure the chicken is cooked, use your Meat Thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C).
  7. You can reduce the remaining marinade in a saucepan over low heat until it thickens, and brush it over the cooked chicken for extra flavor. 
  8. Serve warm with salads and more.
image collage showing the final steps for making grilled chicken skewers

Make These In The Air Fryer

  1. Create the skewers like you did in the above steps 1-4.
  2. Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
  3. Cook for 12-15 minutes, making sure to turn once halfway through.

Recipe Tips

  • The longer you marinate these chicken kabobs, the more time they have to absorb the flavors. The flavors may seem strong in the marinade bowl, but rest assured that they’re perfectly subtle once they’re done grilling. 
  • Make sure to cut chicken in evenly sized pieces so they cook evenly.  Cut into 1-inch pieces if you can.
  • To make these a complete meal, serve with grilled cherry tomatoes and other veggies.
  • I love cooking these on a charcoal grill for smoky flavor but also on a gas grill.
  • I recommend oiling the grill grates (you can use olive oil or canola oil) to help prevent the chicken from sticking to the grates, prior to heating the grill up so you don’t get burned.
  • Don’t forget to brush the chicken skewers with the marinade as they’re cooking to truly enrich the lime and coconut flavors. 
  • If using wooden skewers then please soak them for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
  • You can even use metal skewers which transmit heat well for grilling. But remember these will be hot after grilling so please handle them safely.
grilled chicken skewers on a bed of lettuce and ready to be served

Delicious Variations

  • Change out the chicken: I use skinless chicken thighs, but you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can even try shrimp.
  • Vary spices – Use different spices for a different flavor profile like garlic powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, black pepper, etc.

Storage

  • Prep Ahead – This recipe is so simple to make on the grill. Keep in mind the longer you marinate them, the more flavor they get! So marinate uncooked meat and keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
  • Store – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
  • Freeze – You can freeze the uncooked chicken in the marinade. Transfer chicken and marinade into these convenient ziplock bags, Squeeze out all the extra air, seal and label the bags. Store flat in the freezer for three months.
finished Asian grilled chicken kabobs on a white plate and garnished with grilled lime slices

FAQs

What’s The Difference Between A Skewer And A Shish-Kabob?

Shish-Kabobs, also known as kabobs or kebabs depending on where you’re located are all used interchangeably. Kabobs are usually bite sized pieces of meat and vegetables while skewers are usually made of just meat.

What Kind Of Chicken Should I Use?

I prefer to use chicken thighs for this recipe as they keep their juiciness while cooking on the grill, however, you can use chicken breasts. You just need to keep an eye on the grill to make sure you aren’t drying out your chicken. 

What’s So Special About This Chicken Kabob Marinade?

Grilled Chicken Kabobs are so moist and delicious. And it’s all due to the amazing and exciting chicken kabob marinade.

The secret is the coconut milk in the marinade helps tenderize the chicken as it absorbs the subtle flavor. The coconut can seem like a sharp flavor, but the sesame oil in the marinade weakens it a bit and still brings a slightly nutty flavor. 

Make sure to cook down the remaining marinade till nice and thick and use it to brush over the skewers once they’re cooked. You can even keep a small amount to dip the chicken in. Trust me, folks, dipping into this sauce is even more amaaaaaazing. 

Why Do You Soak Bamboo Skewers?

You want to make sure you soak your skewers in warm water for at least 30 minutes prior to using them.

Soaking wooden skewers helps prevent them from cooking or catching fire as you’re cooking your grilled chicken skewer. You may even want to soak them overnight if you’re marinating your chicken overnight. 

How Long To Marinate Chicken For Kabobs

If in a rush marinate for 30 minutes. If you have time, marinate for at least 2 hours and even overnight.

Can You Use Frozen Chicken?

No, you would need to thoroughly defrost your chicken first before grilling.

Make Grilled Chicken Kabobs With Vegetables

  • Add in some colorful vegetables: try vegetable pieces like zucchini, red onion, bell peppers on these grilled kabobs. You can serve awesome chicken and vegetables kabobs.
  • How Long To Grill Chicken Kabobs?

    This depends on the size of your chicken pieces and the type of grill and heat. On medium high heat, it will take something between 10 to 15 minutes. The main thing is to keep an eye on them when cooking and use your meat thermometer.

    four grilled chicken skewers on a plate and ready to serve

    More Grill, Skewers and Kabob Recipes

    What To Serve With Chicken Kabobs

    Weight Watchers Points 

    There are 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.

    Tools You Need

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    a platter filled with grilled chicken skewers served on top of a green salad
    Print Recipe
    5 from 13 votes

    Coconut Lime Grilled Chicken Skewers

    These tender bite sized chicken grilled to perfection are infused with delicioujs coconut lime flavor.
    Prep Time2 hours 5 minutes
    Cook Time15 minutes
    Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
    Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine: american, western, asian, gluten free
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Servings: 8 skewers
    Calories: 189kcal
    Author: Bintu Hardy

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds (900g) skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into bite size cubes
    • ½ cup (120ml) tamari soy sauce or regular if not gluten free
    • ¼ cup (60ml) coconut milk
    • 3 Tablespoons lime juice
    • 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
    • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 1 teaspoon minced ginger

    Instructions

    • Mix together tamari soy sauce, coconut milk, lime juice, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic and ginger in a mixing bowl.
    • Add chicken and let marinate for at least 2 hours (up to overnight).
    • Soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes.
    • Thread chicken onto skewers.
    • Oil the grill grates, then preheat the grill (or griddle pan) to medium-high (direct heat).
    • Grill chicken for 10-15 minutes, turning them a couple of times, and brushing on more marinade until golden and cooked through. Make sure to use your meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
    • You can reduce the remaining marinade in a saucepan over low heat until it thickens, and brush it over the cooked chicken for extra flavor.

    Make in the Air Fryer

    • Make the skewers like you did in the instructions above using steps 1-4.
    • Preheat Air Fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
    • Cook for 12-15 minutes, making sure to turn once halfway through.
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    Notes

    • For fewer calories, use half-fat coconut milk. 
    • The longer you marinate these, the more time they have to absorb the flavors. The flavors may seem strong in the marinade bowl, but rest assured that they’re perfectly subtle once they’re done grilling. 
    • Make sure to cut chicken in evenly sized pieces so they cook evenly. 
    • I recommend oiling the grill grates to help prevent the chicken from sticking to the grates, prior to heating the grill up so you don’t get burned. Alternatively, you can preheat the grill and then oil it, just be very careful. 
    • Don’t forget to brush the skewers with the marinade as they’re cooking to truly enrich the lime and coconut flavors. 
    • You can even use metal skewers which transmit heat well for grilling.
    • There are 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 913mg | Potassium: 348mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Recipe Rating




    10 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Enjoyed these for dinner last night and they did not disappoint! The perfect recipe for grilling season; so crispy and flavorful!

    2. 5 stars
      It was a great experience of making chicken…I had not done anything related to cooking before. This helps me a lot to learn…I suggest all to use this recipe…and still, if you are unable to cook food in this COVID transmission, you can order it online WHO has said that Food delivery service Covid-19’s time is the safest That’s why we provide take out near me for more restaurant for Dishpal’s Through Food Delivery Service to more frequent restaurant owners. https://www.dishpal.com/blog/uncategorized/takeway-services-dishpal/

    3. 5 stars
      We made these for dinner last night and they were so delicious! Going to add to our regular rotation!

    4. I love everything about these grilled chicken skewers! So flavorful and perfect to make again and again this summer!

    5. 5 stars
      The coconut lime flavor really made this dish! Will definitely be on rotation this summer

    6. 5 stars
      This looks INCREDIBLE. I love skewers and you’ve made this recipe seen so easy! Looks like my next chicken thigh batch is going to taste super delicious!