Chicken and Pineapple BBQ Skewers (Printable)

Tender chicken and sweet pineapple glazed with smoky BBQ sauce, grilled for a perfect charred finish.

# What goes in:

→ Meat & Protein

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes

→ Fruit & Vegetables

02 - 1 medium fresh pineapple peeled cored and cut into 1 inch chunks
03 - 1 large red bell pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
04 - 1 large red onion cut into 1 inch pieces

→ Marinade & Sauce

05 - ½ cup BBQ sauce store-bought or homemade
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp soy sauce use gluten-free if needed
08 - 2 cloves garlic minced
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - ½ tsp black pepper
11 - ½ tsp salt

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
13 - Lime wedges to serve

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together BBQ sauce olive oil soy sauce garlic smoked paprika black pepper and salt in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Add chicken cubes to the marinade tossing to coat completely. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours for optimal flavor absorption.
03 - Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling. If using metal skewers this step can be skipped.
04 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat approximately 400°F or prepare a grill pan over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
05 - Thread marinated chicken pineapple chunks bell pepper and onion alternately onto skewers. Begin and end with a piece of chicken or pineapple to secure the ingredients.
06 - Grill skewers for 12 to 15 minutes turning occasionally and basting with extra BBQ sauce halfway through cooking. Cook until chicken reaches 165°F internally and develops light charring.
07 - Remove skewers from grill and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley and serve with fresh lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of smoky grilled chicken and naturally sweet pineapple creates that perfect sweet and smoky balance that makes summer eating so incredible
  • Everything cooks on one skewer so cleanup is basically nonexistent and you have more time to hang out with friends
  • The marinade does double duty keeping the chicken moist while adding that irresistible BBQ flavor everyone loves
02 -
  • The pineapple actually helps keep the chicken moist as it grills since the fruit juices release and steam around the meat
  • Do not overcrowd your skewers or the heat cannot circulate properly and you will end up with unevenly cooked food
  • Letting the chicken sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before grilling helps it cook more evenly
03 -
  • Preheat your skewers for about 2 minutes on the grill before threading the food to help prevent sticking and get a head start on the cooking
  • Use two skewers parallel to each other for each serving instead of one to prevent the food from spinning around when you try to flip them

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