These Easy BBQ Chicken Pineapple Skewers are awesome! Succulent, flavorful chicken chunks paired with the sweet, juicy pineapple make this the perfect summer meal.
These tasty little BBQ Chicken Pineapple Skewers are not only perfect for a summer holiday BBQ, but they’re also great (and easy enough) for a refreshing weeknight dinner. My family is crazy about them!
A simple marinade
The secret to these easy skewers is in the marinade. It’s savory and aromatic!
- Ketchup
- Honey
- Vinegar
- Worcester sauce
- Garlic
- paprika + chili powder + salt + pepper
The frozen cubes in the bowl with the marinade underneath are frozen garlic (courtesy of Trader Joe’s – one of my favorite items I buy there that adds that fresh garlic flavor without fuss).
Marinate the chicken pieces for a minimum of 2 hours, but up to 24 hours.
Chicken Breast vs. Chicken Thighs
I definitely think chicken thighs are a little better for these skewers, but I made them with both cuts of meat and you can’t go wrong with either.
If using chicken breasts, be careful not to overcook the skewers. The little pieces of meat cook pretty quickly!
One of the great benefits of using chicken thighs is that they don’t dry out like chicken breasts (unless they’re heavily overcooked). Don’t be that person. 😉
Honestly, while I can understand many people finding thighs to be the best cut of chicken to use, and I enjoy the flavor and juiciness, I only use them occasionally because I don’t like the fat removal process. Even pre-cut chicken thighs get an extra trim in my kitchen.
Whichever chicken cut you choose, the result will be spectacular if you keep an eye on the cooking time!
Grill/cooking options
I only use a pellet smoker/grill for grilling. For this recipe, I cook the skewers at 180°C for a few minutes on each side.
A regular propane or charcoal grill will also work just fine.
If you don’t have a grill, try grilling the skewers on a foil-lined and greased baking sheet for 3 to 4 minutes per side (watch carefully).
I think the chicken, pineapple, peppers and onion chunks could also be tossed in an air fryer (skewerless) and cooked that way. It’s a very indulgent recipe!
There are few things I love more in this life than grilled pineapple, and while the flavorful, tender chicken is very, very good, it’s the juicy, caramelized pineapple that really gets me.
Of course, the whole combination of savory BBQ flavor, sweet/juicy pineapple, and crunchy-tender veggies is an absolute winner.
We love these skewers and make them all the time. They’re way too good to limit them to just holiday BBQs and BBQs!
A year ago: Cheese zucchini spaghetti casserole
Two years ago: My favorite chicken salad
Three years ago: Jalapeño Cheddar Turkey Burger
Four years ago: Crazy good Korean beef tacos with quick slaw and the sauce that puts the finishing touch on all sauces
Five years ago: Steak fajitas with chipotle sour cream
six years ago: The Best Zucchini Muffins {Whole Wheat}
Seven years ago: BBQ Chicken Salad, Cilantro Lime Rice Bowls
Eight years ago: Skillet turkey meatballs with lemon rice
nine years ago: Brookies {Brownie + Chocolate Chip Cookies}
Ten years ago: Brazilian lemonade
BBQ Chicken Pineapple Skewers
- â…” Cup (180 G) Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcester sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped (or 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder)
- ½ teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ to 2 Pound Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 Middle pineapple
- 2 Middle Peppers, any color
- 1 Middle Red onion
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In a medium bowl, stir together ketchup, honey, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, paprika, salt, chilli powder, and black pepper.
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Place the chicken pieces in a resealable bag or gallon-sized shallow bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss until evenly coated. Seal the bag or cover the bowl and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.
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Preheat a pellet grill or regular grill to medium/high heat.
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Cut the pineapple, peppers, and onions into 1-inch pieces.
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Thread chicken, pineapple, peppers and onions onto skewers. The order doesn’t necessarily matter, but I thread them in like this: onion, pepper, pineapple-chicken (repeated about 4 times for 12-inch skewers). If one of the chicken pieces is very long, fold it in half before threading it onto the skewer.
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Grill skewers, turning once, until chicken is cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes per side for chicken breasts and 6 to 7 minutes per side for chicken thighs. Serve immediately.
Vegetables + Onions: The peppers and onions add great flavor (they’re also really tasty grilled), but you can leave them out if you like.
Chicken: The chicken marinade is really tasty and would also be delicious on whole grilled chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
Portion: 2 skewers, Calories: 388kcal, Carbohydrates: 50G, Protein: 39G, Fat: 5G, Saturated Fatty Acids: 1G, Cholesterol: 109mg, Sodium: 824mg, Fiber: 5G, Sugar: 37G
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