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The chicken kebabs consist of tender pieces of marinated chicken cooked on a BBQ or griddle for a sweet and smoky flavor. These chicken kebab skewers are so versatile, they can be grilled, baked in the oven, or cooked on the BBQ.
What is Kebab?
Kebab is a cooked meat dish, with its origins in Middle Eastern cuisines and it has wide varieties around the world. It comprises cut-up or ground meat, occasionally with veggies, and a variety of other ingredients depending on the recipe.
Although kebabs are traditionally cooked on a skewer over an open flame, some kebab dishes, such as tas kebab, are baked in a skillet in the oven or served as a stew. Mutton or lamb is the most common meat for kebabs, but regional versions may use cattle, goat, chicken, fish, or, more rarely, pork due to religious constraints.
What Kind of Chicken to Use For Chicken Kebab?
To make these tasty kebabs, you will need some chicken. Chicken thighs is mostly used because they make really soft and juicy kebabs.
Chicken breast is a bit of a healthier option, and you are welcome to use it instead, but your kebab will come out a little dry. So if you do decide to use chicken breast, make sure you marinate it for at least 4 hours, or, better yet, overnight.
For the chicken thighs they can be marinated overnight, although, even 2 hours would be enough. The more you keep the meat in the marinade, the happier the result.
Can You Cook Chicken Kebab in The Oven?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to cook chicken kebabs in the oven. Just ensure to check that they are cooked through before serving.
How Long do you Cook Chicken Kebab?
If you are cooking these Chicken Kebabs under a hot grill (broiler) or on the BBQ (or barbecue) they will take about 20 – 30 minutes depending on how thick your chicken is and how high your heat is. Always be sure to check that the chicken is cooked through and not pink, before serving.
If you’re using bamboo skewers, soak them for about 30 minutes in water before using. They will take about 20 – 30 minutes at 180C.
Are Chicken Kebabs Good For You?
Homemade chicken kebabs are not unhealthy when cooked this way. You can easily make this recipe and even lower your fat by using chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs and using low fat, or fat free yoghurt.
You could also add in extra vegetables, like peppers or onions onto the skewers. These look good too!
Are chicken kebabs, a healthy option for someone who is on a weight loss diet?
Chicken kebabs are so good, you can eat them everyday, provided you are not using much oils. Its good protein and some healthy fats you are taking in so go ahead without any worries
What to Serve With Chicken Kebabs
You can serve these chicken kababs with:
Pro Tips For Perfect Kebabs
Skewers:
You can use wooden or metal skewers. Metal skewers can actually help the chicken to cook faster, as the metal heats up and helps to cook the meat from the inside. However they’re HOT and they retain their heat for longer – so be careful not to burn yourself.
Wooden skewers can still be hot during cooking but they don’t conduct heat within the chicken pieces and they don’t retain their heat for as long. If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water for an hour before using. This will help to prevent them from burning during cooking.
Even pieces:
Try to keep the size of the pieces of chicken even, and ideally make the chicken pieces slightly larger than the chunks of pepper and onion. The chicken requires longer cooking than the peppers and onion, and the chicken needs to be in contact with the griddle or BBQ all the time. If you have small pieces of chicken and large pieces of pepper, the pepper will char and the chicken will be undercooked.
Spacing:
Don’t squash the meat and vegetables together on the skewers. Leaving a tiny bit of space between each will allow a bit of airflow during cooking and will help the heat to penetrate better – meaning they’ll cook more evenly.
Check the chicken:
Always check if the chicken is cooked by slicing into a larger piece and ensuring it’s piping hot and no longer pink in the middle. Check up and down the skewers to ensure the chicken looks evenly cooked throughout. If you’re still finding the chicken pink and the veggies are starting to look overcooked, you can finish in a hot oven, covered in foil for 5-10 minutes (to prevent the chicken from drying out).
Chicken Kebab
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cut into medium pieces
- ⅛ Cup soy sauce
- ⅛ Cup olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 3 multicolored bell peppers, cut into medium pieces skewers
Instructions
- Place the chicken pieces in the large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.
- Mix everything well. Cover, and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours (the longer, the better).
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Arrange the chicken and peppers onto the skewers.
- Oil the grilling grate. Cook for about 7 minutes on each side, until the chicken is well done.
