Barbecue Chicken Skewers (Kebabs)
These quick and flavor-packed BBQ Chicken Skewers are sweet, savory, saucy and the perfect grilling recipe for easy dinners and summer entertaining. Ready in under an hour, you can pair them with sides or use them to top a salad.
There’s something extra fun about eating chicken on a stick, at least according to my family (and I agree!). These BBQ Chicken Skewers are a popular choice in our house, and for good reason — they’re loaded with flavor, quick to make, super versatile and always a crowdpleaser. They’re the ultimate summer grilling recipe and perfect for cookouts, quick dinners and entertaining for any occasion.
Tender juicy chicken gets coated in a sweet-savory, homemade barbecue sauce that’s charred and caramelized to sticky perfection, making these BBQ Kebabs the perfect addition to any meal. I start by making an easy homemade bbq sauce to take the flavor up a notch, but you can easily use store-bought too. They’re the perfect balance of flavor and texture, and craved by kids and adults alike, so we have a hunch your family will love them as much as ours does.
If you like the bold flavors of these BBQ skewers, try some of our other favorites. This zesty BBQ Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad is a delicious take on classic pasta salad, and these flavorful Hot Dog Burnt Ends are great to serve a crowd.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for Grilling Season: Packed with classic backyard barbecue flavors, easy to serve to a crowd, and versatile enough to add to any spread, these skewers are perfect for any summer gathering and grilling season.
- Easy to Prep Ahead: These skewers are a great for meal prep. Simply prep the skewers in advance and make the sauce ahead of time for the ultimate time-saving meal.
- Family-Friendly and Customizable: These skewers are made with familiar, easy flavors and can be adapted based on everyone’s preferences. They’re craved by kids and adults alike.
- Great for Parties and Entertaining: These skewers are easy to prep ahead, can easily serve a crowd, and are packed with flavors everyone knows and loves. They’re great to grab and go, and always a crowdpleaser.
Ingredients
For The Homemade BBQ Sauce:
- Ketchup: Sweet, tangy and tomatoey, the perfect base for the sauce.
- Brown Sugar: For sweetness.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Adds a bright, acidic note.
- Water: Just a splash, to thin out the sauce.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Brings a savory, umami flavor.
- Yellow Mustard or Dijon Mustard: Sharp and tangy to balance out the sweetness from the brown sugar.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds an earthy and subtly smokey flavor.
- Garlic Powder & Onion Powder: Aromatic seasonings for the sauce.
- Salt & Pepper: Season generously, always.
- Hot Sauce: For a little kick and spice. Add as much or as little as you’d like.
For The Chicken Skewers:
- Chicken: Boneless-skinless chicken breasts or thighs work well — both are juicy and flavorful.
- Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Onion Powder & Garlic Powder: Aromatic flavorings to season the chicken.
- Smoked Paprika: Subtly smokey to add flavor and a touch of color.
- Salt & Pepper: It’s important to always season, every step of the way.
How To Make BBQ Chicken Skewers
1. Add all the BBQ sauce ingredients to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Whisk until smooth and combined.
3. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
4. Simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and glossy. Set aside.
5. Prepare The Chicken Skewers:
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, around 400°F.
- Grill the skewers for 10–12 minutes, turning every few minutes until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred.
- During the last few minutes of grilling, generously brush the chicken skewers with the homemade BBQ sauce.
- Remove from the grill and brush with extra sauce before serving.
Watch How to Make It
Expert Tips
- Cut Chicken Evenly: Pieces that are similar and uniform in size will ensure even, consistent cooking. If some pieces are larger than others, you run the risk of some undercooking while other overcook.
- Don’t Overcrowd Skewers: Don’t squish too many pieces onto each skewer, this can cause them to cook unevenly and steam, instead of getting that nice charred sear and smokey flavor.
- Oil Grill Grates: This is necessary to prevent the skewers from sticking.
- Add Sauce at End: Brush the sauce on once the skewers are just about finished cooking to prevent burning and scorching.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: Once they reach 165° they’re ready. Getting a specific temperature read with a thermometer ensures perfect doneness.
Variations
- Use Different BBQ Sauces: The classic, sweet-savory is delicious, but try different flavor profiles like honey bbq sauce, spicy, or even extra smoky.
- Try Other Proteins: Swap the chicken for shrimp or steak cubes.
- Make it Tropical: Give the skewers a fruity, tropical taste by adding pineapple chunks.
- Try Different Cooking Methods: Making these in the oven or air fryer would be equally as delicious and just as easy.
What To Serve With BBQ Chicken Skewers
These BBQ Chicken Skewers are delicious and versatile. They pair well with almost anything and are the perfect addition to any summer spread. Here are our favorites to serve them with.
- Corn on the Cob – fresh, sweet and summery.
- Potato Salad or Pasta salad – classic sides that are always a hit.
- Rice or Grilled Veggies – simple and balanced for the perfect all-in-one meal.
- Fresh Summer Salad – Like my Black Bean Avocado Salad it’s crisp, light and refreshing.
Storage
Store leftover skewers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the oven, or remove the chicken from the skewers and microwave in 30-second intervals until warm. They can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, too
Freeze leftover chicken skewers in an airtight container for up 3 months. We recommend removing the chicken from the skewers for ease. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and rewarm as instructed above. Enjoy as part of a larger spread, on top of a salad, chopped up as a sandwich, or simply as is.
These skewers are great for meal prep — marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook and serve. You can also assemble the chicken skewers in advance and store in the fridge until it’s time to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Definitely. Follow the recipe per the instructions, then simply place the skewers on a parchment lined sheet tray, or on a rack, and bake at 400° for 15-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once an internal temperature of 165° is reached, they’re ready.
You can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance, or at least 15-30 minutes.
We love the simple homemade bbq sauce in this recipe, but any thick, tangy, sweet-savory store-bought variety works great. Something too thin or vinegar based won’t have the same texture or flavor.
Don’t overcook the chicken — only grill or bake until the internal temperature reaches 165°.
More Easy Skewer Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Teriyaki Skewers
- Watermelon Margarita Skewers
- Grilled Dill Pickle Ranch Skewers
- Charcuterie Christmas Tree Skewers
BBQ Chicken Skewers (Kebabs)
Equipment
- Wooden or metal skewers
Ingredients
For the Homemade BBQ Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard or Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 dashes hot sauce
For the Chicken Skewers
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs cubed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add all the BBQ sauce ingredients to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk until smooth and combined.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and glossy. Set aside.
Prepare the Chicken Skewers
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, around 400°F.
- Grill the skewers for 10–12 minutes, turning every few minutes until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred.
- During the last few minutes of grilling, generously brush the chicken skewers with the homemade BBQ sauce.
- Remove from the grill and brush with extra sauce before serving.
Video
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the oven, or remove the chicken from the skewers and microwave in 30-second intervals until warm. They can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, too
- Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and rewarm as instructed above.
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These skewers are great for meal prep — marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook and serve. You can also assemble the chicken skewers in advance and store in the fridge until it’s time to serve.
