Grilled Caesar Chicken Skewers
These Grilled Caesar Chicken Skewers are an easy summer dinner made with juicy Caesar-marinated chicken, grilled until slightly charred, then finished with a buttery garlic Parmesan sauce. They have all those savory, garlicky Caesar flavors you love in a chicken Caesar salad, but turned into an easy grilled chicken recipe that’s perfect for weeknights, cookouts, or summer entertaining.
I love finding ways to take familiar recipes and make them a little more fun for summer, and these chicken skewers are exactly that. Instead of serving another basic grilled chicken breast, the chicken gets marinated in Caesar Dressing, threaded onto skewers, and grilled until tender and juicy. The garlic Parmesan sauce brushed over the warm chicken at the end is what really takes them over the top. Serve them alongside a simple chopped Caesar salad and grilled garlic bread for an easy dinner that feels a little more special without adding a ton of extra work.
Chicken skewers are one of my favorite easy dinner ideas because they’re quick to prep, cook fast, and there are so many ways to change up the flavors. If you love them too, be sure to try my BBQ Chicken Skewers, Bang Bang Chicken Skewers, and Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers next!
Why You’ll Love These Caesar Chicken Skewers
- Easy to make: The Caesar dressing does most of the work in the marinade.
- Perfect for grilling season: They’re quick to cook and easy to serve outside.
- Packed with flavor: Garlic, Caesar dressing, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan give the chicken tons of flavor.
- Great for entertaining: Skewers are easy to prep ahead before guests arrive.
- Family-friendly: You can easily leave out the red pepper flakes if you’re serving kids who don’t like heat.
- Versatile: Serve them with salad, bread, grilled vegetables, or your favorite summer sides.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.
For the Caesar Chicken
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs both work. Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces so everything cooks at about the same rate.
- Ken’s Caesar Dressing: This is the base of the marinade and gives the chicken that creamy, tangy Caesar flavor without needing a long list of ingredients.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds even more savory flavor to the marinade.
- Red pepper flakes: Just a little gives the chicken a subtle kick. You can add more, use less, or leave them out completely.
- Salt and pepper: Add to taste depending on how seasoned your Caesar dressing is.
- Fresh lemon juice: Brightens the Caesar marinade and adds just the right amount of fresh, citrusy flavor
For the Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- Butter: Melted butter creates the rich base for the finishing sauce.
- Ken’s Caesar Dressing: A little Caesar dressing mixed into the finishing sauce ties it back to the marinade and makes the sauce extra creamy and flavorful.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the sauce plenty of flavor.
- Parmesan cheese: Finely grated Parmesan melts into the warm butter and gives the sauce its salty, cheesy finish.
- Fresh parsley: Adds a little freshness and color.
How to Make Grilled Caesar Chicken Skewers
Step 1: Cut the Chicken
Cut the chicken into evenly sized bite-sized pieces. Keeping the pieces close to the same size helps them cook evenly on the grill.
Step 2: Marinate the Chicken
Add the chicken to a large bowl or resealable bag with Ken’s Caesar Dressing, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Toss until all of the chicken is evenly coated.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. If you have more time, you can let the chicken marinate for a few hours for even more flavor.
Step 3: Assemble the Skewers
Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers, leaving just a little space between each piece so the chicken can cook evenly.
If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes before grilling to help prevent them from burning.
Step 4: Grill
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
Place the chicken skewers directly onto the grill and cook, turning occasionally, until the chicken is golden and lightly charred on the outside and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Depending on the size of your chicken pieces, this should take approximately 10–12 minutes.
Step 5: Make the Garlic Parmesan Sauce
While the chicken is grilling, melt the butter and stir in the minced garlic, grated Parmesan, and fresh parsley.
Stir until everything is combined.
Step 6: Finish the Skewers
As soon as the chicken comes off the grill, generously brush the warm skewers with the garlic Parmesan sauce.
Finish with additional Parmesan, parsley, or red pepper flakes if desired.
Serve immediately.
Tips for the Best Grilled Chicken Skewers
- Cut the chicken evenly. This is one of the easiest ways to make sure you don’t end up with some pieces that are overcooked while others are still underdone.
- Don’t skip the marinade. Even 30 minutes gives the Caesar dressing time to add flavor to the chicken.
- Don’t overcrowd the skewers. Leave a tiny bit of room between the chicken pieces so the heat can circulate.
- Use a meat thermometer. Chicken is done when the thickest pieces reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Brush on the sauce after grilling. Adding the garlic Parmesan sauce at the end keeps the Parmesan and garlic from burning over the high heat of the grill.
What to Serve with Caesar Chicken Skewers
I love leaning into the Caesar salad flavors and serving these skewers with chopped romaine, shaved Parmesan, lemon wedges, and grilled garlic bread.
You could also serve them with:
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Roasted or grilled vegetables
- Pasta salad
- Crispy roasted potatoes
- Caesar salad
- Garlic bread
- Rice or orzo
- Fresh fruit
For a fun summer dinner, pile the skewers onto a big platter with chopped romaine, lemon wedges, Parmesan, and grilled bread and let everyone build their own plate.
Variations
- Make them spicy: Add extra red pepper flakes to the marinade and finishing sauce.
- Use chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs stay incredibly juicy on the grill and work perfectly in this recipe.
- Add vegetables: Thread zucchini, bell peppers, red onion, or cherry tomatoes between the chicken pieces.
- Make Caesar chicken bites: Skip the skewers and cook the marinated chicken pieces in a grill basket instead.
- Turn them into a salad: Remove the grilled chicken from the skewers and pile it over chopped romaine with Parmesan and croutons for an easy grilled chicken Caesar salad.
Make Ahead and Storage
These Caesar chicken skewers are easy to prep ahead, which makes them great for summer entertaining.
- Make ahead: Cut the chicken and prepare the marinade earlier in the day. Keep refrigerated until you’re ready to assemble and grill.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days.
- Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet, air fryer, or microwave until heated through. Avoid overheating the chicken so it doesn’t dry out.
- Garlic Parmesan sauce: The sauce can also be prepared ahead and refrigerated. Gently warm it before brushing it over the chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Caesar chicken skewers without an outdoor grill?
Yes! Cook the skewers on an indoor grill pan over medium-high heat. You can also cook the chicken pieces in a skillet if you don’t need the traditional skewer presentation.
How long should I marinate chicken in Caesar dressing?
About 30 minutes is enough to add plenty of flavor, but you can marinate the chicken for a few hours if you’re prepping ahead. I wouldn’t leave it in the marinade for days—the dressing is flavorful enough that you don’t need an extremely long marinade.
How do I keep chicken skewers from drying out?
Use evenly sized chicken pieces, avoid cooking them over excessively high heat, and use an instant-read thermometer. Pull the skewers from the grill when the chicken reaches 165°F. The garlic Parmesan sauce brushed over the chicken after grilling also adds plenty of buttery flavor.
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If you love easy chicken dinners and grilling recipes, try these next:
Grilled Caesar Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
For the Caesar Chicken Skewers
- 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup Ken’s Caesar Dressing
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Garlic Parmesan Caesar Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoons Ken’s Caesar Dressing
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
- Pinch of red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken. Cut the chicken breasts into approximately 1½-inch pieces, keeping them as uniform as possible so they cook evenly.
- Make the Caesar marinade. Add the Ken’s Caesar Dressing, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and toss until completely coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Prepare the skewers. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers, leaving a small amount of space between each piece. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before assembling.
- Grill the chicken. Place the skewers on the preheated grill. Grill for about 10–12 minutes, turning every few minutes, until the outside is lightly charred and the thickest pieces of chicken reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Make the garlic Parmesan Caesar sauce. While the chicken grills, combine the melted butter, Ken’s Caesar Dressing, minced garlic, Parmesan, parsley, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Stir until well combined.
- Brush with sauce. Remove the cooked skewers from the grill and immediately brush them generously with the garlic Parmesan Caesar sauce while the chicken is still hot.
- Finish and serve. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan and fresh parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.
