Juicy Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers (Printable)
Tender chicken skewers in a honey-garlic BBQ glaze, grilled until caramelized and lightly charred.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1½-inch cubes
→ Marinade & Sauce
02 - ⅓ cup honey
03 - ⅓ cup soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
04 - 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
08 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - ¼ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
→ Vegetables (optional, for skewering)
11 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
12 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks
13 - 1 red onion, cut into wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, BBQ sauce, minced garlic, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, smoked paprika, and chili flakes until smooth and well combined.
02 - Measure out ¼ cup of the marinade and set aside for basting during grilling or for serving.
03 - Add the chicken cubes to the remaining marinade and toss thoroughly to coat. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight for deeper flavor.
04 - If using wooden skewers, submerge them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.
05 - Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers, alternating with bell pepper chunks and red onion wedges if using.
06 - Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, approximately 400°F. Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.
07 - Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning every few minutes and basting with the reserved marinade, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred.
08 - Remove the skewers from the grill and serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or sesame seeds if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The honey garlic BBQ marinade soaks deep into every bite if you give it time, and the char on the edges is genuinely addictive.
- Everything cooks on one grill in under fifteen minutes, which means you get to socialize instead of babysitting a stove.
02 -
- I once forgot to reserve marinade before dumping the raw chicken in and had to make a whole new batch just for basting, so do that step first.
- Letting the chicken soak overnight transforms the flavor completely and makes the texture noticeably more tender.
03 -
- Press the chicken pieces firmly against the grill grates when you first lay them down and do not move them for three minutes to get those beautiful grill marks.
- Cornstarch dusted lightly over the chicken before marinating helps the sauce cling and caramelize into a sticky shell.