Grilled Habanero Marinated Chicken Skewers
Grilled Habanero Marinated Chicken Skewers are spicy and incredibly flavorful! Marinated in a fiery blend of herbs, spices, and habanero peppers, this juicy chicken is perfect for summer cookouts, camping, and meal prep!
Equipment
- glass/non-reactive mixing bowl
- Blender or food processor
- skewers soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into small chunks
- 2 orange habaneros
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice approximately 1 lemon
- 1 bunch scallions roots cut off
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/3 cup avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
Prepare marinade/chicken
- Add your chicken to a glass/non-reactive bowl and set aside.
- Add the rest of the ingredients (habaneros, lemon, scallions, cilantro, oil, and spices) to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken and with tongs or your hands, mix until fully combined and the marinade is evenly dispersed. Marinate in the fridge for 1-4 hours. Make sure your skewers have soaked for at least 30 minutes before skewering chicken.
- When the chicken is done marinating, thread chicken onto the skewers. If some pieces are longer than others, bend the chicken so you can thread it again, so there is a consistent size for even grilling. I get about (8) 10" skewers from 3 lbs. of chicken.
Grill chicken
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (around 375-400°). Make sure your grill grates are clean before adding chicken.
- Place chicken skewers on the grill, with a little bit of space in between each skewer. Wait a full 5-6 minutes before turning or moving the chicken so it doesn't stick to the grill. After 5-6 minutes, turn over skewers and continue cooking another 6-10 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 165° at the thickest part of the chicken. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes and enjoy!
Notes
- Be sure to use a glass or other non-reactive mixing bowl, since metal bowls have a chemical reaction with acidic ingredients and can affect the taste of the chicken.
- If the 3 lbs. of chicken is distributed equally amongst 8 skewers, each skewer is approximately 0.375 ounces.
- If needed, olive oil or vegetable oil can be used instead of avocado oil.
- I prefer the skewers I linked to because the meat doesn't spin around on them like traditional, round skewers.
- Cooked chicken can be stored in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 3-4 days.
- The chicken can be frozen in freezer-safe containers. For the best quality, use within 4 months.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!