Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs are packed full of flavor! Tender pieces of chicken are marinated in a classic teriyaki marinade, skewered together with juicy pineapple and crunchy bell peppers and then grilled to perfection. A delicious recipe perfect for any dinner occasion!
This post and recipe is sponsored by Smart Chicken. All words and photographs are my own. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make KJ & Company possible!
What Sets Smart Chicken Apart
Ok, listen up, if you’re purchasing chicken, it needs to be Smart Chicken! And that’s something that I don’t even have to be paid to say! My family and I have been using and cooking with Smart Chicken for YEARS. Literally: it’s all my Grandma and Mom will use, and now me! We can even go as far as saying that we have family friends who were farmers for Smart Chicken. I can remember watching my Mom in the kitchen unwrap the chicken with the classic blue packaging growing up, or my Grandma sharing with all of us when she found a grocery store when it went on sale. To say it’s a family favorite is an understatement.
So, what does set Smart Chicken apart? Let me tell you!
Air Chilled:
Did you know that all other chicken companies submerge the chicken in water bath solution to chill the meat? And that the meat absorbs 8-12% of that liquid? No thank you! Smart Chicken goes above and beyond to pay extra attention to detail by using a 100% Air-Chilled Process. That means the end result is a pure product that has exceptional taste, texture and quality without any yucky stuff added. You can read more about their process here!
No Antibiotics:
Want to know what else is great? NO antibiotics are ever added! Here’s what they have to say about the matter:
“Smart Chicken® has never changed its position on antibiotics; the company does not administer antibiotics to chickens that become Smart Chicken and never has. Antibiotics are simply not part of our equation for producing wholesome, high-quality chicken and, in line with that philosophy, all Smart Chicken products are USDA Process Verified no antibiotics ever.”
How great is that?! They have a wealth of knowledge if you want to read more about their commitments to creating the highest-quality products that they can.
All in all, Smart Chicken is the only way to go!
Let’s Talk Kabobs
Grilling up some kabobs is not only delicious, but fun! They are a quick and easy way to get a flavor-loaded meal on the table. Let’s break down the kabob process:
- Marinate the chicken breasts: this will help the chicken remain tender and have the teriyaki flavor running through and through.
- Toss the pineapple and bell peppers in some of the reserved marinade: you can’t forget about the back-up stars to this dish! Tossing them in a bit of the marinade will pull all the flavors together and help the pineapple and bell peppers to not scorch on the grill.
- Layer the ingredients together on the skewers: metal skewers work the best, in my opinion, so that you don’t have to worry about them burning. If you are using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water prior to cooking.
- Get to grilling! I’ve found that the easiest way to flip the kabobs without losing any ingredients is by using oven mitts to gently grab onto the skewers and flip them over. Tongs can also be used.
What Type of Chicken to Use
For this recipe, I prefer to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders that have been cut into about 2-inch cubes. I really love the way the white chicken meat soaks up the teriyaki marinade and takes on a full-flavor profile.
If dark chicken meat is preferred, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can also be used! Cube them and marinate them just the same as you would the white chicken meat. Use whatever your heart desires!
Whether you are making this recipe for a fun, weekend grill-out, a twist on a family dinner or a date night, it is sure to impress! Grill up the flavors of Summer any time of the year with this Teriyaki Chicken Kabob recipe.
Looking for other chicken recipes? Check these out!
BBQ Chicken Meatballs
Chicken Taco Salad
Mango Chutney Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
- Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs are packed full of flavor! Tender pieces of chicken are marinated in a classic teriyaki marinade, skewered together with juicy pineapple and crunchy bell peppers and then grilled to perfection. A delicious recipe perfect for any dinner occasion!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Smart Chicken boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed into 2-inch pieces. About 4 chicken breasts total
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 6 fl oz pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 4 cups fresh pineapple, cut into 1–2 inch pieces, about 1 whole medium pineapple
- 3 green bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Kabob skewers
Instructions
- Add the cubed chicken to a large bowl. In a separate, small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, garlic, onion powder and ground ginger until combined. Pour 2/3 of the marinade over the chicken, being careful to not contaminate the remaining 1/3 of the marinade.
- Gently mix the chicken in the marinade to get it completely covered and combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours in advance.
- Add the chopped pineapple and bell peppers to a bowl and pour the remaining marinade over top. Toss to coat. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to building the kabobs. The marinade for this process can be kept in the refrigerator until needed if the chicken is marinating in advance.
- Preheat your grill to medium heat. Build the kabobs by evenly sliding pieces of chicken, pineapple and bell pepper onto the skewers. Arranging how you desire until all the ingredients have been used, but leaving room at the end of the skewers to be able to use as a handle to turn. Discard the used marinade.
- Place the kabobs on the grill and grill for about 5-8 minutes before flipping. Oven mitts or tongs work best for flipping the kabobs. Grill for another 5-8 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, reading an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Enjoy!
Notes
- Smart Chicken boneless, skinless chicken thighs can also be used for this recipe if dark meat is desired.
- Metal skewers work best for the kabobs, but wooden ones can also be used. They will need to be soaked according to package instructions to avoid burning.
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 556
- Sugar: 20.9g
- Sodium: 2103mg
- Fat: 4.2g
- Carbohydrates: 27.8g
- Fiber: 2.3g
- Protein: 107g
- Cholesterol: 300mg
Keywords: Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs