Description
Fire up the grill and get ready for a sweet and savory explosion with these Pineapple Chicken Kabobs! This easy dinner idea brings together juicy marinated chicken and caramelized pineapple chunks, skewered and grilled to golden perfection. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner recipes, healthy grilled food ideas, or vibrant summer meals, these kabobs deliver bold tropical flavor in every bite. Perfect for BBQs, meal prep, or weeknight family meals, and easy enough for beginners, this is a grilled chicken recipe you’ll make on repeat.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
3 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon sriracha (optional)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
Instructions
1. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger, sriracha, and black pepper. Reserve 1/4 cup of marinade for glazing later.
2. Place chicken cubes in a bowl or zip-top bag and pour in the remaining marinade. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
3. Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes if using them.
4. Assemble the kabobs by alternating chicken and pineapple chunks on skewers, leaving small spaces between pieces.
5. Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and oil the grates.
6. Grill the kabobs for 10–12 minutes, turning every 2–3 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and lightly charred.
7. In a small saucepan, heat the reserved marinade. If a glaze is desired, stir in cornstarch mixed with water and simmer until thickened.
8. Brush the glaze over the kabobs during the final 2–3 minutes of grilling.
9. Remove from heat, let rest for 2–3 minutes, then serve warm. Garnish with green onions or chives if desired.
Notes
Fresh pineapple gives the best texture and char—use it over canned if possible.
Double the marinade if you’d like extra glaze for serving on the side.
These kabobs are also oven-friendly: bake at 425°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer (approx)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: easy dinner, grilled chicken, pineapple chicken, kabobs, healthy summer meals