Honey Garlic Chicken Kabobs
This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This 5-ingredient marinade for chicken kabobs is sweet, savory, and incredibly easy! With just a few simple pantry ingredients, you can take your chicken kabob game to the next level.
“I’ve made this several times for us and guests and all who have tried it have loved it!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Karen
Ingredients
Chicken Kabob Marinade
Here’s what you’ll need to infuse flavor into your chicken and veggie kabobs...
- Oil – I prefer avocado oil or olive oil.
- Soy sauce – If you’re gluten-free, use coconut aminos, or Tamari gluten-free soy sauce.
- Honey
- Ground black pepper
- Minced garlic
Chicken Kabobs
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – Here is where we get organic chicken from.
- Bell peppers – Use a variety of colors if possible.
- Red onion – Red onion is much better than white for this recipe. It adds a lot more flavor.
Seriously. So simple, right? After whipping up the marinade, you’ll just need some chicken and veggies. I like sweet bell peppers and red onion. Try to chop them up in similar sizes.
How to Make Kabobs
Marinate
Place the marinade, chicken, and chopped veggies into a container and let them sit for about 2 hours.
Once they’ve done their fair share of marinating, it’s time to get those puppies on skewers! Your hands will get down and dirty during this process, so just embrace it and wash up well after.
Grill
Since chicken is lean and the chicken and veggies pieces are fairly small on the kabobs, it’s easy to overcook them.
You’ll only need to grill your kabobs for 12-15 minutes over medium heat, or until the chicken registers 165°F internally.
It’s important to use a meat thermometer to cook them perfectly.
Serve them with our Quinoa Tabbouleh or Grilled Corn on the Cob.
Can you freeze chicken kabobs?
Great question! If you want to make this a freezer meal, we recommend freezing the cut up, uncooked chicken in the marinade without the veggies.
Because of the high water content in the bell peppers and onions, they won’t hold up well on a skewer after being frozen and thawed.
To prepare, simply thaw the chicken using one of our safe thawing methods and then add them to the skewers with fresh veggies.
Want More Grilling Recipes?
We’ve rounded up our best grilling recipes just for you! Steak, burgers, peaches, side dishes, and more.
FAQs
Yes, you can bake kabobs in the oven. Preheat your oven to 425°F, and place the skewers on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F internally.
The ideal marinating time for chicken is anywhere between 2-24 hours. The specific time can depend on the type and cut of chicken, as well as the acidity level of the marinade.
Yes, over-marinating chicken can actually have a negative effect on the texture and taste of the meat. Acidic marinades, in particular, can break down the proteins in the chicken too much and leave it with a mushy texture.
While the ends of the skewers will get black and possibly burn some, it is fine. We do recommend soaking the skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before placing the meat and veggies on them.
More One-Dish Recipes
Isn’t it great when the protein and the veggies all cook together? Here’s a few more ideas:
Get 7 of Our BEST Chicken Marinades Sent to Your Inbox!
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Honey Garlic Chicken Kabobs
This 5-ingredient marinade for chicken kabobs is sweet, savory, and incredibly easy! Just marinate cut-up chicken and veggies, thread them on skewers, and grill in minutes.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup avocado oil or olive oil
- 1/3 cup soy sauce (Gluten-free option: Use coconut aminos or gluten-free Tamari soy sauce.)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2–3 bell peppers, seeded and cut into bite-sized pieces (any color)
- 1 red onion, cut into bite-sized chunks
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
Make It Now:
- In a mixing bowl or shallow casserole dish, whisk together the oil, soy sauce, honey, black pepper, and garlic.
- Add the chicken and veggies to the marinade, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
- Preheat grill to medium heat (around 350-400 degrees). (Be sure to clean the grates well before grilling.)
- Thread the veggies and chicken on skewers and discard the remaining marinade.
- Grill for 12-15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (at least 165°F or no longer pink inside). Do not overcook the chicken.
Freeze For Later: To a gallon-sized freezer bag or container, add all the ingredients except the peppers and onions. Seal and toss gently to combine. Freeze.
Prepare From Frozen: Note: You will need the chopped peppers and onions on hand to complete this meal. Thaw completely using one of these safe methods. Add the fresh chopped peppers and onions to the bag and toss in the marinade. Follow Steps 3-5.
Notes/Tips
- Save the inside of the onion, if the pieces are too small for the kabob, and throw in a soup, sauce, or marinade later.
- Mix up the veggies if you want! Red onion and bell peppers are my veggies of choice. Mushrooms would also be great with this recipe.
- While the chicken marinates, place your kabob sticks in some water so they don’t get obliterated on the grill.
Grammy Karen says
I’ve made this several times for us and guests and all who have tried it have loved it! 😋
Carla from Thriving Home says
Always good to have one on hand that multiple guests have enjoyed. Thanks for leaving a review Karen!
Melody B. says
Made this for a family event and this was the Kabob I saw people coming back for more!
Rachel Tiemeyer says
Oh, love that! Thanks for sharing, Melody.
Jenn says
Absolutely loved these! I love to bbq and any kindle of kabob is one of my favorites. I am doing some freezer meals (and prep) this week with a couple of friends and this is one we are making. It may not seem like a lot to just get the chicken and marinade in the freezer but if it cuts out a few extra steps for me (especially if the chicken is already cut up in bite size pieces for the kabob) on a busy weeknight, it is gold in my book! Thanks for another winner!
Rachel Tiemeyer says
I totally agree about just getting the chicken cut up and in the marinade. It’s amazing how those little things on the front end can help so much on the back again. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Olivia Wiggins says
This was delicious! I used the oven method- 450 for 15-20 minutes.
Rachel Tiemeyer says
Thanks for the review and feedback, Olivia. Sure appreciate it!
Nancy Martin says
I made these last night and it was a hit with the picky husband. I did add a little ginger (really easy with the tubes you find in the produce section). Grilled the veggies separate from the meat as he wants his vegs crisp tender. Keeping this one.
Rachel Tiemeyer says
Yum, fresh ginger is a great idea as an addition. Thanks for taking the time to leave some tips and your review.
Lori in ND says
Made these tonight! So good! Thank you for the recipe!
Rachel Tiemeyer says
Awesome to hear, Lori! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
E. Thompson says
Tasty, easy, perfect for weekday meal planning; although, I didn’t use the grill–oven at 450 deg, around 15 min, 2 min broil for browning. Thank you for simple ingredients!
Rachel Tiemeyer says
Great! Thanks for the feedback and tip!
Lena says
The marinade made the chicken super flavorful! I only ended up having it marinate for about 1 and half hours and it was still great. I’m still fairly new to grilling and didn’t realize I need to oil the grill or oil the kabobs… I had trouble with the sticking. That would be the only change, but a keep recipe!
Polly Conner says
Glad it was tasty!
plasterers bristol says
Wow these look soo good. Bet they taste amazing. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Simon
Janay says
Is there an alternative for those of us who don’t have a grill??
Polly says
I haven’t done it but you could probably use a grill pan and cook it in the oven. Maybe around 400 degrees? Anyone else have any ideas?
Diane says
Do you use the honey right from the can, or after it is reconstituted?
Polly says
I just poured it straight from the store-bought honey bear. Does that answer your question?
Sue says
Want to try this and freeze. Do I freeze the raw chickens in the marinade
And when ready to Q the kebabs, would you freshly cut the veggies but still marinade them for more flavour, or just stick them on the skewers with the chicken
Tnx. Sue
Polly says
I like my bell peppers and onions marinated but it really just depends on your preferences. Yes, you could freeze the raw chicken in the marinade and then thaw it out before cooking.
Tracey says
Where did you get these circular kabob skewers?? have you done potatoes with this marinade as well??
Doug says
How much chicken will this make?
Polly says
I usually use 2-3 chicken breasts
Greg Baker says
I tried this recipe on my new grill i got as a gift from my wife “Kabobeque BBQ Grills”.
the kabobs came out amazing, they were juicy, soft and flavorful. A++ recipe
The grill i got automatically rotates 13 skewers, so this kabob recipe was a fast n fun thing.
Polly says
Glad they worked out for you! They are a favorite in our house.
Andrea says
If I want to freeze this, should I add veggies w/chicken in marinade?
Polly says
Bell peppers and onions wouldn’t hold up well after being frozen. I’d stick with just freezing the chicken and adding fresh veggies when you want to make the kabobs.