Sizzling Honey Chipotle Grilled Chicken Skewers Recipe

Honey chipotle grilled chicken skewers tantalize taste buds with their perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavors.

Fire up the grill and get ready for a mouthwatering adventure that reinvents ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal.

These skewers pack a punch of complex flavor profiles that dance between gentle sweetness and bold heat.

Marinades work magic by infusing tender meat with layers of delicious complexity and depth.

Succulent pieces of chicken absorb the rich, vibrant blend of ingredients, creating a harmony of taste sensations.

Each bite promises a delightful explosion of carefully crafted flavors that will leave you craving more.

Summer gatherings or weeknight dinners become instantly memorable with this simple yet impressive dish.

How to Grill Chicken with Sweet-Spicy Kick

Step 1: Craft A Flavor-Packed Marinade

• Honey
• Chipotle chilies
• Adobo sauce
• Apple cider vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Garlic
• Cumin

Pulse everything until you create a smooth, smoky-sweet sauce that’ll make your taste buds dance.

Step 2: Marinate The Chicken

Slide chicken pieces into a large bowl or resealable bag. Pour half the magical marinade over the chicken, massaging it to ensure every piece gets coated with deliciousness. Cover and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes- or overnight if you want mind-blowing flavor intensity.

Step 3: Prepare Skewer Stations

If using wooden skewers, give them a water bath for 30 minutes to prevent them from turning into charcoal during grilling. Thread your marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers with care.

Step 4: Fire Up The Grill

Heat your grill to medium-high temperature. Carefully place skewers on the grates, cooking each side for 2-5 minutes until you see beautiful char marks and chicken is completely cooked through. Watch closely to avoid turning chicken into rubber.

Step 5: Serve With Saucy Flair

Drizzle remaining marinade alongside the skewers for an extra flavor punch.

Tips for Even Charring and Full Flavor

• Marinade Magic: Reserve half the marinade before adding raw chicken to use as a safe, flavor-packed dipping sauce later.
• Prevent Burning: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to stop them from charring quickly on the grill.
• Temperature Check: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F internally for safe and perfectly cooked skewers.
• Even Cooking: Cut chicken pieces uniformly to guarantee consistent grilling and prevent undercooked or overcooked sections.
• Flavor Boost: Let chicken marinate overnight in the refrigerator for deeper, more intense honey chipotle taste that penetrates every bite.

Keeping Skewers Moist When Reheating

• Refrigerate: Store leftover chicken skewers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, they'll stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Freeze: Wrap cooled skewers tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen skewers maintain quality for up to 2 months.
• Reheat: Warm skewers in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Avoid microwaving to prevent drying out the chicken, which can make the meat tough and less flavorful.

What Goes Great with Honey Chipotle Flavor

• Craft Refreshing Beverage Harmony: Pair these spicy-sweet skewers with a crisp Mexican lager like Modelo Especial or a bright, citrusy white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc to balance the smoky chipotle heat.
• Create Complementary Side Kick: Serve alongside cilantro-lime rice or a cool cucumber salad to provide a refreshing contrast to the intense marinade and help cool down the palate.
• Design Flavor-Boosting Dip Station: Set up a small spread of additional sauces like cool ranch, zesty green salsa, or creamy avocado sauce to let diners customize their chicken skewer experience and enhance the overall taste profile.
• Build Fresh Salad Companion: Toss a light mixed green salad with mango chunks and a lime vinaigrette to add brightness and cut through the rich, smoky flavors of the grilled chicken.

New Glaze Ideas for Skewered Goodness

• Tropical Punch Skewers: Replace apple cider vinegar with pineapple juice, adding fresh mango chunks between chicken pieces for a sweet and tangy Hawaiian-inspired version.
• Smoky Maple Alternative: Swap honey with pure maple syrup, incorporate smoked paprika instead of chipotle for a milder, woodsy flavor profile that keeps the marinade complex.
• Spicy Citrus Remix: Use orange juice instead of vinegar, increase chipotle quantity for extra heat, and add fresh orange zest to brighten the marinade's overall character.
• Mediterranean Herb Style: Substitute soy sauce with Greek yogurt, mix in fresh oregano and rosemary, then replace chipotle with dried red pepper flakes for a Mediterranean-inspired chicken skewer experience.

Why These Skewers Pack Heat and Sweetness

• Flavor Explosion: Combines sweet honey, smoky chipotle, and tangy vinegar for a mouthwatering taste profile that dances on your tongue with complex, bold flavors.
• Quick and Easy Cooking: Minimal prep time and simple grilling method make this recipe perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous backyard gatherings, requiring just 30 minutes from start to finish.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Skewers offer fun, interactive eating experience that appeals to both kids and adults, making it ideal for summer barbecues, potlucks, and family dinners with minimal fuss.
• Marinade Magic: Double-duty marinade serves as both flavor enhancer and dipping sauce, maximizing taste while reducing dish cleanup and adding an extra layer of deliciousness to every bite.

Ingredients for Juicy, Smoky Chicken Skewers

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs: Lean protein that grills beautifully and absorbs marinade flavors, with chicken breasts offering a lighter option and thighs providing more moisture and richness.

• Honey: Natural sweetener that helps caramelize chicken and balance spicy chipotle flavors.
• Chipotle Chilies and Adobo Sauce: Smoky, spicy ingredient that gives deep Mexican-inspired flavor and rich color to the marinade.
• Apple Cider Vinegar or Lime Juice: Acidic component that tenderizes chicken and adds bright, tangy notes.
• Soy Sauce: Umami-rich ingredient that enhances overall savory flavor and helps season the chicken.

• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that provides robust, pungent flavor to the marinade.
• Ground Cumin: Warm, earthy spice that adds depth and complexity to the marinade's flavor profile.

Honey Chipotle Grilled Chicken Skewers Recipe

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4.8 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sizzling honey chipotle grilled chicken skewers bring Mexican-inspired flavors to your summer table. Sweet, spicy marinade caramelizes perfectly on the grill, creating irresistible charred edges that will make you the backyard barbecue hero.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

Marinade Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) honey
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) chipotle chilies and adobo sauce (from a can)
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar (or lime juice)
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

Seasoning:

(No additional seasoning ingredients in this recipe)

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Instructions

1. Craft a vibrant marinade by blending honey, chipotle chilies, adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and cumin in a food processor until a smooth, aromatic mixture forms.
2. Submerge chicken pieces completely in half of the prepared marinade, ensuring thorough coating. Seal in a container and refrigerate for a minimum of 20 minutes, allowing flavors to penetrate deeply.
3. Prevent wooden skewers from charring by soaking them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling. Carefully thread marinated chicken pieces onto the prepared skewers.
4. Heat grill to medium-high temperature. Arrange skewers on the grill grates, rotating periodically to achieve an even, slightly charred exterior and ensuring chicken is cooked through, approximately 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Transfer grilled skewers to a serving platter. Enhance the dining experience by drizzling the reserved marinade alongside the chicken, providing an extra burst of smoky-sweet flavor for dipping.

Notes

• Transforming basic chicken into a flavor explosion with this marinade magic.
• Wooden skewers soak up water to prevent burning during high-heat grilling sessions.
• Leftover marinade becomes a killer dipping sauce that elevates the entire dish beyond ordinary grilled chicken.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 26 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 36 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg