Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers field notes

It's BBQ season and these Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers are sweet and tangy. Such an simple summer dish that's packed with flavor!

As soon as the temperatures hit 75 degrees in Portland, We declare it the unofficial start of summer!

This is when we pop open the grill and fire up yummy summery eats to enjoy while dining outside, like these Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers.

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🌟 Why these skewers are great for grilling

The dad was (and still is!) the grill master, and he always made chicken kabobs that were so juicy, tender, and flavorful. The recipe We'm sharing here is the simple version of those yummy BBQ chicken skewers!

Simple to make: You simply need to marinate the chicken for a few hours, and pop on the grill!
They cook up fast: They only need about 10 minutes of cook time and they're ready to enjoy!
Great finger food: These are perfect appetizers to make for when you have a group of friends over for a backyard barbecue.

🛒 Ingredient notes

Skinless, boneless chicken thighs – Chicken thighs always come out more juicy and tender than chicken breasts.

For the marinade – May of these are Asian pantry staples, most of them have quite a long shelf life:

oyster sauce
teriyaki sauce or soy sauce
honey
chili garlic sauce (you may omit this if you don't want any heat to the dish)
onions
garlic
ginger
lemon
dijon mustard
ketchup

Optional ingredients are the green onions/scallions and sesame seeds.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

1. Start with making the marinade. combine oyster sauce, teriyaki sauce or soy sauce, ketchup, honey, chili garlic sauce, Dijon, garlic, onions, ginger, lemon slices, and 1 tablespoon water.

2. Skewer the chicken and marinate for at least 2 hours to 8 hours, turning the bag occasionally, then drain the chicken from the marinade.

3. Heat up grill, brush it with olive oil so the chicken won't stick and place the skewers on the grill's top rack away from direct heat.

4. While the chicken is grilling, turn occasionally until it is completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F — about 10 minutes. Brush skewers with reserved oyster sauce mixture, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes. Then garnish and serve.

❓ Recipe FAQs

How do We keep wood skewers from burning?

Soak skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before adding the chicken and grilling. Or you could use metal skewers if you have them.

How do We know when the chicken skewers are done grilling?

Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is cooked thoroughly to 165° degrees Fahrenheit.

🍽 What to serve with grilled chicken skewers

This grilled chicken goes well with so many different side dishes.

From traditional BBQ side dishes to Asian-inspired sides, you'll find that these skewers are versatile and tasty. Enjoy them with Tomato Cucumber Salad, Corn with Basil Lime Butter, Grilled Vegetables, Filipino Lumpia Shanghai (Filipino egg rolls), or Melon and prosciutto Caprese salad.

🍷 Best wine pairings with grilled honey garlic chicken

A medium- to full-bodied Chardonnay goes well with most grilled chicken recipes. However, since this chicken recipe has an Asian-style marinade, We suggest pairing it with a Sauvignon Blanc.

More grilling recipes

Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you truly loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers

By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Marinating time: 4 hrs Total Time: 4 hrs 25 mins Servings: 8 skewers These honey garlic chicken skewers are simple to make and perfect for barbecues, picnics, and any outdoor lunch or dinner!

Ingredients

¼ cup oyster sauce
¼ cup teriyaki sauce or soy sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
½ small yellow onion, peeled and sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons ginger, peeled and grated
½ lemon, sliced
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 green onions, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine oyster sauce, teriyaki sauce or soy sauce, ketchup, honey, chili garlic sauce, Dijon, garlic, onions, ginger, lemon slices, and 1 tablespoon water. Reserve 1/4 cup and set aside.
Skewer the chicken and marinate for at least 2 hours to overnight, up to 8 hours, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade.
Preheat grill to medium heat. Brush with vegetable oil or olive oil so the skewers won't stick.
Add skewers to grill, and cook, turning occasionally, until the chicken is completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Brush skewers with reserved oyster sauce mixture, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Serve immediately, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.

Notes

Substitutions: You can substitute lamb, beef, pork, or even vegetables for the chicken. Simply be sure to cut your meat into even-sized cubes. You may omit the chili garlic oil if you don't want any heat to this dish, or you may add more if you'd like more heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 193 kcal, Carbohydrates: 10 g, Protein: 23 g, Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g, Trans Fat: 0.03 g, Cholesterol: 108 mg, Sodium: 804 mg, Potassium: 353 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 7 g, Vitamin A: 79 IU, Vitamin C: 5 mg, Calcium: 26 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.