Chicken and Pineapple BBQ Skewers (Printable)
Marinated chicken and pineapple grilled with colorful vegetables for a smoky, sweet BBQ flavor profile.
# What You'll Need:
→ Protein & Produce
01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks
03 - 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
04 - 1 red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
→ Marinade & Sauce
05 - ⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp BBQ sauce (gluten-free if needed), plus extra for brushing
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp honey
08 - 1 tbsp soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - ½ tsp garlic powder
11 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - ½ tsp salt
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, olive oil, honey, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until fully combined.
02 - Add chicken cubes to the marinade, toss well to coat completely. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
03 - If using wooden skewers, soak in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
04 - Thread marinated chicken, pineapple chunks, bell pepper pieces, and red onion chunks alternately onto skewers, distributing ingredients evenly.
05 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
06 - Place skewers on grill and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning every 3 to 4 minutes for even cooking. Brush with additional BBQ sauce during the final 5 minutes of grilling.
07 - Grill until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and vegetables and pineapple show slight charring. Remove from grill and let rest for 2 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet pineapple caramelizes against the smoky chicken creating those perfect charred edges everyone fights over
- Everything cooks on one skewer so you get all the flavors in every single bite
02 -
- Crowding your skewers makes everything steam instead of grill so leave a tiny bit of breathing room between pieces
- That final brush of BBQ sauce in the last few minutes creates the sticky restaurant quality glaze that makes these look professional
03 -
- Thread everything in the same order on each skewer so they all cook at the same rate and finish together
- Double the marinade and use half as a dipping sauce for whatever you serve alongside