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You can make grilled chicken kebab at home, giving you an authentic taste of your local kebab place without the cost of takeout! The secret is in the marinade and that smoky taste of the grill. Grab a warm pita, load it up with tzatziki and vegetables, and enjoy the taste of summer!

For more summer recipes, take a look at our Grilling Category

top down view of chicken kebabs with topping on pitas
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I adore summer cooking as we grill so often, which usually falls on my husband’s shoulders and gives me time off. All I have to do is marinate the meat and prepare a couple of salads. Easy, light and delicious. 

This recipe for shish kebabs is so simple but you could be fooled into thinking the chicken came from a real kebab shop. That amazing taste is all down to a clever mix of spices in the marinade.

There are quite a few of them but you should have no problems finding them in your local supermarket. Have no fear as I will walk you through the process. 

chicken shish kebab on a plate, cut up tomatoes and cucumbers in the background

Shish Kebab 

Turkish kebabs, Greek souvlaki, shashlik from the Caucasus, and Indonesian satay might present differently because of the vast variety of flavours but the core idea is essentially the same. They are all dishes of cubed meat threaded on a skewer, then grilled. And they are loved the world over. 

Today I am sharing my recipe for chicken shish kebab, not to be confused with doner kebab, which is a Turkish version of Greek gyros. 

While shish kebab consists of bite-sized pieces of meat threaded on a wooden or metal skewer, doner kebab is meat cooked on a large rotating spit and later shaved thinly and served in a pita or other flatbread. 

I love doner kebab but it’s not something easily replicated at home. You will need special equipment, patience and skill! Shish kebab on the other hand is extremely easy! It is also leaner, and therefore a better for you!

I am using chicken breasts but skinless, boneless chicken thighs would be also tasty and more authentic. You can also use pork or lamb for this recipe, or try out my shrimp kebab

a hand picking up pita loaded with chicken and toppings from a plate

The Marinade

There are obviously numerous recipes for the marinade. I tried to simplify mine as much as possible while still leaving the essentials in for the authentic taste. 

Marinating is a clever technique invented centuries ago, which accomplishes two main goals; to tenderise the meat and to impart flavour. 

This is especially important for grilling, which happens much quicker than stewing. Since there is no advantage from slow cooking, the meat has to be tender from the start.

The meat we eat nowadays and choose for grilling is of such high quality, it doesn’t need tenderisation in the same way it did a hundred years ago. But imparting flavour is another matter entirely.  We are always after more FLAVOUR!

chicken skewers on the grill

The marinade recipe is a standard mix of acid, fat and spices. I use lemon juice for the acid, olive oil for the fat and an array of dried spices to flavour my chicken. 

Among the spices you will find the usual suspects we often see in meat marinades like garlic, oregano, thyme, paprika. To me, what gives this marinade its specific kebab taste is cinnamon and ground cloves. Do not skip them!

The chicken will need to spend at least 2 hours in the marinade. Make it in a large bowl that can hold the chicken as well, or transfer both to a large plastic bag and let it sit in the fridge.

chicken kebab process images

Recipe Tips and Notes

  • You can choose between boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs. And although I know many of you prefer to use the breasts, thighs come out juicer and more flavourful if you ask me!
  • Don’t cut the chicken into too small pieces as they will have a higher chance of drying out on the grill. They are also more difficult to thread and keep on a skewer. 
  • If using This is an affiliate link.bamboo skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes beforehand or they will catch fire. If you forget, simply wrap the ends in aluminum foil. Better yet, invest in reusable This is an affiliate link.metal skewers. They are durable, do not bend or snap, and the meat slides right off once grilled, which is not the case with the wooden ones. 
  • Never pick up the metal skewers off the grill with bare hands, only with cooking tongs or heat-proof gloves. Give them a few minutes to cool down before you touch them for serving. 
  • It’s best to grill these kebabs on a grill with a lid, which traps the hot air and cooks the meat faster without burning it to char. Use medium-high heat.
  • If you are a nervous griller and always doubt whether your meat is cooked all the way through, it’s a very good idea to invest in an This is an affiliate link.instant read thermometer. Once the internal temperature is at 165F/75C, it’s fully cooked. 
top down view of chicken kebabs on top of flatbreads on a plate

Serving suggestions

It’s no secret that kebabs taste best when decked out with all kinds of extras. My personal favourite is to eat them wrapped in a homemade flatbread or good quality pita bread. 

Inside I love adding a dollop of my homemade hummus, tzatziki, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce. Greek yogurt can be used if you don’t want to make tzatziki.

Thinly sliced red onions are optional but highly recommended, especially if cut very thinly with a This is an affiliate link.mandoline. Feel free to experiment with other veggies as well, such as cucumbers, cherry tomatoes or bell peppers.

More delicious things you can add to your chicken kebab wrap are baba ganoush, fried or grilled halloumi cheese and fries. I know it sounds over the top but local kebab shop deliveries always come with fries! 

To make it a complete meal, serve it with a fresh, summery salad. A few options I love with chicken kebabs are:

Storage and leftovers

Grilled chicken is going to keep in a fridge for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container.

When it comes to reheating, I would avoid the microwave, which will only dry out the chicken. An oven will be a better bet. Heat it to 180C/350F, place the chicken on a baking tray loosely covered in aluminum foil, with a couple of tablespoons of water added. It should take about 15 minutes.

More grilled chicken recipes

5 from 1 vote

Grilled Chicken Kebab

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6
You can make grilled chicken kebab at home, which will give you an authentic taste of your local kebab place without the cost of takeout!
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1kg / 2 lbs skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes

For the marinade

  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp This is an affiliate link.smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder, or 6 minced garlic cloves
  • 2 lemons, juice only
  • 4 tbsp This is an affiliate link.olive oil

Instructions 

  • Mix all the ingredients for the marinade and pour over chicken breasts, cut into cubes. Marinate for 2-3 hours in the refrigerator.
  • Thread the marinated chicken onto wooden or metal skewers. If you are using the wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes, so they wouldn’t catch fire.
  • Grill for 5-7 minutes on each side depending on the size of the chicken pieces. See the body of the post for serving suggestions.

Notes

This recipe will make 6 large skewers.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 566mg | Potassium: 624mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg

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

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Julia from Vikalinka

About Me

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.

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2 Comments

  1. Mr julian t jarlett says:

    5 stars
    I have made all sorts of kebabs over the years, theses Kababs are tops! our favourites. many thanks Julia.

    1. Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says:

      I am so thrilled to hear it! Enjoy them!