Hawaiian Chicken Pineapple Kebabs
Enjoy a tropical taste in your backyard with these colorful and flavorful Hawaiian Chicken Pineapple Kebabs, perfect for summer grilling.
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1/4 cup canned pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- to taste freshly ground black pepper
- to taste sprinkle of salt
- 4 tablespoons olive oil (split up), plus extra to rub on grill
Kebab Ingredients
- 1 3/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced into 1 1/4-inch chunks
- 3 cups ripe pineapple, chopped (about 3/4 of a 3-pound fruit)
- 1 1/2 big green bell peppers, chopped into 1 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 large red onion, cut into 1 1/4-inch chunks
Instructions
Preparation
- Fire up the grill to medium, aiming for 400°F. Rub down the grates with some olive oil.
- In a medium bowl, mix together ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Add pepper and salt to taste.
- Stash 1/2 cup of the marinade in the fridge for later use.
- Place the diced chicken in a large zip-top bag. Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken, seal the bag, and mix well. Let the chicken sit in the fridge for about 1 hour to absorb the flavors.
- Soak a stack of 10 wooden skewers in cold water for 1 hour.
Grilling
- After soaking, take the skewers and slide them through the marinated chicken, pineapple, bell pepper, and red onion, alternating as you go, until all the chicken is used.
- Brush the kebabs with half of the saved marinade and grill them for about 5 minutes.
- Flip the kebabs, brush with the rest of the marinade, and grill for about 4 more minutes until the chicken reaches 165°F in the middle.
- Remove the kebabs from the heat and enjoy them hot off the grill.
Notes
Make sure to soak the wooden skewers to prevent them from burning on the grill. You can use any colorful vegetables you like, such as zucchini or cherry tomatoes, to add more variety. For an extra touch, marinating the chicken overnight can intensify the flavors.