Made with fresh pineapple and juicy chicken, these Hawaiian-inspired Grilled Pineapple Chicken Skewers are a quick and easy dinner staple in my house! Full of tropical flavors, this guilt-free recipe is a perfect make-ahead meal.
Serve with Couscous Salad with Feta Cheese and Fresh Green Beans for an easy weeknight dinner or casual entertaining with friends.
In This Post
Picture this, y’all: you walk through the door after a marathon of a day with barely enough time to catch your breath before the evening’s chaos begins. Sound familiar? It’s happened to me more times than I can count. Enter my grilled chicken skewers recipe. It’s a lifesaver for when time is short and hunger is high!
I love a flavor-packed recipe, and this one for pineapple chicken kabobs with a sweet and savory marinade creates a burst of tropical flavors with every bite. Not only did I hit the jackpot with the taste, but the prep was crazy easy. I’m not a lazy cook by any means, but if I can pull off a dish that’s this good and easy, I’d say I’m winning for sure!
How To Make The Best Grilled Chicken Skewers
- Marinate For Maximum Flavor: Marinate the chicken in the flavorful marinade for at least 1 hour or overnight. This allows the chicken to soak up all the delicious flavors, resulting in more flavorful kabobs.
- Uniform Cutting for Even Cooking: Cut the chicken and pineapple into similar-sized pieces so each ingredient cooks evenly, preventing overcooked or undercooked portions.
- Rest Before Serving: Allow the grilled chicken skewers to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute and keeps the chicken moist and tender.
Chicken And Pineapple Kabob Ingredients
- For the sauce: To marinate the chicken, you’ll need olive oil, soy sauce, rice wine, honey, red pepper flakes, salt, and garlic. I also like to add a bit of toasted sesame seed oil but it’s optional!
- Chicken: I use boneless, skinless chicken breast to keep it simple. They need to be cut into 2″ chunks.
- Fresh Pineapple: Nothing is better than fresh pineapple chunks and a sweet and salty sauce! It screams summer!
Variations And Additions
- Swap the chicken breasts for boneless skinless chicken thighs, beef or shrimp.
- Add veggies like red onion and bell peppers to the skewers.
Step By Step Instructions
- Add all the marinade ingredients to a bowl and mix.
- Marinate the chicken chunks in a gallon zip-top bag in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Skewer the pineapple and chicken and grill for about 10 minutes, then brush on more marinade and keep cooking until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 3-5 minutes, then serve.
A Safety Tip When Using Wooden Skewers
Wooden skewers will burn on the grill’s high heat. To safely use them, soak them in water for 10 minutes before making the Hawaiian chicken kabobs and grilling.
Commonly Asked Questions
Absolutely! I love using boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, but you can use any chicken cut you prefer.
You can use a grill pan, or bake on a sheet tray, but they won’t have that delicious charred flavor. Bake them for 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees, turning once.
You sure can, and I recommend it. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 1 hour and up to overnight.
Remove the chicken and pineapple from the skewers, place them in an airtight container, and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What To Serve With Grilled Chicken And Pineapple Skewers
I love eating these skewers with Instant Pot Coconut Lime Rice or Air Fryer Baked Potatoes! But they’re also tasty with Easy Pimento Cheese Grits and Twice Baked Potato Casserole.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
If you tried this Grilled Pineapple Chicken Skewers Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Ingredients
Marinade
- ½ cup olive or vegetable oil
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice wine or white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 to 3 drops of toasted sesame seed oil – optional
For Skewers
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into approximately 2″ chunks
- 1 whole fresh pineapple – cut into 2″ chunks
Instructions
- Mix together marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Place chicken chunks in a gallon size zip top bag. Add marinade, reserving ¼ cup. Place in fridge for approximately 1 hour.
- If using wooden skewers – soak in water placed in a shallow dish for 30 minutes.
- Skewer chicken then pineapple chunk onto skewers and set aside. Heat grill to medium high heat. Rub grill grate with vegetable oil or spray with grill cooking spray.
- Place chicken skewers on grill and cook for approximately 10 minutes. Brush on reserved marinade and turn skewers. Brush on any remaining marinade and continue to cook until chicken is done.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 3-5 minutes then serve.
Video
Notes
- Remove the chicken and pineapple from the skewers, place them in an airtight container, and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Donya's Top Ten Summer Recipes!
Steal my favorites for a done-for-you menu that packs in the flavor
The chicken is so tender and flavorful! And the pineapple adds the perfect burst of flavor to every bite!
Thank you so much, Robin. I’m thrilled you like this recipe and appreciate the great rating!
~Donya
Anxious to try this. We just purchased grill basket and am sure this will work.
Sounds great! Enjoy the recipe.
~Donya