Easy marinated chicken skewers

Make your own quick and easy marinated chicken skewers to enjoy on those sunny summer days while enjoying a barbecue with friends and family.

Easy barbecue recipes

Now that summer is in full swing, it is time for a few more barbecue recipes this year. One thing I really enjoy about barbecue is the fact that there is so much you can make yourself.

From delicious and easy side salads, such as a coleslaw recipe or this cold pasta salad. It’s much cheaper than buying ready-made packages, even though they are very convenient.

Last week I already shared my favorite chicken rub, and today I have these delicious marinated chicken skewers. They are essentially satay skewers, but since I am not a big fan of peanut sauce, I make them without that element. Feel free to add if you do like satay sauce, though! Also make sure to check my recipe for crunchy chicken and Mexican shredded chicken too.

Why this recipe works

• Easy – this is one of the easiest marinades, quick and very tasty
• Subtle – the satay flavor is subtle and will work with both peanut sauce or another sauce of your choice

Recipe ingredients

• Chicken – I use chicken thighs as they are fattier and can take the heat better than skinless chicken breasts but you can use both if you prefer
• Oil – I use a combination of sunflower oil and sesame oil. You can also use olive oil or another vegetable oil if you prefer.
• soy sauce – I use both sweet soy sauce and regular soy sauce in the marinade ingredients
• sambal – or another hot sauce like harissa or gochujang
• garlic – I used fresh garlic but you can use ground garlic as well

In addition to that, you will also need bamboo skewers. It helps to soak the skewers in a bowl of water for about half an hour before adding the chicken pieces. That way they will not burn as easily.

Of course using metal skewers is also a good option. I made the skewers using only the chicken but you can also alternate the chicken with bell peppers and red onion if you want. Or use your favorite vegetables.

How to make the marinated chicken skewers

For making the marinated chicken you start by chopping your chicken into bite-sized pieces of course. Once that is done take a large bowl and add all the marinade ingredients. Add the chicken and mix it through. Cover with plastic wrap and let it marinade for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.

Once done, add them to your skewers. How many chicken you add to one skewer depends on the size of your skewers. I usually do three pieces of chicken on each skewer, but I like to use a smaller kind. Easier to handle!

Storing the marinated chicken skewers

You can absolutely make the skewers hours or even a day in advance. You can store the raw chicken in the fridge for a maximum of two days. Once cooked I would not store the grilled chicken as that will get dry and unappealing.

You can however use the leftover chicken in a salad recipe. So don’t throw it away, but if it has been left outside the fridge for too long, it’s better to toss the chicken as a precaution.

You can store the chicken marinade in an airtight container if you want to make more. The remaining marinade can be used as a sauce, but only if you cook it for a couple of minutes or if you store the marinade before adding it to the chicken.