Hawaiian Turn Turn Chicken Kebabs (Printable)
Marinated chicken and pineapple skewers grilled with bell peppers and onion; quick prep and juicy, charred flavor.
# What You Need:
→ Marinade
01 - 1/4 cup soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
02 - 1/4 cup pineapple juice
03 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
07 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Kebabs
09 - 1 1/3 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
10 - 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into chunks
11 - 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into chunks
12 - 1 small red onion, cut into chunks
13 - 1 fresh pineapple, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
14 - 8 wooden or metal skewers (soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before use)
# How-To:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes until the sugar is fully dissolved.
02 - Place the chicken cubes in a large resealable plastic bag or shallow bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken, seal or cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for optimal flavor.
03 - Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat, approximately 400°F.
04 - Thread the marinated chicken cubes, pineapple chunks, bell pepper pieces, and onion wedges alternately onto the skewers, distributing the ingredients evenly.
05 - Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, rotating every 2 to 3 minutes to ensure even charring on all sides, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the vegetables develop light char marks.
06 - Remove the kebabs from the grill and serve immediately, accompanied by steamed rice and a garnish of chopped scallions if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The marinade does all the heavy lifting, so you get deep Hawaiian inspired flavor without any complicated technique.
- Pineapple caramelizes on the grill and creates this jammy, smoky sweetness that makes everyone reach for seconds.
02 -
- Do not skip the marination time, anything under two hours and the chicken will taste like it missed the party entirely.
- If you cram the pieces too tightly on the skewer, the chicken steams instead of charring and you lose that beautiful grill flavor.
03 -
- Reserve a few tablespoons of marinade before adding the chicken so you can brush it onto the kebabs during grilling for an extra layer of sticky glaze.
- Let the kebabs rest for two minutes off the grill before serving so the juices redistribute instead of running all over the plate.