Hawaiian Turn Chicken Kebabs (Printable)
Sweet-tangy marinated chicken skewered with peppers, onion and pineapple, grilled until lightly charred.
# What You Need:
→ Meat
01 - 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1 1/4-inch cubes
→ Marinade
02 - 1/2 cup pineapple juice
03 - 1/4 cup soy sauce (use gluten-free if required)
04 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
05 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
06 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
09 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Skewer Ingredients
11 - 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1 1/4-inch pieces
12 - 1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into 1 1/4-inch pieces
13 - 1 red onion, cut into large wedges
14 - 1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1 1/4-inch cubes
# Steps:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, vegetable oil, and black pepper. Add chicken cubes to the marinade, ensuring all pieces are thoroughly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight.
02 - Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
03 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
04 - Thread marinated chicken, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, and pineapple alternately onto the skewers.
05 - Grill kebabs for 12 to 15 minutes, turning every 4 minutes for even cooking, until chicken is fully cooked and lightly charred.
06 - Remove the kebabs from the grill and allow to rest for 2 minutes before serving hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The chicken turns outrageously juicy from a marinade that’s so good you’ll want to tip the bowl just to taste it.
- Colorful pineapple and peppers create those theatrically beautiful skewers that always get a round of applause at the table.
02 -
- Once I forgot to soak the skewers—nothing says surprise like going outside to smoke instead of sizzle, so always soak!
- Reserving a little marinade before adding raw chicken gives you a sauce to brush on safely during grilling, and it’s a total flavor boost.
03 -
- Let the kebabs rest briefly after grilling so juices don’t spill out when you bite in.
- The extra reserved marinade makes all the difference brushed on at the end—it’s secretly my favorite part.