Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers
Published Sep 17, 2015•Updated Aug 09, 2024
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Honey garlic chicken skewers are coated in a sticky sauce that’s sweet, savory, and made with natural honey, fresh garlic and ginger, and simple soy sauce. The chicken cooks quickly on the grill, and the marinade is addictively good!
These honey garlic chicken skewers are definitely a contender for ‘best summer recipe’ status. Besides the fact that food on a stick is fun, the sweet honey garlic sauce is totally craveable. Not to mention, these skewers are perfect for summer BBQs, picnics, outdoor entertaining, or an easy dinner on a busy weeknight.
To make this meal even easier, you can use boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, and you can even marinate the chicken the day ahead. Grilling the next day takes around 10 minutes, so you can have what is destined to be the new family favorite finger food ready in no time. Serve at your next cookout, or with fluffy rice, couscous, or with a big plate of grilled veggies for a simple, flavor-packed dinner.
How to Make It
- Make the marinade. Whisk together all of the ingredients for the marinade/glaze. Divide in half and set aside.
- Marinate the chicken. Slice the chicken into cubes, combine with the marinade, and refrigerate.
- Grill. Place chicken pieces on skewers and grill over medium heat. As the chicken cooks, turn occasionally and baste. In 8 to 12 minutes, the chicken will be cooked through.
Ingredients
For the marinade / glaze:
- Ponzu – Ponzu tastes like a citrusy soy sauce, and is made with lime juice, fish flakes, vinegar, and soy sauce. You can find ponzu in most grocery stores in the Asian cooking aisle.
- Honey – Honey is perfect for creating a sweet, sticky texture that becomes almost like a glaze when grilled.
- Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is a mix of salty, sweet, and umami flavors, and it really complements the other components of the marinade.
- Toasted sesame oil – You won’t believe how much the marinade changes when you include toasted sesame oil’s deep, nutty flavor.
- Garlic, Fresh Ginger – Combining finely minced or grated garlic with fresh ginger adds intense aromatics to the glaze.
- Red Pepper Flakes – For as little or as much spiciness as you like.
For the chicken:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs – Chicken thighs are super rich, moist, and the dark meat is incredibly flavorful. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but they won’t be quite as rich.
- Bamboo or Metal Skewers – Bamboo skewers are great for convenience, while metal skewers can be used over and over again. Either works for this recipe.
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Make Ahead
Marinated meats are great make ahead recipes, because you can prep them the day before and then throw them on the grill the next afternoon or evening when you’re ready to serve them. Feel free to make the glaze and start marinating the honey garlic chicken up to one day in advance. Or, prep the marinade and meat in the morning, and then cook the skewers when everyone is home from work or school.
Recipe Tips
- These chicken skewers cook in minutes on the grill, but if you notice the chicken start to blacken as it cooks, move the skewers to indirect heat.
- Cut the chicken into uniform-sized pieces so the skewers cook quickly and evenly.
- To prevent the ends of the bamboo stick skewers from charring, soak them in water for 30 minutes before use.
Variations
- Use the marinade for stir fry – If you don’t feel like firing up the grill, try this easy marinade with stir fry chicken. Serve with your favorite veggies and rice for a tasty weeknight meal.
- Try a different protein – Honey garlic marinade is amazing with pork and shrimp too.
- Serve with riced veggies – Riced cauliflower or riced broccoli are a great alternative to traditional rice.
FAQs
To make gluten-free honey garlic chicken, simply replace the soy sauce with tamari and use a gluten-free ponzu sauce.
One of the best things about this easy honey garlic chicken recipe is that you can make it as spicy (or not!) as you like. For those that want an extra kick of spice, double down on the red pepper flakes. If you like a more mild honey garlic chicken, go easy on those flakes.
Honey garlic chicken is absolutely amazing on its own, but you can also jazz it up a bit by sprinkling toasted sesame seeds or chopped green onion over the top before serving.
More Easy Grill Recipes
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Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Wooden Skewers
- Gas or Charcoal Grill
Ingredients
For the marinade / glaze:
- 1/4 cup ponzu (see note)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated
- 1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, more or less to taste
For the chicken:
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
- 8 bamboo or metal skewers for grilling
Instructions
- Whisk together all of the ingredients for the marinade/glaze. Divide it in half, one portion for the marinade and one for the glaze.
- Slice the chicken into even cubes and combine it with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to a day.
- Preheat a charcoal or gas grill. While the grill is heating, thread the chicken onto the skewers. Discard any leftover marinade.
- Grill the chicken slowly, over medium heat, turning every couple minutes and basting with the reserved glaze. If the chicken begins to blacken, move to indirect heat (the honey in the marinade will make it char quickly if over high heat).
- Continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 12 minutes total.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Pineapple Rice
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup White Rice
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup Light Coconut Milk
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 cup Pineapple Chunks, drained
Instructions
- Rinse rice until water runs clear. Heat water, coconut milk and salt in a medium saucepan until it begins to boil. Add rice and cover. Reduce heat to allow the rice to simmer without bubbling over. Simmer until all of the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and leave covered for another 10 minutes to allow the rice to steam and absorb all of the liquid. Stir in pineapple.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’m loving this! Pineapple rice is such a great idea. Yum!