This recipe for Hawaiian chicken kabobs is juicy chicken breast, pineapple and vegetables in a sweet and tangy sauce, threaded onto skewers and grilled to perfection. Serve with coconut rice for a taste of the tropics at home!
I love easy chicken recipes like grilled chicken tenders, pineapple chicken, baked chicken wings and these delicious kabobs.
There’s just something about the combination of chicken and pineapple that I love. I think it’s that savory-sweet thing that works so well with so many different ingredients. These Hawaiian chicken kabobs combine chicken and pineapple with lots of vegetables and an amazingly delicious marinade for a dinner that will make you feel like you’re on vacation.
Try these kabobs with some of my favorite grilled side dishes like grilled mushrooms, grilled sweet potatoes and grilled corn on the cob!
Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs Ingredients
To make these Hawaiian chicken kabobs you will need to make a marinade with ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, minced ginger, sesame oil, salt and black pepper. For the kabobs make sure to have olive oil, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pineapple chunks, a red bell pepper, a green bell pepper and a red onion. You may want a little chopped cilantro or some lime wedges for a garnish.
How Do You Make Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs?
When you make these Hawaiian chicken kabobs start with the marinade. In a medium bowl whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, minced ginger, sesame oil, salt and black pepper. Next place your chicken a resealable bag and pour half of the marinade in. Let the chicken marinate for at least an hour. Remove the chicken from the liquid and thread it onto skewers with pineapple chunks, red and green bell pepper pieces and red onion chunks. Throw the skewers on the grill, baste them with reserved marinade and dinner is served!
Tips For The Perfect Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
- This recipe asks you to reserve half of your marinade. Simply pour half of your marinade in a resealable bag with your chicken and take the other half of your marinade and keep it in a separate refrigerated container until you use it to baste your kabobs.
- Use a sharp knife to cut even cubes of chicken from your chicken breasts.
- If you have difficulty cutting your chicken, feel free to place it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to firm it up to make it easier to cut.
- You can use wooden skewers or metal skewers. If you use wooden skewers, soak the skewers in water about 20 minutes so they don’t burn on your grill.
- You can use fresh pineapple or canned pineapple in this recipe. If you go with fresh, it’s also fun to throw some wedges of pineapple on the grill. For more information, check out my grilled pineapple recipe.
- You can make this recipe outside on a grill or inside on a grill pan. You can also cook these kabobs under the broiler in your oven.
- I like to serve these Hawaiian chicken kabobs with a side of coconut rice from my Hawaiian chicken recipe and some tropical fruit salad to complete the tropical theme.
- For the adults, you could serve this chicken with a refreshing mango mojito or a passion fruit margarita.
Quick Tip
Cut your chicken pieces and veggies into similar sizes so they take about the same amount of time to cook.
Recipe FAQs
You can prep your chicken kabobs the night before. You can thread your marinated chicken and veggies the night before cooking. However, for best results you can cut up your chicken and veggies the night before and wait until the day of grilling to marinate your chicken and thread your kabobs.
The best way to cook kabobs is to cook them over a hot grill. If you don’t want to use a grill, you can cook them on a hot grill pan for a similar result. You also can cook kabobs on a sheet pan under a broiler.
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Flavor Variations
These Hawaiian chicken kabobs are fantastic as-is; however, you can change them to suit your own taste.
- Veggies: Feel free to add other veggies like zucchini or cherry tomatoes.
- Fruit: You can add additional fruit like watermelon or peaches.
- Meat: This recipe works well with chicken thighs, chicken tenders, shrimp, scallops, a tender cut of beef or even firm tofu.
- Spicy: Bring the heat by adding some sriracha to your marinade.
- Garlic: Add 2 teaspoons of minced garlic to your marinade.
These Hawaiian chicken kabobs would make the perfect entree for a summer party! You could also enjoy them when it’s cold and raining out and you want to pretend like you’re somewhere sunny. I’m not waiting for warmer weather to make them. I’ve got this recipe on my menu plan again for next week!
More Great Kabob Recipes
Greek Chicken Kabobs
40 mins
Jerk Shrimp Kabobs
15 mins
Grilled Chicken Kabobs
30 mins
Pork Kabobs with Pineapple
40 mins
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Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients
- For the marinade:
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons of finely minced peeled ginger
- 2 teaspoons of toasted sesame oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- To assemble:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 and 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 cup of pineapple chunks Canned is fine, approximately 1 to 1 and 1/2 inches in size
- 1 small red bell pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 small green bell pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 medium red onion cut into 1 inch pieces
- Optional garnishes: chopped cilantro, lime wedges
- Optional side dish: coconut rice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine the ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, ginger and sesame oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken in a large resealable bag and pour half of the over the chicken; reserve the remaining marinade in the refrigerator. Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours.
- Soak 4 long bamboo skewers in cold water for 20 minutes.
- Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat.
- Thread the chicken, pineapple, bell peppers and red onion alternately onto the skewers. Drizzle the skewers with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill for 5 minutes on each side. Brush the marinade all over each kabob and grill for one minute more on each side. Serve immediately, garnish with cilantro and lime wedges if desired.
Notes
- Cut your chicken pieces and veggies into similar sizes so they take about the same amount of time to cook.
- Use a sharp knife to cut even cubes of chicken from your chicken breasts.
- You can use fresh or canned pineapple in this recipe.
I absolutely love love kabobs and these Hawaiian chicken kabobs really hit the spot. If you love grilling and love kabobs, give this recipe a try, it is so good! and goes perfectly with a bowl of white rice.