These BBQ Chicken Kabobs are juicy, smoky, and brushed with a sweet and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce. The chicken marinates with honey, garlic, cumin, and chipotle before grilling for bold flavor in every bite.
Why You'll Love This Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipe
Grilled chicken kabobs are a good fit for summer dinners because they cook quickly and still pick up plenty of smoky pellet grill flavor. The chipotle marinade gives the chicken warmth without making the kabobs too complicated, and the BBQ glaze adds a sticky finish near the end. Prep the skewers ahead, then grill them when you are ready to eat.
- Pellet grill friendly: These kabobs cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, so they work well for an easy dinner.
- Smoky chipotle flavor: Chipotle powder, cumin, garlic, honey, and adobo chipotle peppers give the chicken warm, smoky flavor with a little heat.
- Easy to prep ahead: Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours, then thread it onto skewers before grilling.
Ingredients Overview
Boneless chicken breasts or thighs both work for these kabobs. Thighs stay a little juicier on the grill, while breast meat cooks quickly and slices neatly for skewers. The marinade uses pantry seasonings, oil, and honey, while the glaze starts with your favorite barbecue sauce and adds minced chipotle peppers in adobo for extra smoky heat.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Chipotle BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Start by marinating the chicken, then mix the chipotle BBQ glaze while the chicken rests. Thread the chicken onto skewers, cook the kabobs on the grill at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and brush on the glaze near the end so it thickens without burning.
Plan on about 12 to 15 minutes of grill time before glazing, then another 2 to 4 minutes after the sauce goes on. Chicken kabobs are done when the thickest pieces reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer.
Use the step-by-step photos below as a visual guide before you start grilling.
Step 1: Add the olive oil, honey, garlic powder, chipotle powder, cumin, and salt to a bowl or a one gallon zip-top storage bag. Mix until the marinade is evenly combined.
Step 2: Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and seal the bag or cover the bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
Use a barbecue sauce you already like as the base for the chipotle glaze. For a milder glaze, use one chipotle pepper in adobo. For more heat, use two.
Step 3. Add the barbecue sauce, honey, and minced chipotle peppers in adobo to a small mixing bowl.
Step 4: Stir the chipotle BBQ glaze until smooth and evenly blended. Use a mini food processor if you want a smoother sauce.
Step 5: Preheat the grill to 400℉ and oil the grates. Remove the chicken from the marinade, thread it onto wooden or metal skewers, and discard any leftover marinade.
Pro Tip
If using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes before grilling so they are less likely to scorch on the grill.
Step 6: Place the chicken kabobs on the grill and cook for 12 to 14 minutes on each side, turning halfway through. Brush with the chipotle BBQ glaze during the last few minutes of cooking.
Step 7: Continue grilling for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the glaze thickens and the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the kabobs from the grill and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these chipotle seaspmed chicken kabobs with Mexican red rice, cilantro lime rice, grilled vegetables, or a simple coleslaw. They also work well tucked into warm flour tortillas with Mexican crema, avocado crema, pico de gallo, or pickled jalapenos.
For an easy pellet grill dinner, add cebollitas asadas (Mexican grilled green onions) to the grill while the chicken cooks. The smoky onions make a good side for the chipotle glaze without adding much extra work.
Substitutions and Variations
Use these simple swaps to adjust the kabobs to what you have on hand.
- Use chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless thighs stay juicy on the grill and work especially well with the chipotle glaze.
- Use chicken breast: Breast meat works well too, but cut the pieces evenly so they cook at the same speed.
- Add vegetables: Thread bell peppers, onion wedges, zucchini, mushrooms, or pineapple between the chicken pieces.
- Adjust the heat: Use one chipotle pepper in adobo for milder glaze or two for more smoky heat.
- Change the sauce: Use your favorite barbecue sauce as the base, then adjust the honey and chipotle to match your heat preference.
Tips for Success
A few small details help the chicken cook evenly and stay juicy.
- Cut even pieces: Keep the chicken pieces about the same size so they finish cooking at the same time.
- Do not crowd the skewers: Leave a little space between pieces so the heat can reach the edges.
- Preheat the grill: Let the grill reach 350 degrees Fahrenheit before adding the kabobs.
- Glaze near the end: Brush the chipotle BBQ sauce on during the last few minutes so the honey does not burn.
- Use a thermometer: Chicken kabobs are done when the thickest pieces reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Storage Options
Remove leftover chicken from the skewers before storing so it is easier to chill and reheat.
- Refrigerate: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently: Warm the chicken in the microwave at reduced power or in a covered skillet over low heat until heated through.
- Freeze: Freeze cooked chicken pieces for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Use leftovers: Add leftover chipotle chicken to rice bowls, wraps, salads, tacos, or quesadillas.
Related Recipes
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Oven Baked BBQ Drumsticks
- Smoked Baked Beans
- Walmart Broccoli Crunch Salad
- Old Fashioned Coleslaw (no mayonnaise)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs both work well. Thighs stay a little juicier on the grill, while breast meat cooks quickly and slices neatly for skewers.
Bell peppers, onions, zucchini, mushrooms, and pineapple all work well on chicken kabobs. Cut the vegetables into pieces close to the same size as the chicken so everything cooks evenly.
Yes. You can marinate the chicken for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours before grilling. Thread the chicken onto skewers shortly before cooking so the skewers are easier to handle.
At 400℉, chicken kabobs usually take 12 to 14 minutes before glazing, plus another 2 to 3 minutes after the sauce goes on. Always check the thickest pieces with a thermometer.
Cook chicken kabobs on a grill at 400℉. This temperature gives the chicken time to cook through while still picking up pellet grill flavor.
Chicken kabobs are done when the thickest pieces reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use an instant-read thermometer instead of judging by color alone.
Either works. Metal skewers do not need soaking and conduct heat well. Wooden skewers should be soaked in cold water for 30 minutes before grilling so they are less likely to scorch.
Grilling and BBQ Recipes
Get The Recipe!
Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- indoor or outdoor grill or
- Traeger Pellet Grill and Smoker
- skewers, stainless steel
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken boneless, skinless breast or thighs
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For The Chipotle BBQ Sauce
- 12 oz Barbecue sauce Your Favorite
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 2 adobo chipotle peppers minced up
Instructions
- In a bowl, or directly in a one gallon Ziploc storage bag, pour the oil, honey, chipotle powder, ground cumin, and salt. Seal the bag and mix the marinade contents.2 lbs chicken, ¼ cup olive oil, 3 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add the chicken to the bag and seal. Shake contents so that the chicken is fully coated and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
- Add the minced adobo chipotle pepper to a small mixing bowl with the barbecue sauce and honey. Mix the barbecue sauce mixture together until smooth.12 oz Barbecue sauce, 3 tablespoon honey, 2 adobo chipotle peppers
- Whether you're using a gas, charcoal, or pellet Traeger grill, heat it to about 400℉, and oil the grates with oil.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and thread on wooden or metal skewers. Discard any remaining marinade in the Ziploc bag, do not reuse it!
- Place the chicken kabobs on the grill and cook for 12 to 14 minutes, basting with the chipotle BBQ sauce and turning halfway.
- Coat the kabobs on the grill with the chipotle barbecue sauce and continue grilling for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until the barbecue sauce has glazed the chicken.
- Remove from the grill and let the chicken kabobs rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Cut even pieces: Keep the chicken pieces about the same size so they finish cooking at the same time.
- Do not crowd the skewers: Leave a little space between pieces so the heat can reach the edges.
- Preheat the grill: Let the grill reach 400℉ before adding the kabobs.
- Glaze near the end: Brush the chipotle BBQ sauce on during the last few minutes so the honey does not burn.
- Use a thermometer: Chicken kabobs are done when the thickest pieces reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nutrition
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