Summer is here, and honestly, the grill is my favorite place to be! Forget boring burgers; if you really want to impress your family or your neighbors, you need perfectly sticky, sweet, and savory meat coming off the grates. That’s why I’m sharing my absolute star recipe: the Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs. Seriously, this glaze is a game-changer. I spent forever trying to get that perfect caramelized edge without burning everything—you know the struggle! But I finally nailed the balance of honey and tang. These skewers come together faster than ordering takeout, and the flavor payoff is huge. You are going to make the best grilled chicken skewers of your life!
Why You Will Love These Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
I mean, why wouldn’t you love these? They solve the weeknight dinner dilemma with maximum flavor. Here’s the short list of what makes them my absolute go-to:
- They grill up lightning-fast—we’re talking less than 15 minutes on the heat!
- That perfectly sticky, sweet, and savory Honey BBQ flavor everyone craves.
- Minimal cleanup since everything cooks right there on the skewer.
- They look gorgeous! Color everywhere on the plate makes dinner feel special.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
The beauty of these kabobs is that you don’t need a million things in the sauce. It all comes down to using good quality products where it counts, especially your BBQ sauce base and that lovely honey. Don’t skimp here—it makes a difference in how everything caramelizes on the grill! We’re keeping the vegetable prep super simple, too.
Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut neatly into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce (I suggest a smoky one!)
- 1/4 cup honey—the golden stuff!
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce for that necessary saltiness
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar because we need a little tang
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika for depth
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large red onion, cut into good, chunky 1-inch sections
- And of course, wooden or metal skewers for threading
Remember, using fresh onion and peppers that have some crispness left in them helps them hold up perfectly against the heat of the grill! They shouldn’t be mushy before they even hit the grate.
Expert Tips for Making the Best Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
Listen, these Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs are supposed to be fast, but if you skip a couple of small steps, you end up with dry chicken or burnt sugar, and nobody wants that mess! First things first: if you’re using those cute wooden skewers, you *must* soak them in water for at least half an hour. If you forget—and trust me, I’ve done it—they’ll just turn into sad little charcoal sticks on the grill. This is especially important because we’re going to be hitting them with high heat later on.
Also, while you might want to marinate this chicken all day long, don’t actually do it. Chicken breasts get stringy if they sit too long in an acidic marinade. Twenty minutes is the sweet spot here for flavor infusion without ruining the texture. If you’re using chicken thighs, you have a bit more wiggle room, just like when preparing other quick grilled meats.
The biggest tip to prevent burning is managing that gorgeous glaze—I save half of it specifically so I don’t contaminate the basting sauce with raw chicken juices later. It makes all the difference!
Marination Time and Glaze Handling for Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
That 20-minute marination time I mentioned? It’s non-negotiable for the best flavor penetration. Once that time is up, get those skewers on the heat! The really crucial part is the reserved glaze. You only brush that sweet, sticky goodness onto the chicken during the absolute final five minutes of cooking. Brush it on too early, and the honey burns into bitter soot before the chicken is even cooked through. Patience for those first 7 minutes pays off!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Grilled Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
Alright, now that we’ve got our ingredients prepped and our skewers soggy happy, let’s get these babies on the fire! This whole process, from assembly to serving, is honestly so fast. I love that I can whip these up after work and still feel like I put in a serious effort on dinner.
First, if you didn’t soak those wooden skewers, stop right now and do that! Remember, if you’re making other chicken recipes, you might not need this step, but for kabobs, it saves your sanity.
Once they’re soaked, let’s toss that chicken. Put the cubed chicken in a bowl and pour about half of that incredible glaze over it. Give it a good mix—don’t be shy! Let that sit for the recommended 20 minutes while you get the grill ready. While that’s happening, thread everything onto your skewers. I like to do a fun rotation: chicken, red pepper, onion, green pepper, then loop back. Try to keep them relatively uniform so they cook evenly.
Now, crank that grill up to medium-high heat. You want it hot enough to sear those edges and give you those pretty grill marks. Place your assembled kabobs right onto the hot grates. Cook them for about 10 to 12 minutes total. Keep turning them every couple of minutes so you get color on all sides.
Here’s the secret to that beautiful shine: During the last 5 minutes only, start brushing them generously with that reserved, clean glaze. Keep slathering it on every minute or so. This gives you that perfect caramelized honey crust that looks incredible and tastes even better. Pull them off when the chicken is totally cooked through, and that glaze is sticking beautifully. Serve immediately!
Ingredient Substitutions for Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
Don’t worry if your grocery haul didn’t look exactly like mine! I totally get that sometimes you have to work with what’s in the fridge. If you’re not crazy about chicken breast or are just looking for something a little juicier, switching to boneless, skinless chicken thighs is a fantastic move. They stay moist even if you accidentally leave them on the grill an extra minute or two!
For the veggies, feel free to get creative! I used the classics here, but zucchini, cherry tomatoes, chunks of pineapple, or even mushrooms work beautifully. Just make sure whatever firm vegetables you choose are cut to roughly the same size as the chicken cubes so they cook in tandem. It’s all about variety and using what you have on hand!
Serving Suggestions for Your Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
The kabobs are the star, but they need a supporting cast, right? Since these Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs bring so much sweet and smoky flavor, you want sides that balance that out but don’t fight it. My go-to is always something fresh and something easy.
First, you absolutely need a good, crisp coleslaw to cut through the richness of that BBQ glaze. A tangy, vinegar-based one works better than a super creamy one, in my opinion! Secondly, you can never go wrong with a simple bed of fluffy white rice or maybe some herby grilled potatoes to soak up any extra sauce that drips off.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try pairing them with a bright quinoa salad! It makes the whole plate feel lighter for a summer evening.
Storing and Reheating Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs Leftovers
Don’t you hate when perfectly cooked BBQ chicken goes to waste? Luckily, these leftovers are fantastic! When you have extra Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs, just let them cool down completely first. Then, tuck them into an airtight container—you can pull the chicken and veggies off the skewers first, or leave them on if you have the space in your fridge.
They should stay mighty tasty for about three days tucked in there. When you’re ready for round two, skip the microwave! That moisture will turn everything rubbery so fast. Honestly, the best way to revive them is throwing them back on the grill on medium heat for just a few minutes until they warm through and the sauce gets sticky again. If you don’t want to fire up the grill, your oven on low heat works great too!
Frequently Asked Questions About Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
I get so many questions about this recipe because everyone wants that perfect sticky-sweet result! Let me clear up a few things that I hear all the time in my DMs about making these Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs.
Can I make the chicken and veggies ahead of time?
Yes, this is a fantastic way to prep for a busy night! You can cube your chicken and chop all your peppers and onions the day before. You can even mix the marinade base together. Just keep the marinated chicken separate from the vegetables in the fridge. The only thing you absolutely want to do right before grilling is thread them onto the skewers and start cooking. It really helps keep everything looking fresh!
What if I don’t have a grill—can I still make these?
Oh, absolutely! Don’t let the grill stop you. If you’re stuck inside or the weather is yucky, a cast-iron grill pan on the stovetop works wonders. You just have to work in batches, which is why I love having easy weeknight dinner recipes like this one adaptable. Set the heat to medium-high, and just take your time turning them frequently to prevent scorching the sugars in the sauce.
Can I use store-bought BBQ sauce?
That’s the beauty of this recipe! We use store-bought BBQ sauce as the base because who has time to simmer sauce for hours? The magic comes from adding the honey, vinegar, and spices directly to the bottled sauce. So yes, please use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce! It cuts the prep time down to almost nothing, which is perfect for weeknights.
Why do I have to use reserved glaze for basting?
This is a super important food safety tip! If you dip your basting brush directly into the marinade bowl that held the raw chicken, you risk cross-contamination. By reserving that clean half of the sauce right from the beginning, you ensure the glaze you put on during the last few minutes of cooking is perfectly safe and tastes fresh, not watered down or funky.
Estimated Nutritional Data for Honey Bbq Chicken Kabobs
Okay, let’s talk numbers for transparency! Since we’re loading up on honey and savory sauce, you can expect a few things in this dish. Here are the estimates per two kabobs, but remember, every single brand of BBQ sauce and chicken breast varies, so consider this a good ballpark guide!
- Calories: About 380
- Protein: A whopping 40 grams!
- Fat: Around 8 grams
- Carbohydrates: Roughly 35 grams (mostly from that sweet glaze)
I always say take these numbers with a grain of salt. If you use thighs instead of breasts, or load up on extra veggies, those counts change fast. But overall, for a grilled, flavorful dinner, I think this is a great deal!
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Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
- Total Time: 37 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Simple recipe for grilled chicken and vegetable skewers coated in a sweet and savory honey barbecue sauce.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Wooden or metal skewers
Instructions
- Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes if using.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder to make the glaze.
- Place the chicken cubes in a bowl and pour half of the glaze over the chicken. Toss to coat and let it marinate for 20 minutes. Reserve the remaining glaze for basting.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread the marinated chicken, red pepper, green pepper, and onion pieces alternately onto the skewers.
- Place the kabobs on the preheated grill. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally.
- During the last 5 minutes of cooking, brush the kabobs with the reserved glaze every few minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the glaze is slightly caramelized.
- Remove from the grill and serve immediately.
Notes
- If you prefer, you can substitute chicken thighs for breasts.
- You can use any combination of firm vegetables you like, such as zucchini or mushrooms.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 kabobs
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 32
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 40
- Cholesterol: 105
Keywords: honey bbq chicken kabobs, grilled chicken skewers, bbq chicken recipe, easy weeknight dinner, marinated chicken