You know those perfect summer days? The ones where the sun is shining, the grill is calling your name, and you just want something delicious to eat without a ton of fuss? Yeah, me too! That’s exactly what inspired these incredible honey BBQ chicken kabobs. We’re talking juicy chicken, crisp veggies, all kissed by this amazing sweet and tangy honey BBQ glaze that’s just melt-in-your-mouth good. It’s all about that ‘Simply Delicious’ philosophy – making amazing food that fits right into your busy life, just like Leo Grant taught us. This recipe is my go-to because it’s tested, it’s easy, and it brings everyone to the table, smiling!
- Why You'll Love These Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
- Gather Your Ingredients for Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
- Crafting the Perfect Honey BBQ Glaze and Marinade
- Preparing Your Vegetable Kabobs
- Grilling Your Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs to Perfection
- Tips for Success with Your Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
- Serving Suggestions for Your Backyard BBQ Dinner
- Frequently Asked Questions about Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
- Estimated Nutritional Information
Why You’ll Love These Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
These kabobs are just pure summer fun on a stick, seriously! They’re ridiculously easy to make, which is a lifesaver when you want something yummy without spending forever in the kitchen. Plus, that sweet and tangy honey BBQ glaze? Everyone devours it – it’s a total hit and makes for such a great family friendly grill night. You get that amazing juicy chicken mixed with fresh veggies, all perfectly cooked together. It’s the best!
Gather Your Ingredients for Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Alright, let’s get our ingredients ready for these amazing honey BBQ chicken kabobs! The first thing you’ll need is about 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just chop ’em up into nice, 1-inch cubes so they cook evenly. Then, for the veggies, grab one red bell pepper and one green bell pepper, also cut into 1-inch pieces. Don’t forget a red onion, cut into similar-sized chunks. Oh, and of course, you’ll need your skewers! I’m partial to wooden ones, just make sure you soak them first. All set?
Crafting the Perfect Honey BBQ Glaze and Marinade
Okay, so the magic for these honey BBQ chicken kabobs really starts with the glaze! It’s this super simple mix that hits all the right notes – that sticky sweetness from the honey, a little tang from the ketchup and vinegar, and just enough savory depth from the Worcestershire and Dijon mustard. Trust me, it’s the perfect balance that makes everything taste better. You’ll whisk together about a cup of honey, half a cup of ketchup, a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, one tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and then your garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Easy peasy! You can totally tweak the sweetness or tanginess by adding a tiny bit more honey or vinegar if you like. This amazing glaze is going to be the star of our show, making these kabobs unforgettable! If you’re ever curious about whipping up a big batch of your own sauce, check out this easy homemade honey BBQ sauce recipe too – it’s a lifesaver!
Marinating Your Chicken for Maximum Flavor
Now for the super important part: marinating! So, after you’ve made that delicious honey BBQ glaze, you’re going to take about half a cup of it and set it aside – we’ll need that later for basting. Pour the rest of that glorious glaze right over your chicken cubes. Give it a good toss so every single piece is coated. Let that chicken hang out in there for at least 30 minutes, but you can let it go up to 2 hours in the fridge if you’ve got the time. This is what makes the chicken so tender and flavorful. Just don’t let it marinate *too* long, or the chicken can get a little mushy. These honey BBQ chicken kabobs seriously benefit from a good soak!
Preparing Your Vegetable Kabobs
Okay, veggies time! For these kabobs, I love using red and green bell peppers and red onion. They add such a bright pop of color and a nice little crunch that balances out the sweet glaze and tender chicken. Plus, they grill up beautifully! Make sure you cut them into pieces that are about the same size as your chicken cubes – this helps everything cook evenly. It’s all about getting that perfect bite where you get a little bit of everything!
Threading Your Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Now for the fun part – putting it all together! Grab those skewers and let’s get to threading. I like to alternate pieces: chicken, then red pepper, then onion, then green pepper, and then start again. This makes them look really pretty and ensures each skewer gets a nice mix of flavors and textures. If you’re using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before you start. This little trick stops them from burning up on the grill while your delicious honey BBQ chicken kabobs cook. You want that chicken cooked perfectly, not charred wood underneath!
Grilling Your Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs to Perfection
Alright, the moment of truth for these amazing honey BBQ chicken kabobs! Get your grill fired up to medium-high heat. You want it hot enough to get a nice sear and cook everything through, but not so hot that it burns before it’s done. Lay your loaded skewers on the hot grill grates. They’ll need about 10 to 15 minutes total to cook. The key here is to turn them every few minutes. You’re looking for that beautiful golden-brown char on the chicken and veggies, and once the chicken is cooked all the way through – no pink inside anymore – you’re golden. It’s seriously satisfying watching them sizzle!
Basting with the Reserved Honey BBQ Glaze
Now, pay attention for this next part: the basting! In the last 5 minutes of grilling, that’s when you bring out that reserved honey BBQ glaze. Brush it generously over your honey BBQ chicken kabobs. Doing this at the end is super important because the sugar in the glaze can burn if it’s on there too long. This little trick gives them that extra sticky, glossy finish that just sings summer!
Tips for Success with Your Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Alright, let’s talk about making these honey BBQ chicken kabobs absolutely perfect every single time! It’s all about a few little tricks I’ve picked up. First off, preheating your grill is key; you want it nice and hot so you get that lovely char and prevent sticking. Speaking of sticking, make sure those skewers (especially wooden ones!) are well-soaked. When you’re checking if the chicken is done, just cut into one of the larger pieces – you’re looking for no pink at all. A little bit of gooey glaze is good, but burnt glaze is… well, not ideal! Trust me, these little tips make all the difference.
Make-Ahead and Storage for Your Kabobs
One of the best things about these honey BBQ chicken kabobs is how awesome they are for making ahead! You can totally thread them onto the skewers a few hours before you plan to grill. Just cover them up snugly with plastic wrap and pop them in the fridge. Easy peasy! If you happen to have any leftovers (highly unlikely, but hey!), they store well in the fridge for a couple of days. You can reheat them gently on the grill for a minute or two, or even in a low oven, though they’re best fresh off the grill, obviously!
Serving Suggestions for Your Backyard BBQ Dinner
So, you’ve got these amazing honey BBQ chicken kabobs sizzling, but what else makes a backyard BBQ dinner truly shine? I love pairing these with comforting sides that soak up all that extra glaze. A creamy, spicy jalapeno popper dip is always a huge hit, or you can go classic comfort with some fluffy garlic parmesan mashed potatoes. And for something super easy that’s perfect for dipping and scooping? You can’t go wrong with warm, pillowy garlic naan bread. It’s the whole package!
Frequently Asked Questions about Honey BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Got questions about these fabulous honey BBQ chicken kabobs? I’ve got answers! Keep reading to find out more.
Can I use wooden skewers for these kabobs?
Absolutely! Wooden skewers are great for grilled chicken skewers like these. Just remember my little trick: soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before you thread your chicken and veggies. This really helps prevent them from burning up on the grill, so all you get is perfectly cooked food, not charcoal sticks!
What if I don’t have a grill? Can I still make these?
Oh, totally! If the grill isn’t an option, you can still make these delicious honey BBQ chicken kabobs. Just thread them onto your soaked wooden or metal skewers and cook them under your oven’s broiler. Keep a close eye on them, though, and turn them often to prevent burning. You might need to adjust the cooking time a bit, but you’ll still get that sticky, sweet glaze and juicy chicken!
How do I know when the chicken in my kabobs is cooked through?
It’s super important that the chicken is cooked all the way! The best way to tell for these easy chicken skewers is to look at the chicken piece itself. Make sure there’s no pink left inside. You can also carefully cut into one of the larger chicken cubes on a skewer. If it’s opaque all the way through, then your chicken is perfectly cooked and ready to enjoy. The veggies should be tender-crisp at this point, too!
Can I add other vegetables to my kabobs?
Yes, please do! The recipe calls for bell peppers and red onion because they hold up well on the grill and have a great flavor, but feel free to mix it up. Zucchini, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, or even chunks of pineapple would be delicious additions to your vegetable kabobs. Just make sure everything is cut into similar-sized pieces so it cooks evenly!
Estimated Nutritional Information
Just a little heads-up, the nutrition facts for these amazing honey BBQ chicken kabobs are estimates, okay? They can totally change depending on the brands you use and how many servings you get out of your batch. So, ballpark figure, you’re looking at around 350 calories, about 30g of sugar, and 10g of fat per serving. It’s a pretty balanced bite, honestly!
PrintHoney BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Juicy chicken and fresh vegetables grilled with a sweet and tangy honey BBQ glaze. Perfect for your next backyard cookout.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Wooden or metal skewers
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together honey, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This is your honey BBQ glaze.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the glaze for basting later. Pour the remaining glaze over the chicken cubes in a bowl. Toss to coat and let marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Thread the marinated chicken and vegetable pieces onto the skewers, alternating chicken, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and red onion.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill the kabobs for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- During the last 5 minutes of grilling, brush the kabobs with the reserved honey BBQ glaze.
- Remove from grill and let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a make-ahead option, you can assemble the kabobs a few hours in advance and store them covered in the refrigerator.
- Serve with extra honey BBQ glaze on the side for dipping.
- This recipe is family-friendly and a great option for a weeknight grill.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 kabobs
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg



