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I already know what you're going to say - and totally I agree; this Grilled Chicken Kabobs recipe is kind of really weird! It's true, yet it's one of the most delicious concoctions we've ever tried!
I was quite skeptical when I first heard about this crazy way of making grilled chicken but my chief culinary consultant and photographer (aka husband) agreed - the finished product is quite extraordinary!
A friend told me about this recipe originating from Cook's Illustrated, a wonderful culinary journal that tests, tweaks and troubleshoots a given recipe until they come up with "perfection". When the fine folks at CI decided to tackle chicken kabobs, the problem they wrestled with was how to ensure the grilled meat would be moist and tasty instead of  dry and lackluster as grilled chicken can often be
Ready for the crazy part? They pureed two strips of bacon, rubbed it all over the chicken, added some great spices, then brushed it with barbeque sauce halfway through the grilling. Strange? Yes! Delicious? Most definitely!!! The bacon doesn't add a lot of fat since the recipe only calls for two strips and much of it is melted off during the grilling However, the flavor it imparts is nothing less than fantastic!
I simplified the recipe a bit by using our favorite commercial barbecue sauce instead of the homemade version the recipe called for. I made the Cook's Illustrated sauce the first time I tried the recipe, but honestly, I don't think it was worth the extra time.
I highly encourage you to give this recipe a try for your next cookout or family get-together - make some extra copies of the recipe as you will need them!
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Fabulous Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breast, or skinless chicken thighs or breasts, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-inch cubes (see note)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 8 10-12- inch wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes (or longer) before using
- 1 cup barbecue sauce, your favorite, we like Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory and Brown Sugar
Instructions
- Toss chicken and salt in large bowl; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
- Heat gas grill to medium high,
- Divide barbecue sauce, ½ for grilling and the other ½ for passing at the table.
- While grill heats, pat chicken dry with paper towels. Combine sweet paprika, sugar, and smoked paprika in small bowl. Process bacon in food processor until smooth paste forms, 30 to 45 seconds, scraping down bowl twice during processing. Add bacon paste and spice mixture to chicken; mix with hands or rubber spatula until ingredients are thoroughly blended and chicken is completely coated. Thread meat onto skewers, rolling or folding meat as necessary to maintain 1-inch cubes.
- Place kebabs on grill, turning one-quarter turn every 2 to 2 ½ minutes until well browned and slightly charred, about 8 minutes for breasts or 10 minutes for thighs. Brush top surface of kebabs with ¼ cup sauce; flip and cook until sauce is brown in spots, about 1 minute. Brush second side with remaining ¼ cup sauce; flip and continue to cook until brown in spots and instant-read thermometer inserted in center of meat registers 160 degrees for breasts and 175 degrees for thighs, about 1 minute longer. Remove kebabs from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve, passing reserved barbecue sauce separately.
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This recipe was fantastic! The chicken was so tender and flavorful - worth the extra steps!
Thank you!
Thanks so much, Johanna! I had forgotten about this wonderful recipe 🙂
im making those chicken kebabs 2day they luk lush x
im making those chicken kebabs 2day they luk lush x
That grilled chicken looks so moist and tasty!
I have to make these. One, because they look so darn good and two, so I can tell everyone that I used pureed bacon!
HI Beth and Drew! Thanks for stopping by the Café, so glad to hear from you and that you enjoyed the kabobs! They certainly are weird but so........ delicious!
Nick and Lindsay made these for us at a cookout this weekend and they were so good. We did laugh about how odd it seems. After looking at your blog, I now know why I think of them as our "foodie friends." How could they not be when you have this great blog? I can't wait to try some more of your recipes, too. Thanks for sharing!
Beth & Drew N.
Oh, such a nice thing to say! Thanks guys!
We made these last night and they are so flavorful! We don't have to come up with meals on our own anymore! We just refer to your blog : )
Love, Nicky