Chicken and Pineapple BBQ Skewers (Printable)
Juicy chicken and sweet pineapple grilled with smoky BBQ flavors on colorful skewers.
# What You Need:
→ Protein & Produce
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks
03 - 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
04 - 1 red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
→ Marinade & Sauce
05 - ⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp BBQ sauce (gluten-free if needed), plus extra for brushing
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp honey
08 - 1 tbsp soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - ½ tsp garlic powder
11 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - ½ tsp salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Whisk together BBQ sauce, olive oil, honey, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Add chicken cubes to the marinade, toss well to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
03 - If using wooden skewers, soak in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
04 - Thread marinated chicken, pineapple, bell pepper, and red onion alternately onto skewers, distributing ingredients evenly across all skewers.
05 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
06 - Grill skewers for 12–15 minutes, turning every 3–4 minutes. Brush with additional BBQ sauce during the final 5 minutes of cooking.
07 - Grill until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and vegetables and pineapple show slight charring.
08 - Remove from grill and let skewers rest for 2 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet pineapple and smoky paprika create this incredible flavor dance that feels way more impressive than it actually is
- Everything cooks on the same skewers so cleanup is basically nonexistent and you look like a hosting genius
02 -
- I once skipped soaking the wooden skewers and they literally caught fire so now I either soak them properly or just use metal ones
- Letting the skewers rest for 2 minutes off the grill makes a huge difference in how juicy the chicken stays
03 -
- Thread everything with the same ingredients on each skewer so cook times are consistent
- Keep a small bowl of water nearby to dampen any flare ups from the sugary glaze dripping