Description
Discover the ultimate chicken kabob marinade for the grill that makes your chicken tender, flavorful, and absolutely irresistible.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt (optional, for tenderness)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, for balance)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice until well combined.
- Add the minced garlic, paprika, cumin, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and turmeric to the bowl. Whisk again until all the spices are evenly distributed.
- If using, add the plain yogurt to the mixture and whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Add the chopped parsley and fresh mint to the marinade. Stir gently to combine.
- If using, add the honey or maple syrup and stir until fully incorporated.
- Place your chicken pieces (cut into 1-2 inch cubes) in a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight for maximum flavor infusion.
- When ready to grill, thread the marinated chicken onto skewers, leaving a small space between each piece.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill the kabobs for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and has nice char marks.
- Remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For the most tender chicken, marinate for at least 4 hours if possible, but don’t exceed 24 hours as the acidity can start to break down the meat too much.
- Use wooden skewers? Soak them in water for 30 minutes before threading to prevent burning on the grill.
- Don’t overcrowd the skewers – leave a little space between pieces for even cooking and better char marks.
- If using chicken breast, consider pounding it to an even thickness before cutting into cubes for more consistent cooking.
- For extra flavor, add some sliced bell peppers and onions to your skewers – they’ll pick up the marinade beautifully.
- Always preheat your grill properly – this helps create those beautiful sear marks that lock in flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Chicken
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken kabob marinade for the grill