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Quick to prepare and bursting with flavor, these grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers are a delicious, easy-to-make, perfect for any occasion, quick weeknight dinners or even meal preps. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up this healthy, flavorful meal in no time.
These flavorful and juicy chicken skewers make a great appetizer or main dish. Whether you’re serving them with a side of rice, Easy Roasted Mixed Veggies, or in a wrap, these skewers are versatile, light, and sure to become a favorite in your meal rotation.
Table of Contents
- Reasons To Love This Recipe
- Ingredients For Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
- Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
- How To Make Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
- Tips To Perfect This Recipe
- What to Serve with Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
- Storing and Reheating
- Alternative Cooking Methods
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Lemon Pepper Recipes
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers Recipe
Reasons To Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: With just a few pantry staples and fresh lemon, this recipe delivers a punch of flavor without complexity.
- Quick and Easy: The chicken marinates in just 30 minutes, making this dish a fast, go-to meal when time is short.
- Versatile. Lemon pepper chicken skewers are low in carbs, high in protein, and can be served in a variety of ways, from salads to wraps to main dishes.
- Perfect for Grilling or Indoor Cooking: Whether you grill these skewers outside or use a grill pan indoors, they come out delicious every time.
Ingredients For Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
- Chicken: Skinless chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces will result in moist, tender chicken. You can also use chicken breast pieces, if you prefer.
- Oil: A good quality olive oil serves as the base to the marinade. Swap another oil like avocado or grapeseed oil if you have that on hand.
- Marinade spices and seasoning: Lemon pepper seasoning, paprika, mined garlic, salt, black pepper, and lemon zest combine to jazz up the marinade.
- Butter: Unsalted butter gets infused with tons of flavor as the sauce base.
- Sauce flavoring agents: Chopped cilantro, lemon juice, honey, pepper, and salt add even more zest to the chicken.
- Garnish: Lemon wedges and chopped fresh cilantro give flavor and freshness to the dish before serving.
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
- Spicy Version: Add a dash of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the marinade for a spicy kick.
- Chicken Thighs: For a a leaner option, swap chicken thighs for chicken tenderloins.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning: If you don’t have fresh lemon or black pepper, you can use pre-made lemon pepper seasoning.
- Vegetable Skewers: Add bell peppers, zucchini, or onions to the skewers for a colorful twist.
- Herbs: Try using fresh herbs like thyme or oregano in the marinade for more depth of flavor.
How To Make Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
Step 1: Season the chicken and add the pieces of chicken to the marinade and toss to coat. Let marinade covered in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (if time permits) or up to 2 hours.
Step 2: Make the skewers. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto soacked wooden or metal skewers, making sure they are evenly distributed.
Step 3: Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and add the cilantro, lemon juice, honey, pepper, and salt. Save half of the sauce to use later.
Step 4: Brush the chicken with half of the sauce and place the skewers on the grill or grill pan to cook for 6-8 minutes. Flip to the other side, brush with the additional sauce, and cook another 8 minutes until cooked through.
Tips To Perfect This Recipe
- Cut Chicken Evenly: Make sure your chicken pieces are cut into uniform sizes so they cook evenly.
- Lemon Zest: Don’t leave out the lemon zest because it adds a concentrated citrus flavor that elevates the dish.
- Marinate for Flavor: For the best flavor, allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes if time permits, or longer if possible.
- Avoid Overcrowding the Skewers: Leave space between the chicken pieces to ensure even cooking and better grill marks.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the chicken rest for 2-3 minutes covered in foil wrap after grilling to retain its juiciness.
- Wooden Skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 30 minutes before threading the chicken.
What to Serve with Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers are so versatile. You can create many different meals around them. If you want something lighter, they pair well with a Fresh Green House Salad or alongside a fresh, cool dish like Turkish Bulgur Salad. Side dishes like these Air Fryer Red Potatoes, Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes, and Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges also pair very well to complete a filling meal.
Storing and Reheating
Storing: Remove leftover chicken from the skewers and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Reheat chicken in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a skillet over medium heat for 5-8 minutes until warmed through.
Freezing: Freeze marinated, uncooked chicken pieces in a freezer safe bag for up to 2 months. Allow the chicken to thaw overnight in the fridge, then place on skewers and grill.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F and cook the skewers for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through and applying the second half of the sauce.
Stove Top: Cook the chicken on a griddle pan or large skillet over medium high heat for 6-8 minutes. Then flip, add sauce and cook for another 8 minutes.
Oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake the skewers on a baking sheet for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through and brushing the chicken with additional sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken breasts can cook a little faster so monitor closely and adjust the cooking time as needed.
Allow the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes up to 2 hours. Going longer could allow the acidity in the marinade to start to break down the chicken.
You can prep the chicken and let it marinate up to 24 hours in advance. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to cook.
The internal temperature should reach 165°F. You can check this with a meat thermometer, or cut into a piece to make sure it’s no longer pink inside.
More Lemon Pepper Recipes
- Lemon Pepper Honey Wings
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders
- Lemon Pepper Salmon
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Fingers
- Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon
These savory, tangy grilld Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers are perfect for weeknight dinners, outdoor grilling or special gatherings. Everyone will love how flavorful and moist they are!
If you try this recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a star rating in the comment section below because I love hearing from my readers. Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.
Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
For Chicken
- 2 lb skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
For Lemon Butter Sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Lemon wedges, to garnish
- Chopped fresh cilantro, to garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken and add the pieces of chicken to the marinade and toss to coat. Let marinade covered in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (if time permits) or up to 2 hours.
- Make the skewers. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto soaked wooden or metal skewers, making sure they are evenly distributed.
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and add the cilantro, lemon juice, honey, pepper, and salt. Save half of the sauce to use later.
- Brush the chicken with half of the sauce and place the skewers on the grill or grill pan to cook for 6-8 minutes. Flip to the other side, brush with the additional sauce, and cook another 8 minutes until cooked through.
- Garnish with some fresh herbs and serve while warm.
Notes
- Cut Chicken Evenly: Make sure your chicken pieces are cut into uniform sizes so they cook evenly.
- Don’t Skip the Lemon Zest: Lemon zest adds a concentrated citrus flavor that elevates the dish.
- Marinate for Flavor: For the best flavor, allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or longer if possible.
- Avoid Overcrowding the Skewers: Leave space between the chicken pieces to ensure even cooking and better grill marks.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the chicken rest for 2-3 minutes covered in foil wrap after grilling to retain its juiciness.
- Wooden Skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 30 minutes before threading the chicken.
