Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Summer Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

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Updated June 26, 2021

Are you looking for the perfect Kabob recipe?

We think you will love these grilled Hawaiian teriyaki chicken skewers.

 

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

 

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

A classic summer recipe that’s perfectly at home on the grill, there’s plenty of variety with skewered meats and veggies!

One of our favorites is Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers.

Loaded with plenty of flavors with some delicious grilled teriyaki chicken, some flavor-packed bell peppers, onion, and zucchini.

Where does the Hawaiian flavor come from? From the perfectly grilled cubes of pineapple of course!

This recipe is relatively easy to make but comes with a huge payoff that won’t disappoint.

 

healthy grilled Hawaiian chicken kabobs

 

INGREDIENTS

With some relatively simple ingredients, you can make an incredibly yummy meal!

The teriyaki sauce is super quick and easy, adding a ton of great flavor to the chicken!

The skewers themselves have a huge variety of flavors, plenty of delicious chicken, and flavorful veggies.

Don’t forget the perfect hint of sweetness from the pineapple!

TERIYAKI SAUCE

Teriyaki sauce is a delicious, sweet sauce that pairs well with just about everything!

While you can find it in a bottle, it tastes so much better when made fresh at home!

In addition, you can season it to add just a touch of heat that’ll bring the chicken to a new level.

Some simple spices and fresh ingredients help thicken the sauce and improve it immensely.

Relatively simple preparation helps with that, so be sure to give it a try!

All you need are the below ingredients.

  •  1/2 cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
  •  1/2 cup brown sugar
  •  1 teaspoon garlic powder
  •  1/4 teaspoon ginger
  •  1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  •  1/2 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
  •  1 tablespoon cornstarch
  •  2 tablespoons cold water
  • Salt and pepper to taste

SKEWERS

These delicious skewers require relatively few ingredients and fairly simple preparation!

Some chicken, peppers, onion, zucchini, and pineapple combine for a wonderful creation.

For the exact amounts and measurements, look below!

  •  2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
  •  1 red bell pepper, cut into cubes
  •  1 yellow or green bell pepper, cut into cubes
  • 1 zucchini sliced
  •  1 red onion, cut into cubes
  •  1.5 cups fresh pineapple, cubed
  •  Metal or wooden skewers (soak wooden skewers for at least one hour)

 

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

 

INSTRUCTIONS

First, you’ll want to prepare the teriyaki sauce for your chicken!

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, and other seasonings.

Whisk those well until you have a fairly uniform, cohesive liquid.

Now that it’s well mixed, you’re ready to move to the next step!

 

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

 

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Now that your sauce is ready, start by pouring it into a medium-sized saucepan and begin to heat over medium-high heat.

Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl on the side, and whisk quickly.

Once the sauce has begun to boil, slowly pour the cornstarch and water mix into the pan while stirring.

Once it’s entirely poured into the pan, continue stirring and cook until thickened.

Generally, a clear sign for when your sauce is thick enough is when you can drag a spoon through the pan and leave a visible trail, or if it coats the back of your spoon!

Now allow the sauce to cool.

 

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

 

Set aside half a cup of the coolest sauce in a large container or a Ziploc bag.

For this recipe, we personally decided to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Cube the chicken breasts and add them to the bag of teriyaki sauce and allow to marinate, setting in the fridge for at least an hour.

This will ensure the chicken is thoroughly tenderized and flavored for cooking.

Be careful not to allow it to marinate for too long, as it can start to break down due to the sauce.

Now that your chicken is marinating, you can move on to the veggies!

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Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

 

Once your chicken is close to being done marinating, it’s time to chop the vegetables and pineapple!

You’ll want relatively uniform shapes and thickness for each of them to ensure consistent cook times.

For the onion you preferably want chunks, but can you can absolutely separate the individual layers if you’d prefer less on the skewer.

Keep them separate on a plate and you’re ready to skewer!

 

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

 

Before you start placing the chicken, vegetables, and pineapple onto the skewers, preheat your grill to medium-high heat.

We want it hot enough to cook relatively quickly and pick up some nice char, but if you put it too high your chicken and veggies will burn before being properly cooked.

Now, place your chicken, vegetables, and pineapple onto the pre-soaked (or if you used metal, you don’t need to soak) skewers.

The specific order and makeup of the skewers are entirely up to you and your personal tastes,  but we generally like two to three pieces of chicken spread throughout the skewer.

It’s best to prepare these ahead of time instead of as you go, as it can be slightly difficult to get everything onto the skewer properly.

 

Related: 16 Refreshing Summer Salad Recipes

 

Now that your skewers are ready for grilling, it’s time to go!

Place the skewers over direct heat and grill for 9-11 minutes, turning roughly halfway to ensure you grill them evenly on both sides.

Your goal is obviously to cook the chicken through, but don’t forget to get some wonderful char on the vegetables and pineapple!

After around eleven minutes, your chicken should be cooked through.

Test the chicken quickly with a meat thermometer to ensure it’s hit 165 degrees F, and you’re good to go!

 

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

 

Quickly drizzle the chicken skewers with your reserved teriyaki sauce and use any other remaining sauce for dipping.

Drizzling with the extra sauce ensures that delicious flavor is spread across everything, not just the chicken.

Plate on their own or with sides of your choosing and you’re ready to eat!

An added slice of lime is a great touch, a quick squeeze adds an extra hit of flavor as if you didn’t have enough already!

 

Yield: 7

Summer Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Ingredients

  • TERIYAKI SAUCE
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • SKEWERS
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into cubes
  • 1 yellow or green bell pepper, cut into cubes
  • 1 zucchini sliced
  • 1 red onion, cut into cubes
  • 1.5 cups fresh pineapple, cubed
  • Metal or wooden skewers (soak wooden skewers for at least one hour)

Instructions

  1. Combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, and seasonings in a medium bowl. Whisk well.
  2. Pour the sauce into a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until it begins to boil. Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl, mixing with a whisk or fork, then pour into a saucepan. Continue stirring and cook for another minute, until thickened. Allow cooling.
  3. Place ½ cup of the cooled sauce in a large container or Ziploc bag. Add cubed chicken to the marinade bag and let it marinate in the fridge for at least an hour.
  4. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Place chicken, vegetables, and pineapple onto soaked skewers. Grill over direct heat for 9-11 minutes, turning halfway to grill evenly on both sides, until chicken is cooked through (or reaches 165 degrees F when tested with a meat thermometer).
  5. Drizzle the chicken skewers with reserved sauce and serve with any remaining teriyaki sauce for dipping. 

 

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

 

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!

These Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers were an absolute hit the last time we grilled for friends and family, and I’m sure you’ll have the same experience!

Whether you’re grilling out on the patio with a crowd, hanging out by the pool, or just enjoying a nice summer meal with your family, this recipe is a sure hit.

Thank you so much for reading, we hope you have a wonderful summer!

If you enjoyed it, feel free to check out some of our other recipes!

We have plenty of wonderful weeknight meals, meals for every season, and plenty of perfect desserts to pair them with!

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