Why you’ll love these sweet chili chicken skewers
Summer seems to be raging on, against my wishes I might add. So I’m sticking to super quick recipes that can be grilled (or quickly roasted in the oven). One of my favorites lately has been this recipe for sweet chili chicken skewers. They’re the perfect mix of sweet, spicy and savory, and throwing the chicken on skewers means they cook in no time when we get back from our busy weeknight activities.
I like to prep these in the morning and let them sit until we get back. While the oven or grill is preheating, I pop them onto skewers – I like to use the metal kind because I have no time for soaking the wooden ones. A little bit of rice and some quick sesame coleslaw makes this a super easy and healthy dinner.
These would also be really great served with sesame noodles or chili garlic noodles.
More chicken recipes: grilled chicken tenders / cilantro lime chicken / grilled hot honey chicken sandwiches / rotisserie chicken tacos
Ingredient notes:
- Sweet chili sauce – There are many brands and even homemade versions of sweet chili sauce, and they can vary in sweetness and spiciness. If you have a favorite, go ahead and use it. We have used Thai Kitchen and Mae Ploy, both are dairy free and widely available in grocery stores.
- Chicken breast – I cut normally cut up boneless, skinless chicken breast for this, but you could also make this recipe with chicken tenders or even boneless chicken thighs.
- Soy sauce – We normally have reduced-sodium soy sauce in our house, but use what you have and adjust the salt level if needed. You can also substitute tamari to make this recipe gluten free.
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
The following is a detailed overview of the recipe steps with added tips and tricks for recipe success. For a simplified and printable version, including ingredient amounts and more formal instructions, see the recipe card below.
How to make these sweet chili chicken skewers
Marinate the chicken. In a mixing bowl, combine sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, ginger and sesame oil. Toss the chicken cubes into the marinade, making sure all the pieces are coated nicely in the marinade.
Cover and pop the bowl in the fridge. Let the chicken marinate for at least an hour (or even longer if you can). Remove from the fridge about 15 to 30 minutes before grilling.
Skewer and grill. Remove the pieces of chicken from the marinade and arrange them on your skewers. Make sure to leave a little space between the pieces so they cook evenly.
Grill the skewers over high heat, turning them once to ensure even cooking on both sides. Remove from the grill and serve with additional sweet chili sauce for dipping.
You can also preheat your oven to 450˚F and cook them on a baking sheet instead.
If you want to make the sesame coleslaw, it’s super easy. Just combine the following ingredients:
- Half of a 14-ounce package colelsaw mix
- 3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, or vegan mayo for egg free
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (or more to taste)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
More summer grilling recipes
Sweet Chili Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce , + more for serving
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken. In a large bowl, combine the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, garlic. ginger, and sesame oil. Stir to combine and add the cubed chicken. Cover and let chicken cubes marinate for at least 1 hour.
- Skewer the chicken and brush with olive oil. Lightly season with salt & pepper, to taste.
- Grill over high heat for about 5 minutes per side, turning once. Alternatively, roast the skewers in a 450˚F oven for about 10 – 15 minutes.
- Serve with extra sweet chili sauce (optional).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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