When it comes to feeding a crowd, especially for a special occasion like a birthday dinner, you want a dish that’s both delicious and relatively easy to manage.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Skewers: Easy Dinner Idea for Family Gatherings 16

These grilled BBQ chicken skewers fit the bill perfectly, offering a fantastic entree that’s sure to be a hit with everyone from kids to adults. They’re simple to prepare, cook up quickly on the grill, and are packed with savory BBQ flavor.

This recipe is designed to take the stress out of entertaining, allowing you to enjoy your gathering without being stuck in the kitchen. The bite-sized pieces of chicken are marinated for maximum flavor, then threaded onto skewers and grilled to juicy perfection. It’s a crowd-pleaser that looks impressive but requires minimal fuss.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This recipe for grilled BBQ chicken skewers is a true winner for several reasons. First, it’s incredibly versatile and adaptable, making it ideal for a birthday dinner where you might have diverse tastes to cater to. The individual skewers are easy to serve and eat, which is a huge plus for parties and gatherings with many people. There’s no need for fancy plating; guests can simply grab a skewer and enjoy. The preparation is straightforward, involving simple marinating and grilling, which means less time spent cooking and more time enjoying your friends and family. It’s also a fantastic entree food because it’s satisfying without being overly heavy, leaving room for all the other delicious party treats.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients before you start cooking makes the whole process smoother and more enjoyable. This recipe uses readily available items you can find at any grocery store, ensuring a stress-free shopping experience.

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Wooden or metal skewers (if using wooden, soak them in water for 30 minutes beforehand)
Optional: 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
Optional: 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
Optional: 1 red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

For the chicken, you can use either boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Thighs tend to stay a bit juicier on the grill, but breasts work wonderfully too, especially if you prefer leaner meat. Feel free to use your preferred brand of BBQ sauce; whether it’s a smoky, sweet, or tangy variety, it will all work well here. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, white vinegar can be used in a pinch, though it might alter the flavor slightly. The bell peppers and red onion are optional additions that add color, flavor, and some extra vegetables to your skewers, making them even more appealing.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

Preparing these grilled BBQ chicken skewers is a relatively quick process, making them perfect for busy evenings or when you’re hosting a gathering.

Prep Time: 20 minutes (includes chopping chicken and vegetables, and assembling skewers)
Marinating Time: 30 minutes (minimum, but can be extended up to 4 hours for more flavor)
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
Total Time: Approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes (including minimum marinating time)

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Making these skewers is straightforward. Follow these steps for perfectly grilled, flavorful chicken.

Prepare the chicken: Start by cutting the boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into 1-inch cubes. Try to make them as uniform in size as possible to ensure even cooking. Place the cubed chicken in a large bowl.
Make the marinade: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well combined.
Marinate the chicken: Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken cubes in the large bowl. Toss everything together until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. For a deeper flavor, you can marinate the chicken for up to 4 hours. If using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water during this time to prevent them from burning on the grill.
Prepare the grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F or 200°C). Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.
Assemble the skewers: While the grill is heating, thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers. If you’re using optional vegetables, alternate chicken pieces with red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and red onion pieces. Don’t pack the chicken too tightly; leave a small space between each piece for even cooking.
Grill the skewers: Place the assembled skewers on the preheated grill. Cook for 10-15 minutes, turning them every 3-4 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and has nice char marks. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) when checked with a meat thermometer.
Serve immediately: Once cooked, remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the chicken moist and tender.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

These grilled BBQ chicken skewers are incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can use milder BBQ sauce or even a honey mustard sauce for dipping on the side. Kids often love eating food on a stick, so the skewer format is already a win!

Consider adding other vegetables to your skewers, such as zucchini slices, cherry tomatoes, or pineapple chunks for a sweet and savory combination. If you’re looking for extra heat, a pinch of cayenne pepper in the marinade or a drizzle of hot sauce after grilling can add a kick.

For a party or buffet, arrange the cooked skewers on a large platter, perhaps garnished with fresh parsley or cilantro. They pair wonderfully with classic BBQ sides like corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw, or a simple green salad. You can also serve them with rice pilaf or quinoa for a more substantial meal. Offer extra BBQ sauce on the side for dipping, or even a creamy ranch or blue cheese dressing to complement the smoky chicken.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for can help ensure your grilled BBQ chicken skewers turn out perfectly every time.

One frequent mistake is not soaking wooden skewers before grilling. If you skip this step, the skewers can easily catch fire or char excessively, making them difficult to handle and potentially imparting a burnt taste to your food. Always soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes prior to use.

Another common issue is overcrowding the grill. When you pack too many skewers onto the grill at once, it lowers the grill’s temperature and can lead to uneven cooking. The chicken might steam instead of sear, resulting in less desirable texture and char. Grill in batches if necessary, ensuring there’s enough space between each skewer for proper heat circulation.

Cutting the chicken pieces unevenly can also cause problems. Smaller pieces will cook faster and dry out before larger pieces are done. Aim for consistently sized 1-inch cubes to ensure everything cooks evenly and finishes at the same time, resulting in uniformly juicy chicken.

Finally, not letting the chicken rest after grilling is a common oversight. While it’s tempting to dig in immediately, allowing the chicken to rest for a few minutes off the grill allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. This results in more tender and flavorful chicken. If you cut into it too soon, the juices will run out, leaving the chicken drier.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

These grilled BBQ chicken skewers are best enjoyed fresh off the grill, but you can certainly make components ahead of time or store leftovers.

To make ahead, you can cut the chicken and prepare the marinade up to 24 hours in advance. Store the chicken in the marinade in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also chop the vegetables a day ahead and store them in a separate airtight container. When you’re ready to cook, simply thread the chicken and vegetables onto skewers and grill. This significantly reduces your prep time on the day of your gathering.

For storing leftovers, allow any cooked skewers to cool completely before placing them in an airtight container. They will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can store them with or without the skewers, depending on your preference and container size.

To reheat, the best method for maintaining texture is to gently warm them in an oven or on a stovetop. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C), place the skewers on a baking sheet, and heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. You can

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.