Name: BBQ Chicken Skewers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.5 lb chicken thighs, cut in cubes; 0.75 cup barbecue sauce; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp kosher salt; 8 wooden skewers, soaked in water

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BBQ Chicken Skewers

GrilledEasyPrep 10 minCook 12 minServes 4

Sticky barbecue chicken on the grill — smoky, sweet and ready before the sides are.

Ingredients

1½ lb chicken thighs, cut in cubes
¾ cup barbecue sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp kosher salt
8 wooden skewers, soaked in water

Steps

Soak the wooden skewers in water for 10 minutes.
Toss the chicken cubes with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder and salt.
Thread onto the skewers and grill over medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes, turning often.
Brush with barbecue sauce in the last 2 minutes.
Rest 2 minutes and serve.

Serve with: coleslaw and buttered corn on the cob.

Brush the sauce on at the end so the sugar does not burn.

Find this recipe in the Chicken & Meat section on the RecipeDelish home page, where you can scale it, print a clean PDF, download the shopping list and use cook mode.

Tips & mistakes

Cut the chicken into even cubes so every piece finishes at the same time — uneven pieces mean some burn while others stay raw.
Soak wooden skewers for 10 minutes, or they burn on the grill and snap when you turn them.
Brush the sauce on only in the last 2 minutes — the sugar in barbecue sauce burns fast and turns bitter.
Leave a little space between pieces on the skewer so the heat reaches all sides and every piece gets a good char.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use chicken breast? Yes: cut it slightly larger and watch it closely; breast dries out faster than thighs. Brushing it with a little extra oil before grilling helps keep it juicy.

Can I cook them in the oven? Yes: broil on a rack at 450°F for about 12 minutes, turning once. The rack lets hot air reach all sides, which is what makes them crisp instead of steamed.

Can I make them ahead? Thread the skewers up to a day ahead and refrigerate; grill when ready. Keep them covered so the chicken doesn't dry out, and let them sit at room temperature 15 minutes before grilling.

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