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Originally Posted On: https://www.goodcook.com/recipes/grilled-pineapple-chicken-skewers

We’re excited to share one of our favorite summertime grilling recipes: Grilled Pineapple Chicken Skewers. They’re made up of saucy, flavorful grilled chicken and juicy pineapple chunks served on a skewer or with a bowl of jasmine rice. It’s a summer staple that we know everyone will enjoy.

How do you make grilled pineapple chicken skewers?

Start by whipping up a quick and easy Asian-bbq flavored marinade. We use fresh ginger, garlic, bbq sauce, teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes for this marinade. Save a third of this mixture or use it as a dipping sauce for the skewers. Toss the marinade with cubed chicken and marinate overnight or for 1-2 hours. Once your chicken is marinated, skewer even layers of pineapple chunks and cubed chicken. Heat your grill on medium-high and grill for 2-3 minutes.

What’s the best way to cut a pineapple?

We love using FRESH pineapple with this recipe! Cutting a pineapple can be tricky and always leaves people wasting a bit of the fruit trying to get all the husk off—the GoodCook Pineapple Slicer cores and slices the pineapple without damaging any of the outer husks. Once your pineapple center is out, you are left with the coolest beverage container and tons of fresh juice.

Picking the perfect pineapple:

Picking a great pineapple can be tricky, so follow these 3 simple rules to know you’re coming home with the gold.

• Color: Look for a pineapple that is primarily golden in color and less green. These are always riper.
• Smell: Give the pineapple a quick smell. If the pineapple has a sweet scent to it, this means it’s ready to go.
• Lucky Leaf: Pull out a green leaf from the head of the pineapple. If it releases easily, this means the pineapple is ready.

How long should I soak my skewers?

Soaking your wooden skewers is a crucial step for grilled pineapple chicken skewers. Your skewers will quickly burn and compromise your chicken and pineapple without the soak time. To prevent burning, soak your skewers in water for 30-60 minutes with a heavy object or plate on top to prevent them from floating.

What can I serve with grilled pineapple chicken skewers?

You can literally eat these skewers right off the grill handheld, but they work well in a complete meal.

• Rice Bowls: Pile the skewers on some jasmine rice and extra sauce for a tasty bowl. Be sure to drizzle everything with the leftover marinade before serving. Extra points for serving this up right into a cored pineapple boat!
• Salad Topper: For a lighter option: top an Asian-inspired salad with these skewers for a light and flavorful meal.
• Asian Inspired Taco: I love a good fusion flavored taco, and these are the perfect starting point. Fill your skewer meat and pineapple into a tortilla and top off with your favorite fruity salsa.

• serves: 4-6
• difficulty: Low
• prep: 1 hour 30 minutes
• type: Dinner
• total time: 1 hour 40 minutes

ingredients

• 2 Lbs of boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
• 1 Tablespoon of fresh ginger, minced
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 Cup of barbecue sauce
• 1/2 Cup of teriyaki sauce
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
• 2 Teaspoons of red pepper flakes
• 2-3 Cups of pineapple chunks

directions

1. Core and cut pineapple into chunks and set aside.
2. Whisk together ginger, garlic, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and pineapple juice in a large bowl—Reserve ½ Cup of sauce for dipping.
3. In a large bowl, toss together chicken chunks with the remainder of the marinade and marinate for 1-2 hours.
4. Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before grilling. Skewer even amounts of chicken and pineapple chunks onto wooden skewers. Grill for 4-5 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked through