Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers are complemented with fresh pineapple, veggies, and the best sweet teriyaki sauce! Serve these skewers on a bed of coconut rice, garnished with fresh lime and toasted coconut. 

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

I love grilled chicken in any form, but it’s especially fun on a skewer with grilled veggies and fruit. Pineapple gets incredibly juicy and flavorful when grilled and is the perfect complement to the sweet teriyaki sauce and chicken.

Pineapple is a prominent flavor in these skewers — from the actual chunks of fresh pineapple to the pineapple juice in the sauce. Speaking of the sauce, it’s sweet, sticky, and totally addictive! You may recognize it from this Teriyaki Burger recipe–it’s a definite family favorite.

Additionally, the sauce is very easy to make and serves dual purposes. The chicken marinates in the sauce and the remainder is reserved for topping or dipping the skewers. I’m all for this “two for one” shortcut on busy summer weeknights!

Let’s talk chicken

I tested this recipe with both chicken thighs and chicken breast. While my boys typically prefer chicken breasts, in this case, thighs won hands down. The thighs remain succulent and moist after grilling.

Chicken breast will work, but it does tend to dry out more, especially when cooked on a skewer. (cooking smaller pieces of chicken dries it out quicker.)

Grilling tips for Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

• Cut chicken into same-sized pieces. To ensure the chicken pieces cook evenly, it’s important they’re all about the same size — about 2-inches per piece. 
• Flip and/or stir. Throughout the marinating process, be sure to flip the bag of chicken to the other side or stir the pieces in the marinade. This ensures equal flavor on all parts of the chicken pieces.
• Generously oil your grill grates. I do this by rolling up a few paper towels, drenching them in oil (canola or vegetable), and with tongs, rub the drenched paper towels along the grill grates. This will contribute to a beautiful sear and ensure the kabobs don’t stick to the grates. (It’s always a pain when you lose some of the veggies or chicken on the grill!)
• If the kabobs are sticking at all, use a large metal spatula instead of tongs to flip. 

How to make coconut-lime rice

Coconut-lime rice is an optional base for Teriyaki Chicken Skewers, and it really makes the dish extra special. It’s fresh and vibrant tasting, plus it’s hardly any extra effort than making regular rice. Be sure to use a good-quality, full-fat coconut milk and don’t forget to let the rice sufficiently stand (covered) after it’s done simmering; this will keep the rice from becoming sticky and gooey.

Coconut-Lime Rice

• 1 cup basmati rice (other varieties don’t cook up as well, and become overly mushy)
• 1 and 1/2 cups full-fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 large lime (1 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoons juice)

Combine 1 cup basmati rice, 1 and 1/2 cups full-fat coconut milk, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt (or to taste). Stir and place over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the rice with a lid. Allow to simmer for 13-18 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, keep covered, and let stand for 10-15 minutes; don’t rush or it will be sticky! Fluff the rice with a fork and then stir in the zest and juice of one lime. 

Teriyaki Chicken Skewer tips

• Use a fresh, ripe pineapple. It grills up and caramelizes into such a sweet addition to the skewers.
• Garnish. The garnishes add so much to these skewers. We love topping them with unsweetened coconut flakes, green onions, cilantro, and a few squeezes of fresh lime.
• Let the teriyaki sauce chill thoroughly before marinating. If the sauce is hot when it’s added to the chicken it will begin cooking the chicken, which will dry it out.
• Soak wooden skewers. Wooden skewers can burn easily over a hot grill. Soaking them in warm water for 10 to 30 minutes before threading will keep the skewers from burning. Want more details about soaking skewers? Read this. Metal skewers are a great alternative option. 

QUICK TIP

Sometimes skewers are hard to turn, and the food on them rolls and twists. To give a sturdier base, use two wooden skewers instead of one. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to turn them when grilling!

More grilled chicken recipes

• Chicken Kabobs with mango and zucchini
• Grilled Chicken Marinade best all-purpose chicken marinade
• Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa and sweet corn
• Deliciously seasoned Grilled Fajita Chicken
• Grilled BBQ Chicken Rice Bowl with a two-ingredient sauce

FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content.

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers with fresh pineapple, veggies, and the best sweet teriyaki sauce are loaded on a bed of coconut rice and garnished with fresh lime and toasted coconut. 

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers with fresh pineapple, veggies, and the best sweet teriyaki sauce are loaded on a bed of coconut rice and garnished with fresh lime and toasted coconut. 

Course Dinner

Cuisine Chinese, grilled, Lebanese, Mediterranean

Keyword Teriyaki Chicken Skewers 3

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 382kcal

Author Chelsea Lords

Cost $7.82

Equipment

• Wooden skewers (See Note 1)

Ingredients

• ▢ ½ cup regular soy sauce
• ▢ ¼ cup honey
• ▢ ¼ cup 100% pineapple juice
• ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons minced garlic (4-6 cloves)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons minced ginger
• ▢ Fine sea salt and freshly cracked pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon cornstarch (plus 1 tablespoon water)
• ▢ 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-1/2 inch chunks
• ▢ 1 cup cubed red bell pepper
• ▢ 1 cup cubed red onion
• ▢ 1 ¼ cup cubed fresh pineapple
• ▢ Optional: coconut lime rice (See Note 2)
• ▢ Optional: unsweetened coconut flakes, fresh lime, fresh cilantro or green onions for topping skewers and rice

US - Metric

USMetric

Instructions

• SAUCE: In a small saucepan, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, pineapple juice, olive oil, rice vinegar, minced garlic, minced ginger, salt and pepper to taste. (I add 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; add to personal preference.) In a separate small bowl, add the 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Use a fork to whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the cornstarch mixture into the soy sauce. Bring to boil and cook about 1-3 minutes until the mixture just starts to thicken. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
• PREP CHICKEN: Cut the chicken into 1½-inch pieces. Place chicken pieces in a large plastic bag or container. Remove ½ cup of the cooled teriyaki sauce and reserve for later. Pour the remaining sauce over the chicken and knead to cover and combine. Marinate the chicken in the sauce in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, and up to 8 hours.
• PREP SKEWERS: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (400-450 degrees F). Clean and generously oil grates (I drench a paper towel in oil and, holding with tongs, rub it over the grates). Thread the chicken on skewers, along with the chunks of peppers, red onion, and pineapple, leaving a small space between each item.
• GRILL: Grill for 8-10 minutes until the meat is cooked to 160 degrees F (carryover heat will take it to 165 degrees F). Remove from the grill and drizzle skewers with reserved sauce. Garnish with green onions, cilantro, and unsweetened coconut flakes as desired. Serve with lime wedges. If desired, serve over coconut lime rice (See Note 1).

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Skewers: Wooden skewers can burn easily over a hot grill. Soaking them in warm water for 10 to 30 minutes before threading will keep the skewers from burning. Metal skewers are a great alternative. 

Note 2: Coconut lime rice

Here's an amazing recipe that takes all the guesswork out of making rice!

• 1 cup basmati rice (184g) (other varieties don't cook up as well and become overly mushy)
• 1 can (13.5oz) full-fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup water (101g)
• 1 large lime (1 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoons juice)

Combine 1 cup basmati rice, 1 and 1/2 cups full-fat coconut milk, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt (or to taste). Stir and place over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the rice with a lid. Allow to simmer for 13-18 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, keep covered, and let stand for 10-15 minutes; don't rush or it will be sticky! Fluff the rice with a fork and then add in the zest and juice of one lime. Stir to incorporate.

Nutrition information does not include rice or other optional ingredients.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1758mg | Potassium: 735mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 1232IU | Vitamin C: 80mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.