Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers can be made on the grill or in the oven and are packed with flavor from a delicious homemade marinade with fresh cilantro, lime juice, garlic, cumin, and paprika. Pair it with this some Grilled Potatoes or Street Corn Salad.
When it comes to weekends, I absolutely love firing up the grill and preparing our meal outside. Now to be totally honest, a big part of this is because it means I don't have to do all the cooking. There is always someone happy to take on the grilling duties and I can sit back and relax, preferably with a glass of wine.
This past weekend when we decided to spend the day outside, I purposely prepped these kabobs ahead of time along with a chopped salad, guacamole, and baked chips. This guaranteed that once things got started, I could sit back and enjoy instead of running around the kitchen.
When it comes to outdoor dining, kabobs really are one of the best options. Not only can they be prepped ahead of time, they feel a little fancier than simple grilled chicken and don't take that much extra work.
Just marinate your favorite, add some veggies, and you are ready for a delicious meal. Now when it comes to these kabobs, they are kind of reminiscent of chicken fajitas but packed with more lime and cilantro. To keep the flavors mild for everyone, I didn't add any chili pepper, but you could add a jalapeno or some chili powder to the marinade as well.
How long to cook chicken kabobs?
Generally speaking, when you are cooking chicken kabobs on the grill, they will take 7-10 minutes. Flip the chicken halfway through cooking so that it cooks evenly. This could vary slightly depending on how the size of the pieces of chicken.
If you are going to make your chicken kabobs with vegetables as well, make sure to choose vegetables that will cook in the same amount of time. Some good choices are peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, summer squash, or tomatoes. Veggies that take longer to cook like potatoes, should be par-cooked so that they are ready at the same time.
How to make cilantro lime marinade for chicken?
Cilantro lime marinade is one of my favorite things to use for adding flavor to chicken, pork, and fish. It also works great for tofu. Here is the basic recipe:
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- 2 limes, juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- Directions: Add everything to a good processor and blend until well combined. For a spicy marinade, add some red pepper flakes or jalapeno pepper. For a sweet marinade, add some honey or brown sugar. For the most delicious sweet and spicy marinade, add both.
Recipe Ideas and Tips
- Chicken breast is a popular choice when it comes to protein but you can definitely use chicken thighs, beef, or even pork for these kabobs. I imagine tofu would work as well, just make sure to press it first to remove any extra moisture.
- I kept things simple with bell peppers and onions. However, you can pack in more veggies to make it even tastier. Consider adding zucchini, summer squash, cherry tomatoes, or asparagus.
- For a little sweetness, throw some fresh pineapple in the mix. Just thread it on the skewers along with the other ingredients and prepare to fall in love with the grilled sweet pineapple flavor.
- To make things spicier, add some chili powder or a fresh jalapeno to the marinade. If you like a sweeter marinade, you can also add some honey or brown sugar.
- If you have time, marinate these kabobs for 4 hours or more before cooking them. This really gives the chicken time to soak up the marinade and it will lead to a more tender cooked chicken.
What to serve with Chicken Kabobs
For a dish like this, there are lots of different directions you can take when it comes to side dishes. These are some of our favorites.
- Serve these kabobs over a bed of brown or white rice. Double up the marinade so you can drizzle some on top of the rice before serving. This works with cauliflower rice as well.
- Throw some corn on the cob on the grill as well and cut up some sweet watermelon for a summer inspired meal.
- Use this recipe for meal prep with your favorite cooked grain, black beans, and a quick green salad.
- Make tacos! Use your chicken to make delicious tacos topped with avocado and a nice green salsa.
- This Cilantro Lime Chicken makes a great salad protein. Grab a big bowl of greens. Add corn, black beans, tomatoes, the cooked chicken, and make some extra marinade to use as the dressing.
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