Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers (Printable)

Tender chicken marinated in sweet-spicy honey garlic glaze, grilled until perfectly charred and juicy.

# What you'll need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
02 - 1/4 cup honey
03 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 5 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons hot chili sauce (such as Sriracha)
07 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish & Serving

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
12 - Lime wedges
13 - Sesame seeds (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - Whisk together honey, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, chili sauce, vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Add chicken pieces to the marinade, toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for maximum flavor penetration.
03 - If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
04 - Thread marinated chicken onto skewers, shaking off excess marinade. Reserve leftover marinade for basting.
05 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
06 - Grill chicken skewers for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with reserved marinade, until cooked through and lightly charred.
07 - Transfer to a serving plate, sprinkle with cilantro or parsley and sesame seeds if desired. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The marinade comes together in minutes but tastes like youve been planning it for days
  • That perfect honey-char crust forms automatically on the grill, no technique needed
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if they last that long
02 -
  • Never reuse marinade thats touched raw chicken except for basting during cooking, food safety matters
  • Letting skewers rest for a couple minutes off the heat helps juices redistribute so every bite stays moist
  • The honey in the marinade makes these skewers darken faster than you expect, so watch closely to avoid burning
03 -
  • Cut chicken into uniform cubes so everything cooks at the same rate
  • Let skewers rest for 5 minutes before serving to keep juices locked inside

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