Chicken skewers
Delicious and simple chicken skewers which kids will love. They’re perfect for a midweek meal, or even a summer picnic or BBQ.
Chicken skewers are a great dinner for kids. Not only will they love eating them, they’re easy enough for them to help making them too. Win win!
We’ve been trying to liven up our dinners recently in a bid to get the kids to be a little less fussy – something I’m sure most parents can relate to. We’ll occasionally try giving the kids something completely different but often I just do something similar but done in a slightly different way than they’re used to. These chicken tikka skewers are a familiar food but are presented in an unusual but fun way for them.
What’s even better is kids can make up their own skewer adding the vegetables they like. We’ve used peppers, cherry tomatoes and onions, but you can use whatever your favourites are. Giving kids some ownership over their own creations, should (in theory) make them more likely to eat it!
We’ve cooked these skewers using the grill in our oven, but they would also be delicious on a BBQ in the summer.
How can kids help to make chicken skewers?
Chicken skewers are a great dish for kids to help with as long as they are old enough to be safe around raw chicken.
As well as helping to measure out the ingredients for the marinade, your kids can help to string each of the skewers with the chicken and vegetables. It’s really very simple which is perfect for kids who want to get involved.
How do you know when chicken skewers are done?
You’ll need to grill or barbecue the skewers for around 20-30 minutes. Exactly how long the chicken takes to cook will depend on how big your chicken pieces are.
If you want to double check whether the chicken is cooked look in the middle of a piece of chicken. If it is still at all pink cook it for a bit longer.
I always grill chicken skewers on a medium heat and turn them throughout so that all the sides have cooked and that the outside doesn’t burn while the inside is still cooking.
What chicken should I use?
We’ve used chicken breasts because I always have some in the house and my kids prefer it. These skewers would work equally well with chicken thighs though. Use about 500g.
What can I serve them with?
These skewers go brilliantly with a salad and some flatbread or our quick and easy naan bread.
Do I need to soak the skewers?
Yes, if you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 20 minutes before you use them. They can become a bit charred if you don’t soak them first.
Ingredients
150g natural yogurt yogurt
2 tbsp tikka curry paste
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
250g pack cherry tomatoes
1 pepper
1 red onion
How to make chicken skewers
Put 8 wooden skewers in some water (for around 20 minutes) to soak before you begin.
Prepare the chicken tikka marinade
Get your kids to mix the yoghurt with the curry paste in a mixing bowl.
While they are doing that, cut the chicken in to bite sized cubes, then add them to your bowl. Mix it all together and if you have the time, leave it to marinate for an hour or so.
Prepare the vegetables
Cut the onion and pepper into chunks and lay on a plate or tray with the cherry tomatoes, ready to add to your skewers.
Make the tikka skewers
This is a fun job for kids to help with when they are old enough, you just have to be sure, if they are handling the raw chicken, that they wont touch things around your kitchen or lick their fingers. And make sure they wash their hands well when they are finished.
Get your kids to thread the chicken, peppers, onion and cherry tomatoes on to each skewer – making sure you get a nice mixture of each element on each skewer. We found the best way of doing this was to hold the skewer upright and then push each piece down on to the skewer from the top.
Cook the chicken tikka skewers
Place each kebab on a grill pan and cook them under a medium grill for 15-20 minutes, turning them a few times so they cook on all sides. They’re ready when the chicken has cooked through.
Serve them with chapatis or naan, salad and some natural yoghurt on the side.
Chicken tikka skewers
Ingredients
- 150 g natural yogurt yogurt
- 2 tbsp tikka curry paste
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 250 g pack cherry tomatoes
- 1 pepper
- 1 red onion
Instructions
- Put 8 wooden skewers in some water to soak before you begin.
Prepare the chicken marinade
- Mix the yoghurt with the curry paste in a mixing bowl.
- Cut the chicken in to bite sized cubes, then add them to your bowl. Mix it all together and if you have the time, leave it to marinate for an hour or so.
Prepare the vegetables.
- Cut the onion and pepper into chunks and lay on a plate or tray ready with the cherry tomatoes, ready to add to your skewers.
Make the tikka skewers
- Thread the chicken, peppers, onion and cherry tomatoes on to each skewer – making sure you get a nice mixture of each element on each skewer.
Cook the chicken tikka skewers
- Place each kebab on a grill pan and cook them under a medium grill for 15-20 minutes, turning them a few times so they cook on all sides. They're ready when the chicken has cooked through.
- Serve them with chapatis, salad and some natural yoghurt on the side.
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If you liked these chicken skewers you’l love our chicken and chorizo skewers and our other easy family dinners.
I’ve linked up this recipe to #CookBlogShare
I could eat the whole batch myself haha. Love making chicken skewers.
Oh what a great idea – I must try these. Thanks for sharing on #cookblogshare
These sound delicious and so easy. I often think of cooking on skewers for the barbecue only but grilling them is a great idea, especially when it’s cold and rainy outside!
Thanks. Yes, these would be great on a BBQ too – but we can’t rely on the sunny weather up hear, so the grill is just as good!
This is my favourite way of preparing chicken, and your version looks great and is so uncomplicated too.
It’s funny how we could make the same thing without the skewer and my kids wouldn’t touch it, but I think the different presentation intrigued them enough to try it!