Updated: 5/24/2020
Learn how to take your chicken skewer game to the next level with this cilantro lime marinade. This marinade brings out the most flavorful and moist chicken breast.
These chicken skewers are so simple to make and only requires a handful of fresh ingredients that you may have in your fridge. If not, it's worth a quick trip to your local grocery store to pick up these key ingredients... what's grilling season without chicken skewers. They're versatile and brings a bit of flare to the dinner table.
Recipe Ingredients
- Grilled chicken breast (cut into tenders) or pre-cut chicken tenders
- Kosher salt
Marinade
- Cilantro (with stems removed)
- Basil (optional but really enhances the flavor)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Limes
- Garlic
Recipe Essentials
- Indoor or outdoor grill (I used an indoor grill)
- Skewers (either metal or wooden)
How to grill chicken skewers
The star of the show is this easy breezy cilantro lime marinade. Before I continue, this marinade is also great for marinading beef, chicken, shrimp, salmon or can be used as a sauce to add the finishing touches to a dish.
Marinade: This 4-ingredient cilantro lime marinade consists of cilantro, limes, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil that's either processed in a food processor or blended in a blender. Either method works great.
If you're able to drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while processing or blending the ingredients would be even better. By doing that, will allow the olive oil to emulsify much better than just adding the olive oil to the food processor or blender with the other ingredients.
Chicken Breast: I prefer cutting the chicken breast into tender-sized strips myself although you can purchase pre-cut chicken tenders from the grocery store. It's totally up to you - either way the end result will be the same... nice, moist, and flavorful chicken breast.
Skewers: I prefer metal skewers, but wooden ones will work just as great. If using the wooden skewers, it's important to soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes or so to prevent them from burning during grilling.
Begin threading the entire chicken tender through the skewer, or cut the chicken bread into large cubes and thread each cube through the skewers. If doing the later, have maybe 6 to 7 cubes of chicken per skewer.
Grill: Place chicken skewers on a preheated indoor grill or outdoor grill and flip half way through the cooking time and cook until the juices have run clear or chicken breast has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
Rather than obsessing over cooking time, you will get even better results using an internal meat thermometer. This will ensure that you're not left with dry chicken breast.
If you do no have a meat thermometer I highly recommend investing in one. It can be a total game changer especially when cooking chicken breast.
How long to grill chicken skewers
It takes about 15 minutes to grill chicken skewers.
- Lightly coat the grill grates with cooking oil
- Preheat the grill
- Place the chicken skewers on the grill
- Grill the skewers on one side for about 7 minutes then turn the skewers on the other side to cook for an additional 7 to 8 minutes
- At the15 minutes mark, transfer the chicken skewers onto a clean plate and check that the chicken juices run clear or use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature by inserting your thermometer into the thickest part of the meat
Recipe Tips
Chicken breast is one of those cuts of meat that's hard to cook as it can taste dry and become unpleasant to eat. Here are 3 key elements to cooking really good chicken breast that's flavorful and moist.
- A great marinade - Marinade the chicken breast no longer than 30 minutes. If you marinate the chicken longer than the recommended time, the acid from the limes will start cooking the chicken breast causing an unpleasant texture and taste. The same is true if using lemons.
- Season well with kosher salt
- Have a good meat thermometer
You may also like these grilling recipes
Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
Vegan Roasted Beet Salad with Grilled Peaches
Connect with me on Pinterest and Instagram for more tasty recipe ideas.
For comments or questions, leave them in the comment section below.
Thanks for visiting,
~Cree
Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers grilled to perfection in a simple but flavorful cilantro lime marinade. For a burst of flavor, marinade between 15 to 30 minutes. You will not be disappointed.
- 3 large chicken breast cut into tenders or pre-cut chicken tender will work just as fine
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 bunches cilantro stems removed
- 1/2 cup basil loosely packed
- 2 limes juice of 2 limes
- salt to taste
Place all ingredients into mini chopper, food processor or blender and pulse until cilantro/basil appear finely chopped.
Wash chicken breast and pat dry with clean paper towel. Cut chicken breast into tenders using a sharp knife. Pre-cut chicken tenders will work just as fine. Using a large ziploc bag, pour in cilantro lime marinade. Add chicken tenders. Move tenders around in the ziploc bag to ensure that all are coated in the marinade. Marinade for 15 to 30 minutes in fridge. Try not exceed 30 minutes.
After the chicken tenders have marinaded, remove from ziploc bag, discard marinade, and thread each tender onto a skewer. If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes to prevent skewer from burning. Allow chicken to reach room temperature.
Heat grill over medium to high heat and prep grill grates by brushing with extra virgin olive oil. Place chicken skewers on top of grill grates and grill one side for 7 to 8 minutes then turn the skewers over and grill for an additional 7 to 8 minutes. Skewers are done when juices run clear or using a meat thermometer check to see if internal heat has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. **DO NOT OVER COOK AS TENDERS MAY TURN DRY**.
Plate and garnish with cilantro leaves or your favorite dipping sauce.
For left-overs, cut chicken tenders into cubes and store in an airtight container and use to make delicious chicken salads, tacos, burritos, pasta or whatever suits your needs. These can serve as a great meal prep idea.
**Please note: Nutritional values serve as a guide only as values may vary.
Recipe Tips
- A great marinade - Marinade the chicken breast no longer than 30 minutes. If you marinate the chicken longer than the recommended time, the acid from the limes will start cooking the chicken breast causing an unpleasant texture and taste. The same is true if using lemons.
- Season well with kosher salt
- Have a good meat thermometer
Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness
This grilled cilantro lime chicken skewers sound delicious! Great for a summer dinner.
CookingwithBliss
Hi Dawn - Thank you so very much. These are so easy and quick to make. Definitely a favorite for the summer.