Grilled chicken skewers with deconstructed pesto is a tantalizing dish that combines the smoky flavor of grilled chicken with the vibrant and herbaceous notes of pesto. This recipe is perfect for a summer cookout, a light lunch, or an elegant dinner party. The tender and juicy chicken is marinated in a flavorful blend of herbs and spices, then grilled to perfection. The deconstructed pesto, made with fresh basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese, adds a burst of flavor and texture to the dish. Served with grilled vegetables or a side salad, this dish is sure to impress your taste buds and leave you craving more.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH DECONSTRUCTED PESTO
Budget-friendly boneless, skinless chicken thighs are paired here with a version of pesto that is closer to salad than paste. For grilling, the thighs are tossed with olive oil and salt and pepper and threaded onto skewers. But they are not jammed together, so they cook fairly quickly. Simply toss with the pesto ingredients - fresh basil, olive oil, parmesan, pine nuts and garlic - and serve.
Provided by John Willoughby And Chris Schlesinger
Categories dinner, easy, main course
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 entree servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Build a fire in your grill; when the flames have died down, all the coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the grill for about 5 seconds), you're ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn all burners to high, lower cover and heat for 15 minutes, then turn burners to medium.)
- Combine the chicken, 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss well to coat, then thread the chicken chunks onto the skewers so they press up against one another but aren't jammed together.
- Put the skewers on the grill directly over the coals and cook, rolling the skewers around every 3 to 4 minutes to ensure all the sides are more or less evenly exposed to the heat, until lightly seared, about 12 to 14 minutes. To check for doneness, make a small cut and peek inside a couple of the chunks to be sure they are opaque all the way through with no pink.
- Slide the chicken chunks off the skewers into a large bowl, add all the other ingredients one after the other, toss well to coat evenly, season to taste if needed and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 553, UnsaturatedFat 28 grams, Carbohydrate 3 grams, Fat 38 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 49 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 631 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 25m
Yield 20 to 25 skewers
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium heat.
- To make the peanut sauce, put the peanut butter in a blender with the soy sauce, honey, ginger, red pepper flakes, chili oil and lime juice. Add 1/4 cup very hot water as you blend the mixture. Check the consistency and add a little more hot water if needed to make it very smooth. Transfer the sauce to a small dish, cover it with plastic wrap and set aside.
- Brush the grill with oil. Thread the chicken onto the skewers and grill on both sides until the chicken is done in the middle, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to a serving platter and sprinkle on the cilantro.
- Serve the skewers with dishes of the peanut sauce and a good-quality barbecue sauce for dipping.
GRILLED PESTO CHICKEN KABOBS
Pesto can sometimes be overpowering, but not in this recipe! Using it in a marinade adds the wonderful flavors of basil and garlic, without taking away from the natural flavors of the chicken and vegetables.
Provided by Kim's Cooking Now
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Chicken Breast Recipes
Time 4h30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Whisk oil, sherry, pesto, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a glass bowl. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight.
- Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
- Thread marinated chicken, mushrooms, zucchini, red onion, and tomatoes alternately onto skewers. Reserve remaining marinade.
- Place kabobs onto the preheated grill, and cook, turning occasionally and brushing with the reserved marinade, until chicken is cooked and juices run clear, 10 to 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 262.5 calories, Carbohydrate 6.4 g, Cholesterol 66.3 mg, Fat 14.5 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 26.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 327.3 mg, Sugar 1.8 g
GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH DECONSTRUCTED PESTO
Steps:
- 1. Build a fire in your grill; when the flames have died down, all the coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the grill for about 5 seconds), you're ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn all burners to high, lower cover and heat for 15 minutes, then turn burners to medium.) 2. Combine the chicken, 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss well to coat, then thread the chicken chunks onto the skewers so they press up against one another but aren't jammed together. 3. Put the skewers on the grill directly over the coals and cook, rolling the skewers around every 3 to 4 minutes to ensure all the sides are more or less evenly exposed to the heat, until lightly seared, about 12 to 14 minutes. To check for doneness, make a small cut and peek inside a couple of the chunks to be sure they are opaque all the way through with no pink. 4. Slide the chicken chunks off the skewers into a large bowl, add all the other ingredients one after the other, toss well to coat evenly, season to taste if needed and serve.
GRILLED CHICKEN AND MOZZARELLA PESTO SKEWERS
Provided by Dominick Tesoriero
Categories main-dish
Time 35m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the chicken in a bowl. Put the eggplant cubes in a separate bowl and add the peppers.
- Sprinkle the chicken with a third of the orange zest, and some oil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste. Toss well.
- Sprinkle the vegetables with another third of the zest, and some oil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste. Toss well.
- Preheat a grill for cooking over medium-high heat. Build skewers, alternating chicken cubes with vegetables. Lightly oil the grill grates. Grill, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are charred and tender, 2 minutes per side.
- Meanwhile, place the mozzarella cubes in another bowl and sprinkle with the remainder of the zest, along with some oil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste. Toss well.
- Thread the mozzarella cubes on the tops and bottoms of each of the skewers. Drizzle with pesto and serve immediately.
GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH TARRAGON AND YOGURT
These grilled chicken skewers are gently spiced with a ginger-and-cumin yogurt marinade, which makes the meat exceedingly tender and cooks to fragrant curds. As they grill, the skewers are gilded with a tarragon-mint baste that tastes distinctly Persian. Restraint and a very hot grill are both key to getting a good char: Don't move the skewers until the yogurt is burnished and the meat releases from the grates. Color is flavor. Catch any juices that run out of the cooked skewers with warm pita bread. Leftovers make excellent chicken salad.
Provided by Clare de Boer
Categories dinner, lunch, poultry, vegetables, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Prepare the chicken: Cut each thigh in half against the grain. Rub with salt and set aside.
- Prepare the marinade: In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, salt and garlic. Reserve and refrigerate 1 cup marinade for serving. Put remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag and add the ginger, cumin and chicken; squelch around to coat thoroughly then refrigerate for 1 hour, or up to 48 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 1 hour before you plan to grill. If using wooden skewers, immerse them in water to soak for 15 minutes. Alternatively, use metal skewers or none at all.
- Prepare the grill: Clean the grate thoroughly and build a hot fire. The skewers will cook over intense, direct heat. The coals are ready when they glow red and the grate hisses when you drop water on it.
- Thread the chicken lengthwise onto skewers (if using), then smear with the marinade from the bag.
- Prepare the baste: Place the butter and salt in a small saucepan to melt on the cooler side of the grill (or use the stovetop). Once butter is melted, add the lime juice and chopped herbs; keep warm but do not boil.
- Grilling in batches if necessary, place the chicken on the grill a few inches apart. When you see a good char forming underneath, about 3 to 5 minutes, gently tug a skewer or the chicken: If it feels very stuck, leave it a few more minutes before turning. When the chicken releases easily and looks nicely charred in places, flip it using a fish spatula to gently pry any stuck bits off the grate.
- Baste the chicken with the herb butter and arrange the scallions in a single layer on the cooler edges of the grill. Let the chicken cook on the second side until firm and cooked through and turn the scallions occasionally until grill-marked and tender, about 8 minutes.
- Grill the pitas until marked, about 1 minute, turning halfway through. Lay them on the serving platter and place the scallions and chicken on top. Drizzle the bread, scallions and chicken with any remaining warm herb butter. Dollop chicken with reserved marinade, squeeze with lime and top with extra tarragon or mint.
GRILLED PEPPERCORN CHICKEN SKEWERS RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: boneless skinless chicken thighs, Private Selection® 5 Peppercorn Blend Barbecue Sauce, Private Selection™ Peruvian Gold Sweet Onion, Private Selection™ Ruby Rows™ Cherry On-The-Vine Tomatoes, Private Selection® Creamy Smoked Jalapeño Sauce, Private Selection™ Fingerling Potatoes, canola oil, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, fresh parsley, skewers
Provided by Kroger
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken in a large bowl. Pour the Private Selection® 5 Peppercorn Blend Barbecue Sauce over the chicken and toss to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 30-45 minutes.
- If using wooden or bamboo skewers, place in a large shallow dish and cover with water. Let soak while the chicken marinates.
- Prep the potatoes: Cut any large fingerling potatoes in half lengthwise so the potatoes are mostly uniform in size. Pierce any whole potatoes with a fork. Place the potatoes on a large piece of heavy-duty foil (or 2 pieces of regular foil). Add the oil, salt, and pepper and toss to coat. Gather edges of foil together and crimp to seal and create a packet for grilling.
- Thread 1-2 pieces of marinated chicken, 1 Private Selection™ Peruvian Gold Sweet Onion wedge, and 1 Private Selection™ Ruby Rows™ Cherry On-The-Vine Tomatoes onto a skewer. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until all of the skewers are full.
- Prepare a grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grates. Add the potato packet to the grill and cook, until the potatoes are tender, 15-25 minutes (depending on the size of potatoes). Once the potatoes have been on the grill for 5 minutes, add the chicken skewers and cook for 10-15 minutes, turning once, until cooked through and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160°F (71°C).
- When the potatoes are finished cooking, unwrap the foil packet and garnish with parsley.
- Drizzle chicken skewers with Private Selection® Creamy Smoked Jalapeño Sauce, and serve with potatoes.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 326 calories, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 28 grams, Sugar 9 grams
GRILLED SPIRAL CHICKEN SKEWERS
Easy to make ahead for a quick dinner.
Provided by Cindy Larkins
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Chicken Breast Recipes Broiled
Time 2h30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place chicken breasts between 2 sheets of heavy plastic on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a 1/4-inch thickness. Remove top sheet of plastic. Cut each chicken breast into strips. Roll up and thread on a skewer.
- Combine parsley, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, basil, and garlic in a small bowl. Spread mixture over skewered chicken.
- Place chicken skewers on a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until flavors combine, at least 2 hours.
- Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
- Uncover skewers and broil in the preheated oven, turning once halfway through, until chicken is no longer pink and tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 164.5 calories, Carbohydrate 4.7 g, Cholesterol 69.3 mg, Fat 3.7 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 26 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 480.4 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH RED PEPPER PESTO
This delicious pesto would also be nice tossed with cooked pasta, served on toasted crostini or as a dip for pita chips. Recipe from Bon Appetite.
Provided by DailyInspiration
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 25m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Blend first 7 ingredients and 6 tablespoons of oil in a food processor until almost smooth. Add almonds and process until finely chopped, but not ground. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Prepare grill (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Brush chicken with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Skewer each piece with toothpick. Arrange on platter and serve with pesto.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 245.6, Fat 19.8, SaturatedFat 3.3, Cholesterol 37.1, Sodium 310.1, Carbohydrate 3.4, Fiber 1.2, Sugar 1, Protein 13.9
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The fresher and better the ingredients, the better your grilled chicken skewers will taste. Look for organic, free-range chicken and fresh, flavorful vegetables.
- Marinate the chicken: Marinating the chicken in a flavorful mixture of herbs, spices, and oil will help to keep it moist and tender during grilling.
- Preheat your grill: Preheat your grill to a medium-high heat before cooking the chicken skewers. This will help to prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill grates.
- Cook the chicken skewers over direct heat: Cook the chicken skewers over direct heat for about 10 minutes, turning them occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Make the deconstructed pesto: While the chicken is cooking, make the deconstructed pesto by combining fresh basil, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the pesto is well combined.
- Serve the chicken skewers with the deconstructed pesto: Serve the grilled chicken skewers with the deconstructed pesto on top. Add a side of grilled vegetables or a salad for a complete meal.
Conclusion:
Grilled chicken skewers with deconstructed pesto is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a summer cookout or a weeknight meal. The chicken is tender and flavorful, and the deconstructed pesto adds a bright and herbaceous flavor. This dish is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.
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