These Chicken Kabobs in Oven are made with juicy lemon-garlic chicken, colorful bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion. They are fresh, easy to prepare, and perfect for a simple family dinner.
There is something about putting dinner on a stick that immediately makes it more exciting. It is still chicken and vegetables, but suddenly everyone acts like we planned a backyard party instead of simply trying to get dinner on the table.
These chicken kabobs in oven are loaded with tender chicken breast, sweet bell peppers, red onion, and zucchini. Everything gets coated in a bright lemon-garlic marinade with plenty of fresh parsley before being threaded onto skewers.
The ingredient list is simple, the colors are beautiful, and most of the work is just chopping and threading. Once the kabobs go into the oven, dinner is basically taking care of itself.
For the photos, I cooked some of the skewers on a grill pan to get those deep golden edges. The oven method is even easier because all the skewers cook at once, and there is no standing over the stove turning them one at a time.
And yes, threading the ingredients does take a few extra minutes. But it is also surprisingly satisfying. Chicken, zucchini, pepper, onion, repeat. A tiny edible pattern that makes me feel much more organized than I actually am.
Looking for more dinner inspiration? Browse my collection of easy chicken recipes for dinner.
For another skewer dinner with a bolder spice blend, try these Charcoal Chicken Shop Chicken Skewers. When fresh tomatoes and melty mozzarella sound better, make this Easy Bruschetta Chicken instead.
I love serving these easy chicken kabobs over Rice Pilaf with Nuts and Dried Fruits with plenty of Lemon Yogurt Sauce for dipping. The fluffy rice turns the skewers into a complete dinner, while the cool sauce works beautifully with the lemon, garlic, and grilled vegetables.
Table of contents
Ingredients for Chicken Kabobs
How To Make Chicken Kabobs
- Soak the skewers.
If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling. This helps reduce burning when the skewers hit the hot grill pan or outdoor grill. Metal skewers do not need soaking. For more helpful skewer tips, see this guide to choosing and using skewers. - Cut the chicken and vegetables.
Cut the chicken breast into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Cut the bell peppers and red onion into large pieces, and slice the zucchini into thick rounds. - Make the marinade.
In a large bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, fresh dill, fresh parsley, sea salt, and black pepper. - Marinate the chicken.
Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and toss well. Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator. Because this marinade contains lemon juice, avoid marinating the chicken overnight, since too much time in an acidic marinade can affect the texture. See this guide to marinating meat. - Add the vegetables.
Add the bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion to the bowl. Toss gently so the vegetables get coated with the marinade. - Assemble the skewers.
Thread the chicken, bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion onto the skewers, alternating the ingredients for color and even cooking.
- Cook the Chicken Kabobs.
Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the skewers and cook for 10 to 14 minutes, turning often, until the chicken is golden, cooked through, and lightly charred. - Serve.
Transfer the Chicken Kabobs to a serving plate. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.For a fresh Mediterranean-style plate, add this Authentic Greek Salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, olives, and a simple red wine vinegar dressing.
Storage and Freezing
- Store leftover Chicken Kabobs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, warm them in a skillet, air fryer, or oven until heated through. Avoid overheating because chicken breast can dry out.
- You can freeze cooked chicken pieces without the vegetables for up to 2 months. Freezing the grilled vegetables is not ideal because zucchini can become soft after thawing.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Cutting the chicken pieces into uneven sizes.
- Skipping the marinade time, which can make the chicken less flavorful.
- Using too much acid in the marinade, which can make the chicken texture tough.
- Packing the chicken too tightly on the skewers.
- Cooking over very high heat and burning the outside before the inside is done.
- Not soaking wooden skewers before grilling.
- Overcooking the chicken, which can make it dry.
FAQs
Chicken Kabobs are made with pieces of chicken, vegetables, and marinade threaded onto skewers and grilled until cooked through.
Yes. You can cut the chicken and vegetables and marinate the chicken ahead of time. Assemble the skewers when ready to cook.
Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes. For more flavor, marinate it for 2 to 4 hours.
Yes. You can cook them in a grill pan, regular skillet, oven, or under the broiler.
The chicken should be golden on the outside and reach 165Ā°F in the center.
Yes. Boneless chicken thighs work very well and stay extra juicy.
More Chicken Recipes Youāll Love
Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Cut the chicken breast, bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion into even pieces.
- In a large bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, parsley, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Add the chicken pieces and toss until coated.
- Cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Add the vegetables to the bowl and toss gently with the marinade.
- Thread the chicken, bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion onto skewers.
- Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Cook the skewers for 10 to 14 minutes, turning often, until golden and cooked through.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- Cut the chicken and vegetables into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.
- Soak bamboo skewers before grilling.
- Do not overcrowd the grill pan.
- Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches 165Ā°F in the center.
- Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast for a juicier version.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
