These juicy chicken shashlik skewers are everything great grilling should be: big chunks of chicken marinated in lemon, oil, and warm spices, threaded with sweet onion rings, and grilled until golden with a light char. The overnight marinade does all the work — you just thread, grill, and serve. If you love high-protein chicken dinners like my super protein chicken and bean salad, fire up the grill for these.
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) chicken thighs or breast, cut into large chunks
- 2 onions, sliced into rings
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano or thyme
Instructions
- Combine chicken, onion rings, oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, paprika, and herbs in a large bowl. Massage well and marinate at least 2 hours (overnight is best).
- Thread the chicken tightly onto metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternating with onion rings.
- Grill over medium-high heat 12-15 minutes, turning every few minutes, until golden and cooked through with a light char.
- Rest 5 minutes and serve with flatbread and fresh salad.
Tips
Marinate at least 2 hours, but overnight is best — the lemon juice and oil tenderize the chicken deeply. For another make-ahead chicken win, try my juicy chicken patties with herbs.
Thread the chicken tightly so the pieces stay juicy, and soak wooden skewers 30 minutes to prevent burning. Serious Eats has excellent guides on skewer grilling technique.
Let the skewers rest 5 minutes before serving so the juices redistribute. Serve with flatbread and fresh salad — and find more grilled inspiration at Allrecipes, or try my crispy chicken schnitzel with soy and mustard next.
Nutrition per 100 g: 187 kcal, 19.6 g protein, 10.8 g fat, 2.4 g carbs.