Prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable grilling experience with these irresistible **Chicken and Bacon Kabobs**. Marinated to perfection and grilled until wonderfully smoky, these kabobs combine tender chicken, savory bacon, sweet pineapple, and earthy mushrooms for a symphony of flavors and textures.
Summer means grilling, and for me, these Chicken and Bacon Kabobs are a non-negotiable part of the season’s culinary delights. There’s something truly special about food cooked over an open flame, infusing every bite with that characteristic smoky aroma and flavor. This particular recipe stands out not just for its incredible taste, but also for its remarkable simplicity, making it ideal for both seasoned grill masters and beginners alike.
One of the brilliant aspects of this recipe is how forgiving it is. Even if you get a little caught up in the joyful distractions of summer – perhaps enjoying a refreshing drink with friends and momentarily forgetting about the grill – these kabobs are hard to spoil. The ingenious inclusion of bacon, wrapped snugly around the chicken pieces, plays a crucial role. As it cooks, the bacon not only crisps up to a delightful texture but also bastes the chicken with its rich, savory juices, preventing it from drying out and imparting an incredible depth of flavor. This ensures your chicken remains tender and moist, even if it spends a few extra minutes on the heat.
How To Serve Your Delectable Kabobs
What makes kabobs truly fantastic is their ability to deliver a complete meal on a stick. These Chicken Bacon Kabobs, with their savory chicken, crispy bacon, tender mushrooms, and sweet pineapple, are no exception. Simply serve them over a bed of fluffy white rice, and you have a balanced, flavorful, and satisfying dinner that’s perfect for any occasion. For those looking to elevate their meal even further, consider pairing these kabobs with some classic summer sides:
- Serve with perfectly grilled or boiled corn on the cob, whose natural sweetness complements the smoky flavors beautifully.
- Accompany them with a vibrant dish of Summer Squash and Onions, offering a light and fresh contrast.
- For a lighter option, a simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing would be delightful.
- Consider serving with quinoa or couscous instead of rice for a different grain texture.
These kabobs are incredibly versatile and can adapt to many side dish preferences, making them a fantastic choice for family dinners or backyard barbecues.
The Secret to Success: A Flavorful Marinade
The magic of these chicken and bacon kabobs truly begins with the marinade. The chicken and mushrooms are generously coated in a simple yet incredibly potent mixture of soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and honey. This trio creates a dynamic base that infuses the ingredients with layers of flavor long before they even hit the grill. For the best results, it’s essential to allow ample time for marinating, ideally from 2 to 8 hours. This allows the chicken to tenderize and fully absorb the savory, tangy, and sweet notes.
- Soy Sauce: Provides a deep umami flavor and essential saltiness that permeates the chicken.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds a delightful tang and acts as a tenderizer, ensuring the chicken remains succulent.
- Honey: Contributes a natural sweetness that balances the savory elements and helps create a beautiful caramelization on the grill.
- Canola Oil: Helps distribute the marinade evenly and ensures the ingredients don’t stick to the grill.
- Minced Green Onions: Introduce a fresh, aromatic punch that brightens the overall flavor profile.
When the flavors of this thoughtfully crafted marinade combine with the inherent smokiness of the bacon during grilling, the result is truly spectacular. You get the perfect balance of saltiness from both the bacon and the soy-based marinade, complemented by a delightful sweetness from the pineapple and honey. This harmonious blend of tastes and textures makes every bite an absolute pleasure. You simply cannot go wrong with these Chicken and Bacon Kabobs!
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Tips for Grilling Perfect Kabobs Every Time
Achieving perfectly cooked kabobs requires a few simple techniques. Firstly, ensure your chicken chunks are uniform in size to promote even cooking. When threading ingredients onto skewers, avoid overcrowding them. Leave a small space between each piece to allow heat to circulate, ensuring everything cooks through and browns beautifully. For bacon, you have two options: you can cut strips into smaller pieces and wrap each chicken chunk individually, or, for a more dramatic presentation and consistent bacon flavor, thread a whole strip of bacon in an “S” shape, weaving it between the chicken, mushrooms, and pineapple. This method ensures maximum bacon-to-chicken contact and even cooking.
Preheating your grill to medium-high heat is crucial. This initial high heat helps create a beautiful sear on the outside of the ingredients, locking in moisture and flavor. Once the kabobs are on the grill, be vigilant, especially with the bacon. Bacon fat dripping onto the coals or burners can cause flare-ups. Keep a spray bottle of water nearby to quickly tame any flames, or simply move the kabobs to a cooler part of the grill temporarily. Turn the kabobs every few minutes to ensure all sides brown evenly, and don’t forget to brush them occasionally with the remaining marinade – this adds another layer of flavor and helps keep the ingredients moist. Cook for approximately 15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). A meat thermometer is your best friend here, guaranteeing perfectly cooked and safe-to-eat chicken.
More Grilled Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re a fan of grilling chicken, explore these other fantastic recipes that bring unique flavors to your outdoor cooking repertoire:
- Pickle-Brined Grilled Chicken: For a tangy, incredibly juicy chicken.
- Sweet Tea Grilled Chicken: A Southern classic for tender, subtly sweet chicken.
- BBQ Grilled Chicken: The timeless favorite, packed with smoky barbecue flavor.
- Grilled Huli Huli Chicken: A Hawaiian-inspired dish with a rich, savory-sweet glaze.
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken: Classic Asian flavors in a grilled delight.
Chicken and Bacon Kabobs
By Christin Mahrlig
Prep Time: 2 hrs 5 mins (includes marinating)
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Print Recipe
These Chicken and Bacon Kabobs just may be the tastiest kabobs ever. A simple marinade and wrapping the chicken with bacon really amp up the flavor for a crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 green onions, minced
- 10 large mushrooms, cut in half
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1/2 pound bacon, cut in half (or full strips for weaving)
- 1 small can pineapple chunks, drained
- Skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 1 hour)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, cider vinegar, honey, canola oil, and minced green onions to create the marinade.
- Add the cut mushrooms and chicken chunks to the marinade, ensuring all pieces are thoroughly coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 8 hours, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. If using a grill pan, heat it over medium-high heat.
- Prepare your skewers: Wrap each chicken chunk with a piece of bacon (you can cut bacon strips in half for smaller pieces or weave full strips in an “S” shape). Thread the bacon-wrapped chicken, pineapple chunks, and mushroom halves onto the skewers, alternating the ingredients for visual appeal and even cooking.
- Arrange the assembled skewers on the preheated grill. Cook for about 15 minutes, turning occasionally to brown all sides evenly. Throughout cooking, brush the kabobs with any remaining marinade to enhance flavor and moisture. Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Notes
If using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water for at least 60 minutes prior to grilling. This prevents them from burning on the grill.
Keep a close eye on the grill as bacon fat can drip down and cause flare-ups. If flames appear, move the kabobs to a cooler section of the grill or briefly lift them while the flames subside.
Nutrition
Calories: 575kcal per serving
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below and tag us @spicysouthernkitchen on social media! We love seeing your creations!
Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com
Originally posted August 4, 2015.
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Grilled Beef Kabobs