Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewers — Fast, easy, and loaded with sweet-and-savory pineapple teriyaki flavor! Made with just a handful of basic ingredients, these grilled chicken skewers will be a family FAVORITE! Serve with coconut rice in a pineapple for a showstopping presentation!
Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
If you’re looking for a summery feeling grilled chicken recipe, these grilled pineapple teriyaki chicken skewers are just the ticket!
Super fast, easy, practically zero cleanup, and loaded with rich pineapple-teriyaki flavor for a sweet-yet-tangy flavor explosion the whole family will love. It’s hard to say no to chicken on a stick!
Unlike many other grilled chicken recipes, you don’t even need to worry about marinating the chicken, and because it cooks so quickly, this is a meal that’s ready in minutes. The longest part will be soaking your bamboo skewers in water!
Ingredients in Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
For these super easy teriyaki chicken kabobs on the grill, all you need are these very basic and common ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Skewers (bamboo or metal)
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Pineapple teriyaki marinade or sauce (or make homemade teriyaki sauce)
- Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnishing, optional
- Lime wedges, optional for serving
How to Make Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
This is such a fast and easy teriyaki kabobs recipe that tastes like so much more effort than it really is!
Begin by soaking your bamboo skewers for a half hour (if using metal, that’s not necessary).
Thread bite-sized pieces of raw chicken breast onto the skewers, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Grill the chicken over medium-high heat until it’s a minute or two away from done. Make sure you rotate the skewers frequently as the chicken grills.
Brush the chicken with the pineapple teriyaki sauce, allow it to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the chicken is fully done, remove the skewers and get ready to serve them.
What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Skewers
As you can see, I sliced a pineapple in half, hollowed some of it out, and added coconut rice. For the pineapple slicing, use a super sharp knife, some elbow grease, and if you have a strong person around, this is the job for them!
Other sides you can serve with the grilled teriyaki chicken skewers are:
Can I Add Veggies to the Skewers?
If you’re feeling like you’d like enjoy veggies with these skewers, feel free to add veggies like red onions, bell peppers of any color, whole button mushrooms, or zucchini to your skewers.
This also helps you “stretch” the amount of chicken needed since you’re bulking it up with vegetables.
Can I Add Pineapple Chunks to the Skewers?
You could add pineapple but because of the sugar content, it could be prone to charring on the outside. If you add it, keep the pieces large and the chicken small so the chicken cooks through before the pineapple chars too much.
What Kind Of Pineapple Teriyaki Sauce Is Best?
I used Soy Vay Island Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce, however really any teriyaki sauce or marinade will be fine. Look for one with pineapple in it as well so you get the full effect of these pineapple teriyaki chicken skewers.
There are lots of brands and options for teriyaki sauce with pineapple. Check your local supermarket or of course Amazon.
Can I Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce?
If you would like to make homemade teriyaki sauce, I recommend my recipe but rather than 1/2 cup water, use 1/2 cup pineapple juice. You can also stir in 1/4 cup very finely minced pineapple as well to boost the pineapple flavor profile.
Additionally, you can make this Pineapple Teriyaki Sauce that I use in my Teriyaki Steak Tips recipe.
Can I Make This Recipe Without a Grill?
Absolutely! Break out your indoor grill pan and make these chicken skewers indoors.
Grill pans are also a way of bringing a warm, summery mood and recipe into your kitchen during the winter months when you can’t grill outdoors.
What Kind of Skewers Should I Use?
I used bamboo skewers, which do need to be soaked in water for about 20 to 30 minutes before using them to prevent burning. Metal skewers are also fine and don’t need to be soaked, plus they are reusable.
Can This Recipe Be Prepared in Advance?
Yes, you can dice up the chicken and let it sit in the marinade for up to 6 hours, if desired. You can also prepare the entire recipe as written and reheat later on.
Leftover teriyaki chicken is great in salads, sandwiches, and wraps!
Can Grilled Chicken Skewers Be Frozen?
Yes, let the chicken cool completely and then remove from the skewers. The cooked chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Tips for the Best Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
The sauce has a high sugar volume and therefore putting it on at the beginning of the grilling session would burn it, which is why I don’t add it until almost the end of the cooking time.
This allows the sauce to melt onto the chicken without burning, giving the chicken its incredibly rich and delicious flavor.
Also, try to avoid placing the ends of the skewers directly over the flame on the grill or they will burn off.
This recipe can easily be multiplied for larger events. I recommend planning on about half of one average-sized chicken breast per skewer and a one-quarter to one-third cup of pineapple teriyaki sauce for every 6 kebabs.
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Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
- 1 to 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- ½ cup pineapple teriyaki sauce, or as desired
- Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnishing, finely minced; optional
- Lime wedges, optional for serving
Instructions
- If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes prior to grilling. If using metal skewers, this isn't necessary.
- Preheat outdoor grill to medium-high heat or if using an indoor grill pan, preheat your oven to 500F.
- Thread the chicken onto the skewers, keeping the pieces fairly close together and leave 1 to 2 inches of space at both ends so that the chicken doesn't slip off on the grill end and that you have something to hold onto on the other end.
- Evenly drizzle the skewers with olive oil, evenly sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill for about 6 to 8 minutes with the lid closed, or until the chicken is about 1 to 2 minutes from being done. Make sure to rotate the skewers frequently while grilling to ensure even cooking.
- Evenly brush a few coats of pineapple teriyaki marinade or sauce over each skewer and continue to cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until done.
- If you're serving coconut rice in a pineapple, prepare the rice ahead of time or use precooked coconut rice in a packet. I recommend using a very sharp knife and a strong person to slice through a pineapple if you're going this route.
- Otherwise, optionally garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley, optional lime wedges, and serve immediately with whatever sides or vegetables* (See Notes) you'd like.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Favorite Pineapple Chicken Recipes:
Hawaiian Grilled Chicken and Pineapple — Transports you to Hawaii with every bite of this tender, juicy chicken and the grilled pineapple seals the deal!! EASY, HEALTHY, ready in 10 minutes, and perfect for summer parties, barbecues, and casual weeknight dinners!!
Grilled Pineapple Mango Chicken — EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and the flavor of the juicy chicken makes you feel like you’re on a TROPICAL island!! Grilled peppers on the side makes for the PERFECT summer meal that’s HEALTHY and DELICIOUS!!
Sheet Pan Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken — Fast, EASY, and loaded with fabulous teriyaki flavor! Tender chicken, juicy pineapple, and crisp-tender veggies make make for a DELISH one-pan meal with zero cleanup.
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken – Packed with pineapple flavor thanks to the combination of pineapple preserves and canned pineapple. Serve it over rice for a quick weeknight dinner!
Baked Teriyaki Chicken and Rice — Chicken, rice, pineapple, and red peppers cook together in one pan for an EASY weeknight dinner that tastes like you’re in Hawaii! The homemade teriyaki sauce adds so much INCREDIBLE flavor!
Teriyaki Steak Tips – Tri-tip steak tips are cooked to perfection and then topped with a thick and sticky homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce! A family favorite that everyone will love and is FAST and EASY to make!
Now, that’s what called Perfection. Keep up!!
Now, that’s what called Perfection. Keep up!!
This sounds delicious
Unfortunately, you can hardly call this a recipe when all you’ve done is put store bought sauce on chicken.
I was expecting a homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce recipe.
Very disappointed
Feel free read step 5 in the ingredients for how to make homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce.
great