Flavorful Grilled Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Kabobs with Teriyaki
These grilled chicken kabobs with fresh pineapple and a homemade teriyaki marinade offer a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors. Quick and easy to prepare, they are ideal for summer cookouts and crowd-pleasing meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1½-inch cubes
- 1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1½-inch chunks
- Wooden or metal skewers (soaked if wooden to prevent burning)
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup pineapple juice (freshly squeezed)
- 3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (optional)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into 1½-inch cubes and the fresh pineapple into matching chunks.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, pineapple juice, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined.
- Add the chicken cubes to the marinade, stirring gently to coat all pieces. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2 hours, but no longer than 6 hours.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before assembling.
- Thread the chicken and pineapple chunks alternately onto the skewers, leaving space between pieces for even cooking.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Oil the grill grates lightly.
- Grill the kabobs for 12-15 minutes, turning every 3-4 minutes. Brush with additional marinade or teriyaki sauce during grilling for a glossy finish.
- Check that chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Avoid overcooking.
- Let the kabobs rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Do not marinate chicken longer than 6 hours to avoid mushy texture from pineapple enzymes. Soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning. Brush kabobs with marinade during grilling for extra flavor and shine. If no grill is available, use a grill pan or broiler, watching closely to prevent burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 kabob (approximate
- Calories: 280
- Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 30
Keywords: grilled chicken kabobs, teriyaki chicken, pineapple chicken, summer BBQ, easy chicken recipe, tropical chicken skewers