Honey Chipotle Chicken Kabobs are the perfect blend of sweet and spicy! Juicy chicken will practically melt in your mouth after marinating in a homemade blend of Cajun, chipotle, and honey flavors. Serve with some rice and veggies for a restaurant worthy meal right at home!
Honey Chipotle Chicken Kabobs
A little spicy, a little sweet, and baked to perfection! Honey chipotle chicken kabobs are tender and juicy and full of flavor. The trick to these is to really let your chicken marinate in that homemade blend. The smoky flavor of the chipotle peppers really pairs well with the savory Cajun seasoning and sweet honey. Two hours may seem like a long time to wait but trust me, it’s so worth it! This recipe is even great to prep ahead of time because the longer the chicken marinates, the more flavorful it becomes. You can generally find the skewers in the baking aisle or maybe the cooking utensils section at your local grocery store. I love this dinner option anytime of year but something about the warmer weather really makes me crave a good kabob!
Looking to eat more chicken? Try some of my tried and true recipes like this cilantro lime chicken or this simple honey mustard Cajun chicken the next time you’re in a main dish rut.
How do I keep wooden skewers from burning while cooking?
To keep the wood from burning in the oven (or on the grill) soak the skewers in a bowl of water for about 20 minutes prior to cooking. You can also buy reusable metal skewers if you don’t want to take the extra step.
How To Make Honey Chipotle Chicken Kabobs
- Combine. Using a food processor or blender, combine the chipotle peppers, honey, lime juice, onion, garlic cloves, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Blend. Cover and blend until completely smooth.
- Toss. Place the chicken pieces in a ziplock bag or a large container with a tight fitting lid. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss until fully coated.
- Marinate. Zip or cover and allow the chicken to marinate in the fridge for 2 hours (or overnight to really let that flavor sink in).
- Preheat. When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Prep. Thread the chicken pieces a few at a time onto each skewer. Allow some of the excess marinade to drip off and save for later. Place the skewers on the baking sheet with space in between each one.
- Bake. Bake the kabobs for 10 minutes. Flip them over and brush on the reserved marinade. Bake for another 12-15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked (with an internal temperature of 165) and the edges are slightly caramelized.
- Serve. Serve with your favorite side of rice and some lime wedges and enjoy!
Storing Honey Chipotle Chicken Kabobs
Store any leftover kabobs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Ingredients Notes for Honey Chipotle Chicken Kabobs
- Chipotle Peppers – You can find these in the international foods section of your supermarket. Essentially, they’re dried and smoked jalapenos that are stored in a tomato sauce. Perfect for our marinade base!
- Honey – Any kind you already have on hand will work. Add more or less depending on how sweet you want the marinade.
- Onion – I prefer a yellow onion for this recipe but a white onion can be substituted.
- Garlic – Peeled, but no need to chop.
- Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed for a stronger flavor. Grab some extra limes to use as garnishes!
- Cajun Seasoning – You can use the traditional or no salt version.
- Salt and Pepper – Enough to taste, feel free to adjust.
- Chicken Breasts – Boneless and skinless. Cut the breasts into about 1 ½ inch chunks, keeping the cuts as close as possible so the chicken cooks evenly.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Honey Chipotle Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients
- 2-3 Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1/3 Cup Honey
- 1/2 Yellow onion roughly chopped
- 3 Cloves Garlic peeled
- 1/4 Cup Lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 Tbsp No-salt Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 2 Pounds Boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
Instructions
- Add the Chipotle peppers, honey, onion, garlic, lime juice, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Place the chicken in a large bowl or zip-loc bag, pour the marinade over it, and toss to coat.
- Cover or seal tightly, then marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a large baking sheet.
- Thread the marinated chicken onto skewers, letting excess marinade drip off, and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Brush some leftover marinade over the kabobs.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then flip them and brush them once again with the marinade.
- Bake for another 12-15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and is lightly caramelized around the edges.
- Serve hot with cilantro-lime rice and lime wedges, and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro if desired.
Video
Notes
These honey chipotle chicken kabobs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
