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Mouthwatering, absolutely delightful, and perfectly charred. These grilled chicken skewers are marinated in garlic, cilantro, and lime juice for the best summer cookout dish.
It is such a happy moment for me when I am able to pull out that grill, set the charcoal on fire and place fresh, perfectly seasoned meat on those grill grates to cook.
Hearing the nurturing sizzling sound of the meat on the hot grates telling you that you are about to eat something scrumptious, is a moment of pure bliss.
These grilled chicken skewers are so quick and easy to make and cook, and they pair wonderfully with a nice cold beer in hand or this awesome Sangria.
Perfect to serve at a big cookout with friends and family, but simple enough that you can enjoy them any night of the week.
Made with four ingredients, there’s no bad time to enjoy these!
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Garlic cloves
- Cilantro
- Lime Juice
How to make cilantro lime chicken skewers
- Heat outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- In a zip-lock bag, combine chicken, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Rub and mix well inside the bag until chicken is well covered.
- Thread chicken onto skewers.
- Place chicken skewers on the grill to cook turning occasionally until charred, about 10-15 minutes.
- Serve warm with preferred side dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
I much prefer to make these with chicken breasts, but you can make them with thighs if that’s what you have. Just be aware that thighs will take a little longer to cook through. Use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness, it should register at 165F.
I will cook on my grill at any opportunity I have! I love the flavor and the whole process so much. If you don’t have a grill, or it’s too cold out, you can cook them on a grill pan on your stovetop with a little oil. You can also bake them in the oven at 400F for about 15 minutes and then put them under the broiler to brown them.
These grilled chicken skewers are wonderfully fresh in flavor, thanks to the garlic, lime and cilantro, so they are great to serve with your favorite cookout salads, veggie and potato sides. Try them with:
Mexican Grilled Corn Salad (Esquites)
Caprese Salad (Insalata Caprese)
Peach Salsa Recipe
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Recipe Notes and Tips
- These skewers don’t need to be marinated for hours. The acid from the lime juice can actually break down the chicken and make it tough, so don’t keep it in the marinade for more than 2 hours. They take on enough flavor after just a few minutes.
- If you use wooden skewers to thread the chicken, soak them in water first so that they don’t burn on the grill.
- Cut the chicken breast into evenly sized pieces so that it cooks evenly.
The garlic, lime, and cilantro marinade make these grilled chicken skewers so flavorful. Ready to serve in less than 30 minutes, this, for sure, is a must-have recipe for spring and summer!
More Chicken Skewers
- Grilled Chicken Skewers with Guava BBQ Sauce
- Honey Chipotle BBQ Chicken Skewers
- Sweet Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers
Grilled Garlic Cilantro Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
- 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 8-10 skewer sticks
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- In a zip-lock bag, combine chicken, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Rub and mix well inside the bag until chicken is well covered.
- Thread chicken onto skewers.
- Place chicken skewers on the grill to cook turning occasionally until charred, about 10-15 minutes.
- Serve warm with preferred side dish.
Notes
- These skewers don’t need to be marinated for hours. The acid from the lime juice can actually break down the chicken and make it tough, so don’t keep it in the marinade for more than 2 hours. They take on enough flavor after just a few minutes.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about an hour before grilling to keep them from burning on the grill.
- Cut the chicken breast into evenly sized pieces so that it cooks evenly.
Nutrition
This recipe post was first published in July 2015. The post was updated April 2021 with more tips and recipe notes.
Old Fat Guy says
These chicken skewers would be a hit at a barbecue. Thanks for the post.
The Old Fat Guy
Ros [email protected] says
This looks so delicious! I love cilantro so I need to make this.
Vanessa says
It is really good! You must definitely try it. ????