With summer weather comes outdoor grilling, and these Mexican Chicken Skewers are a great option for a light, tasty meal on the grill.
This post was sponsored by Mazola® but the recipe and all opinions are my own.
These chicken skewers are cooked with a mixture of Mexican spices that give them a delicious flavor. They are easy to make and can be cooked in a matter of minutes. It's best if you can make them on a grill, but if you don't have access to one, don't worry, you can still make them in your kitchen with a grill.
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Skewers (or “Brochetas”) in Mexico
In Mexico, chicken brochettes are called “Brochetas de Pollo”, although some people also call them wires instead of skewers “Alambres” refers to the metal skewers that are most popular in Mexico, as opposed to the disposable wooden/bamboo skewers you can now find in most supermarkets. In other Spanish-speaking countries, the name skewers is used to describe meat cooked on skewers.
The metal skewers that we use in Mexico are usually made of stainless steel and are used to cook meat on a charcoal grill. Kabobs are made using beef or chicken, with a mixture of vegetables between each piece of meat. Traditionally, beef brochettes were the most common type of brochette in Mexico, but chicken is becoming increasingly popular due to chicken being less expensive.
Marinate the chicken breasts
The lack of fat content in chicken breast means that if you overcook it, the chicken will come out dry. That's why it's important to cover the chicken with a marinade, like the one in this recipe. I made it with a heart-healthy blend of spices, herbs, lime juice, and Mazola® Corn Oil*. While I didn't include it here, some cooks also like to add vinegar to help tenderize meat.
Chicken doesn't really have to marinate very long. For this recipe, you can start grilling the chicken immediately after coating it with the mixture, but you can let it marinate longer if you want.
Spices and herbs to marinate the chicken breasts
For this marinade, the spices I am using are garlic and onion powder, ground cumin, Mexican oregano, and salt and pepper. Just these few ingredients are enough to give chicken a huge amount of flavor. They are combined with lemon juice and Mazola® corn oil to bring all the flavors together and form a mixture that will enhance the flavor of the chicken kabobs.
I use Mazola® Corn Oil because it has a neutral flavor that doesn't interfere with other ingredients. It also has a high smoke point of 450ºF, which allows it to tolerate higher temperatures when cooking chicken on a charcoal grill. If you want to add a little extra smokiness to your marinade, you can add some smoked paprika to it.
Vegetables to make the Chicken Skewers
The peppers allow us to create a colorful skewer and add some heat and texture. On the other hand, the onion adds some sweetness and a rich umami flavor. If you want to add a little more heat, you can substitute the green peppers for poblano peppers.
Other vegetables that you can add to the skewers are mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and butternut squash or zucchini. Adding a variety of vegetables helps create a healthy meal on a skewer!
What to serve with Mexican Chicken Skewers?
To round out a summer spread, I would serve these skewers with freshly made guacamole (or avocado slices), some Mexican rice, a red sauce, some radishes, lime wedges, a fresh pico de gallo, warm corn tortillas and roast serrano. peppers or chiles toreados.
Some people like to use the tortillas to make tacos with the chicken, topping them with a sauce and some chopped onion and cilantro.
Tips for cooking chicken skewers
● When cutting chicken breast, make sure all pieces are the same size to ensure even cooking.
● You can use chicken thigh meat if you like, just be sure to trim excess fat from the chicken thighs to avoid flashbacks (if cooking on an outdoor grill).
● Soak your wooden skewers before using (to prevent them from burning in the flames). You can soak them in a baking dish or tall pitcher filled with water.
● To cook chicken skewers on a gas grill, turn on medium-high heat. Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side.
● If you are using a charcoal grill to cook the chicken skewers, prepare your grill by piling the charcoal into a mound to increase contact. Light the charcoal, and once the charcoal pieces appear to be forming white ash on the edges, place the chicken skewers on the grill and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side.
● The dry ingredients of this marinade can be used as a dressing for other chicken recipes. You can even make a small batch and store it in a glass bottle to have it ready for other recipes.
● You can use this marinade to make chicken fajitas or other fajita-style dishes.
● If you want to enhance the marinade, you can add Worcestershire sauce or seasoning sauce.
● Depending on the country, there are different names for meat cooked on a skewer. These include Skewers, Skewers, Satays and Kebabs/Kababs/Kabobs.
How to make Mexican chicken skewers
METROfor 2 portions (4 skewers)
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 12-15 minutes
ENINGREDIENTS:
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon of Mazola® Corn Oil
- 1 lb. Chicken breast, cut into 1 to 1¼-inch cubes
- 4 thick center slices of bacon, cut into 4 pieces each.
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced
- ½ medium red onion
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. In a medium bowl, mix together the Mexican oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. You can think of this as the "spice mix" (or "rub") for chicken meat.
2. Add the lemon juice and Mazola® Corn Oil to the spice mix and stir to mix well.
3. Add the chicken pieces, making sure they are well coated with the marinade.
4. Start assembling the skewers by first placing a square of red or green pepper, then threading a piece of chicken, then a square of bacon, then a slice of onion, and another slice of pepper. Continue adding the ingredients in that order until the skewer is assembled. Repeat with the rest of the skewers. It is very important to place the bacon next to the chicken so that it can infuse the chicken breast with some of its flavors.
5. Heat your grill or grill to medium-high heat. Instructions for cooking on an outdoor grill are given in the notes below.
6. Place skewers on hot grill (or skillet) and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each of four sides until chicken is cooked through. Serve the chicken skewers directly on a plate so each person can remove the meat and vegetables and enjoy with warm corn tortillas.
*See www.mazola.com for information on the relationship between corn oil and heart disease.
**Corn oil is a cholesterol-free food that contains 14 g of total fat per serving. See Nutrition Facts on product label or at Mazola.com for fat and saturated fat content.
📖 Recipes
chicken skewers
meli martinez
With summer weather comes outdoor grilling, and these Mexican Chicken Skewers are a great option for a light, tasty meal on the grill.
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Preparation time 10 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes
Total time 25 minutes
chicken race
Mexican Kitchen
Servings 2
Calories 674 kcal
Instructions
-
In a medium bowl, whisk together the Mexican oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. You can think of this as the "spice mix" (or "rub") for chicken meat.
-
Add the lemon juice and Mazola® Corn Oil to the spice mix and stir to mix well.
-
Add the chicken pieces, making sure they are well coated with the marinade.
-
Start assembling the skewers by first placing a square of red or green pepper, then a piece of chicken, then a square of bacon, then a slice of onion and another slice of pepper. Continue adding the ingredients in that order until the skewer is assembled. Repeat with the rest of the skewers. It is very important to place the bacon next to the chicken so that it can infuse the chicken breast with some of its flavors.
-
Heat your grill or grill to medium-high heat. Instructions for cooking on an outdoor grill are given in the notes below.
-
Place skewers on hot grill (or skillet) and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each of four sides until chicken is cooked through. Serve the chicken skewers directly on a plate so each person can remove the meat and vegetables and enjoy with warm corn tortillas.
Qualifications
- When cutting the chicken breast, make sure all the pieces are the same size, to ensure even cooking.
- You can use chicken thigh meat if you like, just be sure to trim excess fat from the chicken thighs to avoid flare-ups from the fire (if cooking on an outdoor grill).
- Soak your wooden skewers before using (to prevent them from burning in the flames). You can soak them in a baking dish or tall pitcher filled with water.
- To cook the chicken skewers on a gas grill, turn the gas grill to medium-high heat. Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side.
- If you are using a charcoal grill to cook the chicken skewers, prepare your grill by piling the charcoal into a mound to increase contact. Light the charcoal, and once the charcoal pieces appear to be forming white ash on the edges, place the chicken skewers on the grill and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side.
- The dry ingredients of this marinade can be used as a dressing for other chicken recipes. You can even make a small batch and store it in a glass bottle to have it ready for other recipes.
- You can use this marinade to make chicken fajitas or other fajita-style dishes.
- If you want to enhance the marinade, you can add Worcestershire sauce or relish sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 2 chicken skewers Calories: 674kcal Carbohydrates: 13g Protein: 59g Fat: 42g Saturated Fat: 12g Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g Monounsaturated Fat: 19g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 193mg Sodium: 747mg Potassium: 1300 4IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 2211mgIron: 131mg
