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A green tray displays several skewers of grilled chicken and red onions. Tongs lie on the tray next to the skewers. In the background, there is a salad bowl with tomatoes and greens, a partially visible stack of pita bread, and glasses of water.
gluten-free/Grain Free/Nut Free/Refined Sugar Free

Grilled Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs

5 from 1 vote
Nicole Modic
SERVES 4 Servings (8 Skewers)
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One of my go-to summer recipes, these Grilled Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs are tender, juicy, and practically melt in your mouth. The chicken comes together with a marinade of protein-packed greek yogurt, lemon juice and zest, fresh garlic, and a medley of delicious seasonings for a burst of flavor in every bite. And, if this recipe couldn't get any better, it can be prepared two different ways: on the grill, or in the air-fryer!

Equipment

  • 8 Wooden Skewers soaked in water for at least 30 minutes, so that they don't burn!

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ Pounds Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 Cup Greek Yogurt*
  • 8 Cloves Garlic
  • ¼ Cup Olive Oil
  • 2 Teaspoons Paprika
  • 1 Teaspoon Cumin
  • ½ Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 Lemon zested and juiced
  • 2 Red Onions roughly chopped - these will go on the skewers!

Instructions

How to Make These Kebabs on the Grill:

  • To make these chicken kebabs, start by preparing the chicken. Cut the chicken breast into cubes, approximately 1 1/2 inch thick, and place them into a large bowl.
  • Next, add in the greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, lemon juice, and lemon zest, to the bowl with the chicken, and toss to fully combine.
  • Set the chicken aside and allow it to marinate for 30 minutes.
  • While the chicken is marinating, grab your wooden skewers and place them into a bowl of water to soak for 30 minutes. This helps ensure that the skewers won't burn on the grill!
  • Once the chicken and skewers are done, assemble the kebabs by skewering the chicken and onion pieces, alternating them one-by-one. Repeat until all of the chicken and onion are used up. You should end up with 8 kebabs total!
  • Next, heat your grill to 450 F.
  • Transfer the kebabs to the grill and allow them to cook, undisturbed, for 6-7 minutes.
  • Then, flip the kebabs and allow them to cook for another 6-7 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
  • Once they're done, remove them from the grill. Then, serve and enjoy!

How to Make These Kebabs in an Air Fryer:

  • To prepare these kebabs in an air fryer, repeat steps 1-5 as described above.
  • Next, line an air fryer basket with parchment paper and lay the kebabs inside.
  • Transfer them to the air fryer and allow them to cook at 400 F for 10 minutes, undisturbed.
  • Then, flip the kebabs and allow them to cook for another 8-9 minutes, until the chicken is golden brown and fully cooked through.
  • Once they're done, remove them from the air fryer. Then, serve and enjoy!
Calories: 510kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 67g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 356mg | Potassium: 1261mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 662IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 2mg

Notes

** Note: If you want to keep this recipe dairy-free, you can replace the greek yogurt and garlic with a Middle Eastern garlic spread, like Toum! You can find this at any traditional Middle Eastern Grocery store, or Trader Joe's has their own version, too.

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in your posts and I’ll re-share!

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