Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs

These Chicken Kebabs are marinated in a homemade teriyaki sauce that makes them incredibly juicy and flavorful. With the addition of pineapple, bell peppers and red onion, they are so vibrantly beautiful and have so many delicious flavor combinations that are perfect for summer grilling.

Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs grilled with pineapple, peppers and red onion.

The homemade teriyaki sauce on the chicken kabobs is incredible with the fresh juicy pineapple and vegetables. This recipe is the perfect main course for summer grilling. It combines fresh flavors, vibrantly colorful ingredients and the convenience of kabobs. Not only are these kabobs so pretty and elegant, they are great for both easy family dinners and large get togethers. All the ingredients are ideal for the grill – chicken, pineapple, peppers and red onion. I think the combination of sweet and savory is lovely.

The homemade teriyaki sauce takes about 10 minutes to put together and it is the secret to making this recipe really stand out. The sauce not only marinates the chicken, but it is also brushed on at the end of grilling to make it extra saucy. The sweet, savory and saucy chicken with the juicy and crisp pineapple, bell peppers and red onion are a match made in heaven.

Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs With Pineapple and Peppers Video:

Ingredients:

  • chicken – I am using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
  • pineapple – fresh pineapple is best. It has so much more flavor and the texture is great, but you can also use canned pineapple.
  • bell peppers – use any color bell peppers that you like.
  • red onion – I think red onion is ideal for grilling. It doesn’t have as much of a bite as yellow onions, the red color is really beautiful and it has a lovely sweet flavor. However, you can also use yellow or white onions instead.
  • Homemade Teriyaki Sauce ingredients:
  • pineapple juice – the pineapple juice brings out more pineapple flavor in the chicken to complement the grilled pineapple pieces in the kabobs. Plus, the sweet and tart pineapple juice is the perfect base for the teriyaki sauce. If you are not using a whole fresh pineapple, you can use store bought pineapple juice.
  • soy sauce – the soy sauce is the salty and umami element in the teriyaki sauce.
  • mirin – mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine. It has a very clean, sweet and vinegary flavor and is amazing in sauces. You can substitute white wine, white wine vinegar or sherry vinegar instead.
  • brown sugar – teriyaki sauce is not savory and sweet and the fresh pineapple juice is not sweet enough on its own, so a small amount of additional brown sugar makes it just right. The brown sugar also gives it additional flavor. You can use maple syrup, molasses, or honey instead.
  • garlic and ginger – this combination is a must and makes the iconic flavors of teriyaki sauce really flavorful and fresh.
  • cornstarch – cornstarch will help thicken up the sauce just a bit so it’s more glossy and saucy. It will adhere much better to the chicken.
Ingredients for Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs

What is Teriyaki Sauce?

Teriyaki sauce is a rich sauce that is both sweet and salty and has a pleasant acidic note to it. It has a very distinct “umami” flavor that is so popular in cooking shows. I use pineapple juice for both the sweet and tart flavors as the basis of the sauce and then add soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar and fresh ginger and garlic. Teriyaki is cooked for just a few minutes and is slightly thickened with cornstarch, which helps to coat the chicken better and makes it glossy.

How To Make Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs:

  • Prep the pineapple first, by cutting it into cubes and using the end pieces to make pineapple juice.
  • Make the teriyaki sauce. Combine the pineapple juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, mirin, brown sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan, whisking until smooth. Cook on medium low heat until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Cool. Set aside 1/2 cup of the teriyaki sauce to use later.
  • Cut the chicken, bell peppers and onion into 1 1/2 inch pieces.
  • Marinate the chicken in the teriyaki sauce. It needs to marinate for a minimum of 15 minutes, preferably about an hour.
  • Mix the bell peppers and onion with the oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Preheat the grill and clean it.
  • Thread the chicken, pineapple and vegetables onto skewers. (If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for 15-30 minutes first.) You will have about 12 kabobs.
  • Grill the kabobs for about 5 minutes per side, on medium high heat. You will need to adjust to your grill and cook the kabobs according to how hot your grill is and how big you cut the chicken. If you cut it into larger pieces, it will take longer to cook through. The chicken should be 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit in the center, which you can check by using an instant read thermometer.
  • Brush with sauce. During the last few minutes of grilling, brush the remaining teriyaki sauce on both sides of the kabobs.

Helpful Tips and Variations:

Brush the additional Teriyaki sauce on the chicken toward the end of grilling so that it stays bright and sweet rather than burning and turning bitter.

Prep Ahead:

Make the teriyaki sauce in advance and cut up the chicken, pineapple, peppers and onion in advance to save yourself some time later. You can even marinate the chicken in advance. This is a great option when having people over or on busy weeknights.

Reheating Kabobs:

The best way to reheat them is by removing the chicken and vegetables from the skewers and reheating in a skillet on low heat. Add about a spoonful or broth to the hot skillet. This will create steam and will reheat the chicken, vegetables and pineapple gently and keep them really juicy too.

Halving Recipe

Feel free to halve the recipe if you want a. smaller portion. This recipe is meant for a get together, party or company dinner, so if you make it for a small family, just make half of it. 

Substitutions and Flavor Variations

Instead of chicken breast, try using chicken thighs. They are also terrific for grilling and kabobs.

Use store bought barbecue sauce instead of the teriyaki sauce for another delicious variation.

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs with a homemade teriyaki sauce, with pineapple, bell peppers and red onion.

What to Serve With the Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs:

A plate of teriyaki chicken kabobs with pineapple, bell peppers and red onion.
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Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs With Pineapple and Peppers

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Juicy grilled chicken kebabs marinated in a sweet and savory homemade teriyaki sauce with sweet pineapples, flavorful bell peppers and red onion. These colorful and flavorful kabobs are perfect for the summer.

  • Author: Olga’s Flavor Factory
  • Prep Time: 25 min
  • Cook Time: 15 min
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken, Pineapple and Pepper Kabobs

5 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces

2 large bell peppers, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces (any color)

1 large red onion, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces

1 pineapple, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces (reserve the end pieces to make pineapple juice)

1 Tablespoon oil, plus additional oil to brush on the grill

salt, pepper, to taste

Teriyaki Sauce

3/4 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup soy sauce

35 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon grated ginger

1 Tablespoon mirin

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Cut the pineapple into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Set aside all the end pieces and place into a blender. Add a 2-3 Tablespoons of water and blend until you have pineapple juice.
  2. Prepare the Teriyaki Sauce first.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine the pineapple juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, mirin, brown sugar and cornstarch. Whisk together until all the ingredients are evenly combined and the cornstarch is dissolved.
  4. Place the saucepan on the stovetop and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and whisking often, cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Turn off the heat and cool to just slightly warm.
  5. Meanwhile, cut the chicken, peppers and onions also into 1 1/2 inch pieces.
  6. When the teriyaki sauce has cooled, set aside about 1/2 cup of the sauce to brush on the kabobs when grilling. Pour the remaining teriyaki sauce over the cut chicken and mix to combine. Set aside the chicken to marinate for at least 15 minutes, preferably about 1 hour. You can also marinate it 1 day in advance and store int eh refrigerator.
  7. Mix the bell peppers and onion with 1 Tablespoon of oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Thread the chicken, pineapple and vegetables onto skewers. (If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for 15-30 minutes first.) You will have about 12 kabobs.
  9. Preheat your grill on high heat for at least 15 minutes, covered. Clean your grill grates. Take a wad of paper towels and holding them with a pair of tongs, dip them into a small bowl of oil and brush the grill grates 3-5 times. This will help to create a barrier on the grates and clean them at the same time.
  10. Place the kabobs on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes per side, but don’t rely just on time. Look at the chicken and vegetables and make sure they are golden and charred in some areas, the vegetables are softened. You can check the chicken using an instant read thermometer and make sure it is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
  11. During the last few minutes of grilling, brush the remaining teriyaki sauce on the kabobs.
  12. Serve hot. Store the leftover kabobs in the refrigerator for up 3-5 days in an airtight container.

Notes

Reheating Kabobs:

The best way to reheat them is by removing the chicken and vegetables from the skewers and reheating in a skillet on low heat. Add about a spoonful or broth to the hot skillet. This will create steam and will reheat the chicken, vegetables and pineapple gently and keep them really juicy too.

Feel free to halve the recipe if you want a. smaller portion. This recipe is meant for a get together, party or company dinner, so if you make it for a small family, just make half of it. 

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2 Comments

    • olgak7

      If you use the broiler, you can give it a try, but the chicken will be pale and the pineapple and veggies won’t get that lovely char that you get from the grill. You will have baked chicken and vegetables.

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