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    Home » Recipes » Mains

    Chicken Spiedini - Grilled Chicken Skewers

    Published: Feb 9, 2020, Last updated: Aug 5, 2020 by Emily This post may contain affiliate links.

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    The easiest Chicken Spiedini made with tender and juicy chicken and a simple flavour packed marinade. These Italian chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and taste incredible, so easy and healthy they're perfect for whipping up when you're short on time or want a fuss-free dinner!

    An overhead shot of chicken spiedini with grilled veg and arugula at the side

    Spiedino in Italian translates as meat skewer (spiedini meaning plural) so essentially chicken spiedini are a little mash up of Italian and English to mean chicken skewers.

    After a little research, I noticed that this dish in the US usually involves breaded chicken with some kind of dipping sauce but when I think of chicken skewers especially Italian ones I think of juicy, grilled chicken with nothing more than a few simple herbs.

    There are no breadcrumbs involved here which makes them not only lighter and healthier but so much easier to make!

    I absolutely LOVE this recipe especially with some grilled veggies and arugula on the side. You can grill these outdoors when the sun is shining or do them indoors under the broiler any time of year!

    Prepping in advance

    One essential step you need to do prior to cooking is to soak the wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes in advance.

    If you don't soak the skewers they will burn whilst cooking which ain't fun!

    Of course, if you use metal skewers then there's no need to do this step and you can skip straight to marinading the chicken!

    If you want to prep everything in advance so it's just the case of broiling (grilling) when you are ready to eat then you can marinate the chicken and store it in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

    How to make Chicken Spiedini - step by step

    If using wooden skewers, soak them in a tray of water for 30 minutes (photo 1).

    Cut the chicken into 1 inch cubed pieces and add to a bowl. Add all the herbs, zest, olive oil and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until thoroughly combined (photos 2-3).

    Step by step photos for making chicken spiedini

    Two photos showing chicken threaded onto skewers before and after being cooked

    Heat the broiler (grill) to high. Thread the chicken onto the wooden skewers evenly and place on a baking tray (photo 5).

    Place the chicken on a high shelf under the broiler and cook for 5 minutes, turn the skewers and cook for another 5 minutes until browned and cooked through (photo 6).

    Serve the chicken skewers on plate with a squeeze of lemon juice.

    Serving suggestions and variations

    I love to serve these Italian chicken skewers with grilled veggies such as zucchini, eggplant (courgette/aubergine) or bell peppers. A generous handful of arugula (rocket) drizzle with a little olive oil, lemon juice and sprinkled with salt and pepper makes for a perfect healthy and nutritious side.

    Here are a few other ideas that would work perfectly;

    • Italian Roast Potatoes – Rosemary And Garlic
    • Italian Farro Salad
    • White Bean Mash With Rosemary And Lemon
    • Classic Caprese Salad – Easy, Fresh & Delicious
    • Easy Green Bean Salad with Mustard and Garlic Dressing

    A side shot of 3 chicken spiedini stacked on top of each other

    Top tips for making this recipe

    • Make sure to soak the wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes so they don't burn, it's super important.
    • Cut the chicken into even pieces so they all cook at the same time.
    • Feel free to play around with flavours using different herbs and spices these are so versatile!
    • You can grill these outdoors during the summer it'll also give them an extra smoky flavour.
    • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or under the broiler (grill) until piping hot all the way through or eat cold. Serve with salad or any sides you like.
    • You can freeze these either before cooking or after, make sure to thaw overnight before cooking.
    • If cooking on an outdoor grill or BBQ they'll need only around 3 minutes each side.

    More delicious Italian recipes you might like;

    • Pistachio Crusted Chicken with Arugula Salad
    • Eggplant Parmigiana (Parmigiana di Melanzane)
    • Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Prosciutto & Pistachios
    • Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Garlic and Pancetta

    If you’ve tried this Chicken Spiedini Recipe or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.

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    5 from 4 votes

    Chicken Spiedini - Italian Chicken Skewers

    The easiest Chicken Spiedini made with tender and juicy chicken and a simple flavour packed marinade. These Italian chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and taste incredible, so easy and healthy they're perfect for whipping up when you're short on time or want a fuss-free dinner!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 325kcal
    Author Emily Kemp

    Ingredients

    • 4 chicken breasts
    • 2 tablespoon fresh rosemary finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • Zest of 1 whole lemon
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • Salt and pepper to season
    • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice for serving

    Equipment

    • 4 wooden skewers

    Instructions

    • If using wooden skewers, soak them in a tray of water for 30 minutes.
    • Cut the chicken into 1 inch cubed pieces and add to a bowl.
    • Add all the herbs, zest, olive oil and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until thoroughly combined. You can use the chicken immediately or place in the fridge to marinate until you're ready.
    • Heat the broiler (grill) to high. Thread the chicken onto the wooden skewers evenly and place on a baking tray.
    • Place the chicken on a high shelf under the broiler and cook for 5 minutes, turn the skewers and cook for another 5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
    • Serve the chicken skewers on plate with a squeeze of lemon juice and some grilled veggies.

    Notes

    • Make sure to soak the wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes so they don't burn, it's super important.
    • Cut the chicken into even pieces so they all cook at the same time.
    • Feel free to play around with flavours using different herbs and spices these are so versatile!
    • You can grill these outdoors during the summer it'll also give them an extra smoky flavour.
    • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or under the broiler (grill) until piping hot all the way through or eat cold. Serve with salad or any sides you like.
    • You can freeze these either before cooking or after, make sure to thaw overnight before cooking.
    • If cooking on an outdoor grill or BBQ they'll need only around 3 minutes each side.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 844mg | Potassium: 852mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 118IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
    Helpful Info for All Recipes
    • I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
    • When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use Cirio or Mutti brands for the best results and flavour.
    • All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
    • All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
    • Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
    • Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
    • You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @insidetherustickitchen or tag #insidetherustickitchen! We'd love you see what you're getting up to in the kitchen!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tawnie Kroll

      February 09, 2020 at 5:47 pm

      The step by step photos were so helpful! Thank you for a delicious recipe!!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Jacqueline Debono

      February 09, 2020 at 5:15 pm

      These chicken spiedini look perfect. I love that the chicken marinade is simple and healthy. Perfect for a summer lunch in the garden!5 stars

      Reply
      • Inside the rustic kitchen

        February 09, 2020 at 5:17 pm

        Definitely, the kinda food I love eating in the sunshine! Thanks so much Jacqueline!

        Reply
    3. Jordin

      February 09, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      Yum, these grilled chicken skewers look amazing! I cant wait to make these for my family, they will love them... and I love how easy they are to make!5 stars

      Reply
      • Inside the rustic kitchen

        February 09, 2020 at 4:31 pm

        Thanks so much Jordin, let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    4. Cindy

      February 09, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      So fresh and so light! We are always trying new recipes as a family to make meal time ..a family time! This recipe looks delicious!5 stars

      Reply
      • Inside the rustic kitchen

        February 09, 2020 at 3:35 pm

        Thanks so much Cindy!

        Reply

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