Chicken Skewers With Korean BBQ (Printable View)

Marinated chicken skewers with peppers and onion, brushed with Korean BBQ sauce and grilled until juicy.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Chicken Skewers

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 8 wooden or metal skewers
03 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks
05 - 1 small red onion, cut into chunks
06 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil

→ For the Korean BBQ Sauce

07 - 1/3 cup soy sauce
08 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
09 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
10 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
11 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
13 - 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
14 - 1 tbsp honey
15 - 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
16 - 1 green onion, finely sliced

# How to Make It:

01 - If using wooden skewers, submerge them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, gochujang, and honey until smooth and well combined. Reserve 1/4 cup of the sauce for basting later.
03 - Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl and pour the remaining marinade over them. Toss to coat evenly, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
04 - Thread the marinated chicken, red and yellow bell peppers, and red onion alternately onto the skewers. Brush the assembled skewers lightly with vegetable oil.
05 - Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat, approximately 400°F.
06 - Place skewers on the hot grill and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally. During the last few minutes of cooking, brush generously with the reserved BBQ sauce until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred.
07 - Transfer the grilled skewers to a serving platter. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and finely sliced green onion. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The Korean BBQ sauce balances sweet, savory, and spicy so perfectly that you will want to double the batch for dipping.
  • Skewers make everything more fun to eat and they cook faster than you would expect.
  • It is dairy free by default so nearly everyone at the table can enjoy it without modification.
02 -
  • Do not skip reserving that 1/4 cup of sauce before marinating the chicken because using the used marinade as a baste is unsafe.
  • Gochujang varies wildly in heat by brand, so taste a tiny dab first and adjust the amount to your comfort level.
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before marinating so the sauce clings tightly instead of sliding off.
  • Rotate the skewers a quarter turn every two to three minutes for even charring on all four sides.

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