Thai Chicken Skewers

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These marinated and grilled Thai chicken skewers served with peanut sauce for dipping are so flavorful and addicting! They’re savory, sweet, a little spicy, and can be served over rice for dinner or serve them as an appetizer.

If you love these chicken skewers then I think you’ll also enjoy these coconut lime chicken skewers!

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Gray plate with Two Thai chicken skewers on top of rice and a bowl of peanut sauce next to them.

Why You’ll Love These Thai Chicken Skewers

Flavorful marinade – The chicken marinade for these skewers is packed with flavor! Soy sauce, fresh lime juice, fish sauce, chili paste, cilantro, and fresh ginger, are just a few of the flavor packed ingredients in this marinade.

Easy to make – The marinade only takes a few minutes to throw together and since it’s chicken skewers the cooking time won’t be nearly as long as it would be for whole chicken breasts.

Dinner or appetizer – Not only are these Thai chicken kabobs great for dinner alongside one of the serving suggestions I’ve listed below, but they’re also great for entertaining. It’s similar to chicken satay, which is always a hit with guests!

Ingredients for thai chicken skewers in white bowls.

Ingredients for Thai Chicken

  • Chicken breasts – Cut them into 1 inch pieces.
  • Low sodium soy sauce – Use low sodium tamari for a gluten-free option.
  • Lime juice – Fresh squeezed lime juice will give you the best flavor.
  • Olive oil and toasted sesame oil – Both oils keep the chicken tender, but sesame oil also adds a rich nutty toasted sesame flavor.
  • Fish sauce – A staple Thai ingredient for cooking. It savory, salty, and fishy, but when combined with the other ingredients you won’t notice the fish flavor or smell.
  • Chili paste – Give the marinade a spicy component. Also referred to as sambal oelek.
  • Maple syrup – Balances the savory and spicy flavors.
  • Cilantro – Adds a freshness to the marinade that can’t be replicated.
  • Ginger and garlic – The flavorful aromatics.
  • Sesame seeds – For garnish.

Ingredients for Peanut Sauce

The peanut sauce used for drizzling and dipping the grilled chicken is a must make, a requirement in my mind. It adds such extra flavor!

See my entire post for peanut sauce for all the ingredients and details on how to make it. You can also find the ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.

Thai chicken skewers drizzled with peanut sauce and sesame seeds.

How To Make Thai Chicken Skewers

This is an overview of the recipe with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Combine all of the ingredients for the chicken marinade in a bowl or glass measuring cup. Cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces and place them in a freezer bag. Pour in the marinade, seal the bag, and massage it into the chicken. Let the chicken marinate for 1-3 hours in the refrigerator.

While the chicken marinates make the peanut sauce. Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk them together until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat your grill to 400° F. and clean the grill grates. Thread the chicken onto metal skewers. Oil the grill grates and then place the chicken skewers on them.

Grill for 3-4 minutes then use metal tongs to flip them over. Grill for another 3-4 minutes or until cooked through, 165° F. Garnish the chicken with extra cilantro and sesame seeds and serve with the peanut sauce.

What To Serve With Thai Chicken Skewers

Rice with chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice mixed in is always a good choice. You could also rice noodles, quinoa or cauliflower rice for a low carb option. Other side dishes that would go well with them are:

Thai chicken skewers on a sheet pan with a bowl of peanut sauce.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts
  • Maple syrup can be substituted with honey.
  • I do recommend using fish sauce, however it can be omitted or replaced with an equal amount of soy sauce.
  • Fresh ginger can be substituted with 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger.

Recipe Tip

I found that marinating the chicken for 1-3 hours was plenty of time to infuse the flavor and tenderize it. When marinated overnight, the texture of the chicken changed and wasn’t appealing.

Gray plate with Two Thai chicken skewers on top of rice and a bowl of peanut sauce next to them.

Storage and Reheating

Storage – The Thai chicken will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Reheating – Reheat the chicken in the microwave until warm or reheat it in the oven (350° F.) or in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat.

Freezing – Once the chicken has cooled, store it in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

More Thai-Inspired Recipes

Did you make these Thai chicken skewers? I’d love if you’d leave a recipe rating and review below.

Thai chicken skewers on a sheet pan with a bowl of peanut sauce.
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Thai Chicken Skewers

By Danae Halliday
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Marinating Time: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
These Thai chicken skewers served with peanut sauce are savory, sweet, a little spicy, and can be served over rice for dinner or serve them as an appetizer.
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Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce, tamari for gluten-free
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chili paste
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
  • Peanut Sauce

Instructions 

  • Cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces and place them into a resealable freezer bag. Combine all of the ingredients for the chicken marinade in a bowl or measuring glass. Whisk together and then pour the marinade in with the chicken. Seal the bag and massage the marinade into the chicken. Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for 1-3 hours.
  • While the chicken is marinating make the peanut sauce. Combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Thin the sauce with water as needed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Preheat your grill to 400° F. and clean the grill grates. Thread the chicken onto skewers. Oil the grill grates then place the chicken skewers on them.
  • Let the chicken cook for 3-4 minutes before flipping it over and grilling another 3-4 minutes or until cooked through, 165° F. Remove the skewers from the grill and drizzle with some of the peanut sauce, sesame seeds, and cilantro. Serve with the remaining peanut sauce for dipping.

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 35gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 1281mgPotassium: 721mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 66IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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