These Grilled Chicken Skewers marinated in a Turkish spice mix and yogurt are every bit as juicy and flavorful as they look. Serve them with a glass of my homemade Turkish Ayran.
These Turkish Grilled Chicken Skewers are marinated in a vibrant garlic, lemon, tomato and yogurt marinade that’s not too overpowering, yet flavorful. The seasoned chicken is thread onto wood skewers together with lemon slices for an extra tang and sprinkled with sumac spice when cooked. Served these Grilled Chicken Skewers with my refreshing Ayran – a mint-parsley yogurt drink!
Why this recipe for Turkish Grilled Chicken Skewers works:
I love a really speedy meal like these Turkish Grilled Chicken Skewers. The beauty of these fabulously easy and ever so yummy chicken skewers is in the marinade. And the best thing is that you don’t need to marinate the chicken for hours—just 10 minutes while you heat up your bbq or oven. That’s all the time the meat needs to load up on those lovely Turkish flavors!
How to make Turkish Grilled Chicken Skewers:
This simple mixture of garlic, lemon, tomatoes, spices, herbs and yogurt used to marinade these Turkish style chicken skewers is whipped up in a food processor in a flash.
In a food processor, pulse together the garlic, tomatoes, lemon juice, spices, fresh herbs, olive oil and yogurt until smooth
Toss the chicken in this marinade and thread it onto wooden skewers placing a thin slice of lemon in between each chicken cube.
I usually cut up the chicken into 1-inch cubes and I skewer thin lemon slices between each chicken as I really like the zing it adds to these Grilled Chicken Skewers, but you can go for onions, tomatoes, bell peppers or a mix of that.
These Turkish Grilled Chicken Skewers are cooked on a hot grill for 3 minutes per side with the grill lid closed, and when I can’t bbq for any reason, I sear the chicken pieces for 2 minutes on each side and then slide them into the oven for just 5 minutes more. If that’s not speedy—then what is!
How to make Ayran:
Let’s talk about this unbelievably good herb yogurt drink, called Ayran. This drink is served chilled with pretty much all the main courses in Turkey! It’s basically cold yogurt buzzed in a blender with ice, salt and some fresh herbs—classically parsley and mint.
I love adding quite a bit more herbs so it’s super tasty and slightly greenish in color. The taste of Ayran is slightly salty and of mint and parsley! So refreshing, and it compliments these Grilled Chicken Skewers beautifully!
Make these speedy Turkish Grilled Chicken Skewers and serve them with my Turkish yogurt drink for the ultimate chicken dinner!
Tips for success:
- Often, I double and triple the recipe for the marinade and freeze the excess in a small ziplock for a really really busy day. I just take the marinade out of the freezer, defrost it and toss it with the chicken cubes, and just like that it’s ready to be cooked.
- Wooden skewers must be pre-soaked in water for at least 1 hour before using.
- Instead of lemon slices, you can go for onions, tomatoes, bell peppers or a mix of that. I stick to the lemon because it boosts the lemon flavor and I love that!
For more Turkish recipes, make sure to try my Turkish pizza Lahmacun recipe.
Turkish Style Grilled Chicken Skewers
These Grilled Chicken Skewers marinated in a Turkish spice mix and yogurt are every bit as juicy and flavorful as they look. Serve them with a glass of my homemade Turkish Ayran.
Ingredients
For the skewers:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2 roma tomatoes
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 cup total of fresh parsley and cilantro leaves (or either one)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup yogurt (full, low fat or fat free)
- 2 lemons , thinly sliced for skewering
- 2 tablespoons sumac spice for sprinkling
For the yogurt drink Ayran:
- 2 cups yogurt (full, low or fat free)
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup ice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup total of mint and parsley leaves
Instructions
For the skewers:
- Preheat a bbq on medium-high heat or preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a food processor, pulse together the garlic, tomatoes, lemon juice, spices, fresh herbs, olive oil and yogurt until smooth.
- Toss the chicken in this marinade and skewer it on wooden skewers placing a thin slice of lemon in between each chicken cube.
- Cook the chicken on the bbq for 3-5 minutes (depending on the thickness of your chicken cubes) on each side with the lid closed at all times.
Once the chicken is ready, sprinkle it with a generous amount of sumac spice and serve with a yogurt drink on the side.
For the drink:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and slightly foamy. Save cold right away.
Recipe Notes
- Often, I double and triple the recipe for the marinade and freeze the excess in a small ziplock for a really really busy day. I just take the marinade out of the freezer, defrost it and toss it with the chicken cubes, and just like that it’s ready to be cooked.
- Wooden skewers must be pre-soaked in water for at least 1 hour before using.
- Instead of lemon slices, you can go for onions, tomatoes, bell peppers or a mix of that. I stick to the lemon because it boosts the lemon flavor and I love that!
I made these with the cauliflower rice, but the meal is so bitter. I feel like the glaze needs honey or something to sweeten it. Do you have any suggestions please? I’m not a good cook – still learning!
Honey is perfect!! It’s the spice, it’s probably not what you’re used to, so by far add honey or brown sugar–2 tablespoons is great.
We love kabobs, they are so fun and simple to make. This one looks amazing, we will be adding it to our weekly meal plan.
Hope you enjoy them Alexis!
That looks really yummy flavorful chicken skewers, great for labor day weekend. I love the Turkish food. Ayran drink is so perfect with this chicken skewers.
Thanks Swathi!! it’s perfect for grilling!
These are so flavorful and juicy…grilled to perfection! Perfect dish for Labor Day!
oh yes Tammy!! Hope you made them!
We love our meat in skewers! The chicken looks delicious and I’m not familiar with Turkish spices but they sound fantastic!!. Next time we grill chicken we’ll make it this way.
We do too Marisa! thank you!
This is making me want to buy a BBQ so bad!! I am drooling here!!
hahahaha you really should!
Mahy this looks and sounds so delicious. I love the flavor you put together. Cilantro is one of my favorites, I think I’ll give your sauce a try on some of my meatless meals.
Thanks Celeste! Hope you try it!
I love Turkish food – the flavors are so awesome. Many similar to what we have in India – just a bit milder. The yogurt drink sounds like our Indian mint lassi. I can’t wait to try this.
You’re right Veena! I think now I have to try the Mint Lassi too!!
These sound wonderful, love the sound of that marinade! What a great idea to make more and freeze it!
I freeze them all the time Pam!!
These skewers look fabulous and so flavorful! I can practically smell that wonderful spice mix through my computer. I’m definitely adding these to my meal plan
hahahaha it really is super flavorful!! Thanks karyl
We have SO many good Turkish restaurants around us that I never try to make my own. This looks so easy though, the list of ingredients made my mouth water.
Oh I need to move in close to you!!
Wow, these sound fantastic. They would be perfect for the BBQ party we are having this weekend. I love experimenting with new flavours. You can never go wrong with a great tasting chicken meal. Always a hit with the guests.
I agree Gloria! Thanks so much!
My husband is a big fan of kabobs, they’re one of his favorites for summer. I’ve never heard of Ayran before, the color makes me think of spring and St Patrick’s Day.
you’re right Valerie, the color is very St.Patrick’s day! But the flavor is very Mediterranean 🙂 It cools down and balances the spice in Turkish food 🙂 Give it a try
These look so juicy and I love the idea of pairing them with Ayran!
It’s a perfect match!