🍍🍗 Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewers are fast, easy, and loaded with sweet-and-savory pineapple teriyaki flavor! Made with just a handful of basic ingredients, these grilled chicken skewers will be a family FAVORITE!
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers with Pineapple
If you’re looking for a summery feeling grilled chicken recipe, these grilled pineapple teriyaki chicken skewers are just the ticket!
- Super fast and easy, they require practically zero cleanup.
- Every bite is loaded with delicious teriyaki flavors for a sweet-yet-tangy flavor explosion the whole family will love. It’s hard to say no to chicken on a stick!
- Unlike many other grilled chicken recipes, such as my grilled huli huli chicken, you don’t even need to worry about marinating the chicken. Because it cooks so quickly, this is a meal that’s ready in minutes. The longest part will be soaking your bamboo skewers in water!
- This recipe can easily be multiplied for larger events. I recommend planning on about half of one average-sized chicken breast per skewer and a one-quarter to one-third cup of pineapple teriyaki sauce for every 6 kebabs.
Now, that’s what called Perfection. Keep up!!
Jane
Ingredients You’ll Need
For these super-easy chicken teriyaki skewers on the grill, all you need are these very basic and common ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: I prefer breasts, because they let the flavor of the sauce really shine through, but you can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs if preferred
- Skewers (bamboo or metal)
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt/black pepper
- Pineapple teriyaki marinade or sauce: I used Soy Vay Island Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce, but really any teriyaki sauce or marinade will be fine. Look for one with pineapple in it as well, so you get the full effect of these pineapple teriyaki chicken skewers
- Optional garnishes: Fresh cilantro or parsley, lime wedges, green onions, or sesame seeds
Add to your skewers
If you’re feeling like you’d enjoy veggies with these skewers, feel free to add veggies like red onions, bell peppers of any color, whole button mushrooms, or zucchini to your skewers.
You could also add fresh pineapple. However, because of the sugar content, it could be prone to charring on the outside. If you add it, keep the pieces large and the chicken small so the chicken cooks through before the pineapple chars too much.
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
These pineapple teriyaki chicken kabobs couldn’t be easier and are so much fun to make and serve!
- If using bamboo or wooden skewers, soak them in water for half an hour before you begin. This prevents burning, but it isn’t necessary if using metal skewers.
- Thread bite-sized pieces of raw chicken breast onto the skewers, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. You can let the chicken marinate for up to 6 hours if you want to prepare in advance.
- Grill the chicken over medium-high heat until it’s a minute or two away from done. Make sure you rotate the skewers frequently as the chicken grills. Try to avoid placing the ends of the skewers directly over the flame on the grill, or they will burn off.
- Brush the chicken with the pineapple teriyaki sauce, and allow it to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the chicken is fully done. Don’t add the sauce too soon, or it will burn! You’ll know your chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- Serve warm with Hawaiian macaroni salad, white rice, coconut rice, or your favorite sides.
Use homemade teriyaki sauce
If you would like to make a homemade sauce, use the recipe in my baked teriyaki chicken and rice.
Combine low-sodium soy sauce, light brown sugar, garlic, ground pepper, red pepper flakes, and cornstarch. Replace the 1/2 cup of water in the original recipe with pineapple juice. You can also stir in 1/4 cup very finely minced pineapple as well to boost the pineapple flavor profile.
Bring the mixture to a boil in a small saucepan on the stove, and simmer to thicken
What to Serve with Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
No Grill? No Problem!
Break out your indoor grill pan and make these chicken skewers indoors.
Grill pans are also a way of bringing a warm, summery mood and recipe into your kitchen during the winter months when you can’t grill outdoors.
Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
Equipment
- Wooden or Metal Skewers
Ingredients
- 1 to 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- ½ cup pineapple teriyaki sauce, or as desired
- Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnishing, finely minced; optional
- Lime wedges, optional for serving
Instructions
- If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes prior to grilling. If using metal skewers, this isn’t necessary.
- Preheat outdoor grill to medium-high heat or if using an indoor grill pan, preheat your oven to 500F.
- Thread the chicken onto the skewers, keeping the pieces fairly close together and leave 1 to 2 inches of space at both ends so that the chicken doesn’t slip off on the grill end and that you have something to hold onto on the other end.
- Evenly drizzle the skewers with olive oil, evenly sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill for about 6 to 8 minutes with the lid closed, or until the chicken is about 1 to 2 minutes from being done. Make sure to rotate the skewers frequently while grilling to ensure even cooking.
- Evenly brush a few coats of pineapple teriyaki marinade or sauce over each skewer and continue to cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until done.
- If you’re serving coconut rice in a pineapple, prepare the rice ahead of time or use precooked coconut rice in a packet. I recommend using a very sharp knife and a strong person to slice through a pineapple if you’re going this route.
- Otherwise, optionally garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley, optional lime wedges, and serve immediately with whatever sides or vegetables* (See Notes) you’d like.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Favorite Pineapple Chicken Recipes:
Hawaiian Grilled Chicken and Pineapple — Transports you to Hawaii with every bite of this tender, juicy chicken and the grilled pineapple seals the deal! EASY, HEALTHY, ready in 10 minutes, and perfect for summer parties, barbecues, and casual weeknight dinners!
Grilled Pineapple Mango Chicken — EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and the flavor of the juicy chicken makes you feel like you’re on a TROPICAL island! Grilled peppers on the side makes for the PERFECT summer meal that’s HEALTHY and DELICIOUS!
Sheet Pan Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken — Fast, EASY, and loaded with fabulous teriyaki flavor! Tender chicken, juicy pineapple, and crisp-tender veggies make make for a DELISH one-pan meal with zero cleanup.
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken – Packed with pineapple flavor thanks to the combination of pineapple preserves and canned pineapple. Serve it over rice for a quick weeknight dinner!
Teriyaki Steak Tips – Tri-tip steak tips are cooked to perfection and then topped with a thick and sticky homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce! A family favorite that everyone will love and is FAST and EASY to make!
Now, that’s what called Perfection. Keep up!!
Now, that’s what called Perfection. Keep up!!
This sounds delicious
Unfortunately, you can hardly call this a recipe when all you’ve done is put store bought sauce on chicken.
I was expecting a homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce recipe.
Very disappointed
Feel free read step 5 in the ingredients for how to make homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce.
great