Chicken Spiedini Recipe (Grilled Chicken Recipe)
Chicken Spiedini is packed with flavor before being tossed in breadcrumbs and then added to skewers. This Kansas City favorite is a must-try grilled to tender, juicy perfection!
How to Make Chicken Spiedini Recipe
I’ve always been drawn to the stories behind the dishes we love, and Chicken Spiedini has one that’s as rich as its flavors.
This delectable dish, with roots deep in Italian tradition, has flourished in Italian-American kitchens, becoming a beloved staple.
What makes Chicken Spiedini truly shine is its adaptability.
Whether it’s a cozy family dinner or a bustling social gathering, these juicy chicken skewers, seasoned perfectly with parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and a drizzle of tangy lemon butter sauce, fit the bill.
I’ve enjoyed exploring the nuances of making Chicken Spiedini, from selecting the ideal pieces of chicken to mastering the grill’s heat for that golden brown perfection. Using Pork Rinds as the breadcrumbs so it’s a low carb dinner recipe, and even making it in the air fryer.
Key Takeaways:
- Chicken Spiedini boasts Italian roots with a solid presence in Italian-American cuisine, celebrating the best of both worlds.
- Incredibly versatile, it’s perfect for any meal, from intimate family dinners to large social gatherings, promising a mouthwatering experience.
- Embrace the art of making Chicken Spiedini with our detailed recipe, which encourages you to savor authentic Italian flavors in your kitchen.
Ingredients Overview
- Chicken pieces: Opt for boneless skinless chicken breast, tender and trimmed, ready to soak up our rich marinade. You could also use chicken thighs that you trim of excess fat, and slice into thin pieces for skewering.
- Breadcrumbs: I highly recommend using both Italian breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs for that essential crispy texture. I *really* recommend using pork rinds, if you’re into them!
- Red pepper flakes: Just a dash for a hint of warmth, complementing the chicken wonderfully.
- Lemon zest: Adds a fresh, citrusy brightness, making our Chicken Spiedini vibrant and invigorating.
- Garlic Expressions Dressing: The foundation of our marinade, lending richness and depth to the dish.
- Garlic powder and Italian seasoning: These bring in layers of flavor, each contributing earthiness and freshness.
- Black pepper and Parmesan cheese: For seasoning and a touch of indulgence in every bite.
- White Wine or Prosecco: The marinade packs an extra flavor!
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
First, let’s gather our chicken pieces and begin the journey to mouth-watering Chicken Spiedini.
- Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, Garlic Expressions dressing, and other ingredients in the printable recipe card. Add the chicken to this tantalizing marinade, ensuring each piece is well-coated. Allow it to sit and soak in these Italian flavors for at least an hour. Since I’ve used wine in the marinade, you don’t need for it to sit any longer than an hour.
- Coat the chicken: After an hour in the marinade, you’ll pour the marinade out and toss the breadcrumbs (or pork rinds!) with the chicken, making sure each piece is coated.
- Skewer the chicken: If using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water beforehand to prevent burning. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers, packing them tightly for the best grilling experience.
- Cook to perfection: Preheat your grill or grill pan over medium heat. Grill the chicken skewers, turning them occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F. This step is crucial for juicy chicken that is full of Italian essence.
- Serve with elegance: Arrange your Chicken Spiedini on a platter. Drizzle with a luscious lemon butter sauce or serve with marinara sauce, and don’t forget a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and fresh parsley for a garnish that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate. Pair with a side salad and a glass of dry white wine, like Pinot Grigio, for an authentic Italian dining experience.
Expert Tips for Perfect Spiedini
First off, let me tell you, choosing between metal skewers and wooden skewers can make all the difference when preparing your Chicken Spiedini.
Metal skewers heat up during cooking, helping the chicken cubes cook from the inside out, ensuring that juicy center we all love. If you’re leaning towards wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water beforehand to prevent burning.
Now, achieving that crispy perfection without drying out the chicken might seem like a tightrope walk.
Your breadcrumb mixture should be seasoned well so you know each bite is delicious.
The secret? Marinating your chicken pieces in a mixture of extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs not only infuses flavor but also tenderizes the meat, guarding against dryness.
I was nervous to grill breadcrumbs at first. You need to keep your grill on medium, and do a slower grill than usual of the chicken. So, the breadcrumbs don’t burn. I’ve found it works best if you keep the skewers rotating, almost like a rotisserie!
Finally, when it comes to elevating this dish to its full potential, a glass of Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc alongside your Spiedini does wonders.
These wines, with their crisp acidity, complement the rich Italian flavors beautifully, making each bite a symphony of tastes. You can use the same wine you used to marinade the chicken so you’re instantly creating a cohesive flavor profile.
Serving Chicken Spiedini Skewers
After you’ve removed your skewers from a hot grill, let them rest for a few minutes.
If you’re wanting to serve with a lemon butter sauce, now is the time to make it.
Lemon Butter sauce can be a fussy thing or a very simple thing!
I’ve chosen the simple route and heated up lemon juice that I stir cold butter into until it emulsifiers and creat a luscious sauce.
If you want to be super fancy, you could heat the lemon juice with a sliced shallot and garlic clove to give it even more flavor!
This meal is great with a mountain of pasta or some Slow Cooker Creamed Corn.
You could serve it with the Caprese Caesar Salad! The chicken kabobs would pair perfectly.
I served mine with some simple boiled penne pasta coated in lemon butter sauce. I added sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil for a bright flavor!
Storing and Reheating Your Spiedini
After indulging in the crispy perfection of Chicken Spiedini, the question arises – what to do with the leftovers?
I’ve found the secret to savoring this Italian delight even the next day.
First up, store any remaining pieces in an airtight container. The refrigerator keeps it fresh for up to three days, but for an extended pleasure, tuck it away in the freezer.
When you’re ready to dive back into those juicy chicken bites, reheating is crucial for recapturing their initial glory. I use my air frying Ninja Foodi Oven to heat them “back to life!”
Crispy chicken spiedini is great reheated and added to a wrap with Caesar dressing and lettuce. Just delicious, y’all!
However, when you serve your Chicken Spiedini, everyone will love it!
PrintChicken Spiedini Recipe (Grilled Chicken Recipe)
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: main dish
- Method: grill
- Cuisine: italian-american
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds Chicken Breast (or thighs!), cut into 1.5-inch chunks
- 1/2 cup Garlic Expressions Dressing (or bottled Italian Dressing)
- 1/2 cup White Wine (or Prosecco)
- 1 TBS Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 cup Seasoned Panko Breadcrumbs (I used smashed pork rinds!)
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Lemon Butter Sauce
- 1/4 cup Lemon Juice (Juice of 2 lemons)
- 1 stick Cold Salted Butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces
- Optional: 1 Shallot, cut in half + 1 Garlic Cloves, cut in half
Instructions
- In a large bowl, place your chicken pieces.
- Pour in half a cup of Garlic Expressions Dressing and half a cup of white wine.
- Sprinkle in the one tablespoon of Italian seasoning, half a teaspoon garlic powder, and half a teaspoon onion powder.
- Mix all of that around, and get all the chicken coated in the seasoning, dressing, and wine.
- Let this sit and marinate for one hour in the fridge.
- Remove the bowl from the fridge, and pour off the marinade. ((Just hold your hand on the side of the bowl and pour as much marinade that will come off into the sink!))
- Add in one cup of seasoned panko and half a cup of Parmesan cheese.
- Toss everything together until each chicken piece is coated in the panko and cheese.
- To some skewers, tightly pack the chicken pieces on.
- Preheat your grill while you skewer the chicken.
- Grill over medium heat, turning often so the chicken doesn’t burn.
- Once the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees, remove from the grill and let the kebabs rest while you make the lemon butter sauce.
Lemon Butter Sauce
- In a small pot, pour the quarter cup of lemon juice, and bring to a gentle simmer. Just until you start seeing steam come off of the lemon juice.
- When the steam is rising, add one tablespoon of butter at a time. Whisking until each pat of butter is emulsified in the sauce.
- Once the sauce is fully incorporated and you’ve whisked in all the pats of butter, serve with the chicken spiedini!
- I like to take the chicken off the kebobs, so it’s easier to serve.
- Pour the sauce right over the chicken, and hold some back to serve on the side at the table.