Oven-baked paprika chicken skewers
I love a skewer situation, and I don’t believe that you need to own a grill in order to enjoy them. I live in Manhattan - where the average person doesn’t own a grill let alone have outdoor space in order to grill. Grill pans work, per se, but you also have to take the risk of setting off your fire alarm. This recipe is the easiest way to enjoy skewers at home.
How to make chicken skewers in the oven
To avoid your chicken skewers from getting dry, make sure to cut your chicken into even-sized cubes. Uneven pieces will mean you’ll end up with drier pieces that need to cook longer so that the larger ones cook through.
You can use wooden or metal skewers, but make sure to soak wooden skewers in some water for around 30 minutes before baking so that the wood doesn’t burn in the oven. If you don’t have skewers, you can use chopsticks or skip the skewers altogether and cook the chicken on a baking sheet.
Kebabs cook quickly, but make sure to flip your skewers halfway through cooking. This will ensure that your skewers bake evenly on both sides.
Chicken skewer variations
The best part of this recipe is that it’s very flexible! Here are a few variations you can try:
Add cubed zucchini or eggplant slices to the skewers
Add 2 tablespoons of the sauce from a can of chiles in adobo for extra kick
Substitute 2 tablespoons of pesto for the paprika for a different twist
Use cubed pork loin instead of chicken
Oven-baked paprika chicken skewers
Ingredients:
- I 5.3 oz container plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 lemon, zest
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 3 chicken breasts, cubed
Instructions:
- Stir together the greek yogurt, lemon zest, and paprika with a generous pinch of salt and plenty of black pepper. Marinate the chicken in the yogurt for as long as you’d like, or have time to, before cooking.
- Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the cubes on metal or soaked wooden skewers. Prepare a baking pan with parchment and bake the skewers in one layer in the oven for 30 minutes until cooked through (~15-20 minutes), flipping once while it cooks.
- Serve the skewers hot from the oven with your favorite go-to salad.
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