These Italian Parmesan Chicken Skewers are full of rich, savory flavor thanks to a marinade of Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, garlic and paprika. Great for grilling season or anytime you want a light, protein-heavy meal with a Mediterranean kick. Serve with a side of marinara or garlic aioli for dipping, or toss them on top of a crisp salad or a bed of pasta. Whether its a family meal or a backyard BBQ, these skewers are a hit!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Packed with Italian Flavors: Parmesan cheese, garlic and Italian seasoning give each bite lots of taste.
Grilling Perfection: These skewers are super quick to make, then just grill — charred is a flavor only the grill gives you.
Diner’s delight that’s also adaptable for a crowd: Have them as a main dish, on a salad or as apps at a shindig.
Key Ingredients:
Chicken Breasts: I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. They’re lean, fast-cooking and gratefully absorb the flavors of the marinade. If you like it even juicier, you can use chicken thighs, as well.
Olive Oil: The base of the marinade, olive oil helps cover the chicken and keep it moist on the grill. A bit of richness comes from the extra virgin olive oil.
Garlic: Finely minced garlic brings a bold flavor to the chicken that’s a must in Italian cooking. Add more cloves if you are a garlic lover!
Parmesan Cheese: Adds a rich, nutty flavor to the chicken and creates a thin crust while the chicken grills.
Italian seasoning: This mixture of herbs (usually basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme) lends true Italian flavor. A mixture of fresh herbs will also work if you have it available.
Paprika: Paprika brings in a little warmth, and also helps give the chicken that lovely golden color.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Prepare the Marinade
In a big mixing bowl, mix:
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 minced garlic cloves
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 T Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Stir together to make an even marinade. This process imparts strong flavors to the chicken.
Marinate the Chicken
Add chicken breasts to the marinade in the bowl, cut into 1-inch cubes.
Toss the cubes of chicken until they are all coated with the mixture.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes (for best result, marinate up to 4 hours for deeper flavor).
Preheat the Grill
About 10 minutes before grilling, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Preheating properly gives it an opportunity to cook evenly on the surface, even making those signature grill marks.
Prepare the Skewers
Once the grill reaches temperature, skewer the marinated chicken pieces closely together on soaked wooden skewers.
Keep the skewers loose; you want a bit of room so that the pieces can cook.
Grill the Skewers
Place the chicken skewers on the grill.
Grill for 6-8 mins per side, turning once halfway through cooking, or until the chicken is golden-brown and has grill marks.
(You also can use a meat thermometer — chickens should have an internal temperature of 165°F for humans to eat.)
Rest and Serve
Remove the skewers from the grill and let rest for a few minutes to redistribute the juices for even juicier meat.
Serve warm, topped with more grated Parmesan cheese or fresh herbs, if you’d like.
Serving Suggestions:
Side Dishes: It would be nice alongside a light pasta salad, cooked roasted vegetables or grilled asparagus for a more well-rounded meal.
Dipping Sauces: Serve with marinara sauce, garlic aioli or pesto for dipping.
Add to Salads: Threshold the skewers over a Caesar or mixed green salad for a peaked, protein-forward dinner.
