Chicken Shish Kabobs (Caribbean Style)

5 from 4 votes
8 Comments

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These chicken shish kabobs are one of our favorites on the grill! Pineapple, marinated chicken, and bacon wrapped bananas, it’s a vacation on a stick!

Grilled Caribbean Shish Kabobs on a Serving Platter
Featured With This Recipe
  1. What to Put on Chicken Shish Kabobs
  2. Substitutions and Additions
  3. Homemade Pineapple Marinade
  4. Tips for Grilling Chicken Kabobs
  5. Storing and Reheating Leftovers
  6. What Goes Well With Chicken Shish Kabobs?
  7. FAQs About Chicken Shish Kabobs
  8. Chicken Shish Kabobs (Caribbean Style) Recipe

Once you try this taste of the islands, you will be in love. The bacon wrapped bananas are my FAVORITE part of these grilled Caribbean Shish Kabobs. I know it sounds weird but they are amazing! The bacon is crispy on the outside and the bananas are so soft and warm on the inside that they melt in your mouth. The bacon wrapped bananas in addition to the flavor of the grilled pineapple and tender marinated chicken make these kabobs over the top delicious. This is always a hit at summer barbecues!

What to Put on Chicken Shish Kabobs

he possibilities are endless with these Caribbean Style Chicken Kabobs. You can add or take away whatever you want to fit your own tastes. Here’s what we put on them:

  • Pineapple marinade (store bought or make your own, see below)
  • Chicken (we use boneless skinless chicken breasts but you can also use chicken thighs)
  • Bananas
  • Bacon
  • Pineapple

You can also add:

  • Red bell peppers
  • Onion
  • Mango
  • Nectarines
  • Cherry Tomatoes (we love using Sun Gold varieties)
  • Smoked sausage

Substitutions and Additions

As mentioned above, don’t go substituting out the bacon wrapped bananas. Those babies are what makes the dish so delicious and unique. If you are wanting to swap out the chicken for steak or even pork, go right ahead, it would be delicious. If you are wanting to add a little something extra, some vegetables maybe, try using onions, red bell peppers, or any of your other favorite grilling veggies.

Homemade Pineapple Marinade

We like to keep things easy and just get the store-bought marinade most of the time. However, it’s not hard to make your own! Here’s what you need:

  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt & black pepper, to taste

Whisk all ingredients together in a mixing bowl and use as a marinade for your kabobs.

Close up of Grilled Caribbean Shish Kabobs on the Grill


Tips for Grilling Chicken Kabobs

  • For more flavor you can marinate the chicken and pineapple together. If you are adding onion and bell pepper you can also include those in the marinade.
  • Use a meat thermometer to get determine when the chicken is cooked through. You want it to have an internal temperature of 165-degrees F when the meat thermometer in placed into the thickest piece of chicken.
  • If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least an hour before you thread on the chicken and other ingredients.
  • Oil the grill grates before turning on the grill. This will help prevent the kabobs from sticking.
  • Place the leftover marinade in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until the marinade comes to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer on low for 5 minutes and then brush over the kabobs while they are being grilled
  • No grill? No problem. Place the kabobs on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. The bacon and bananas don’t freeze well so we recommend eating them fresh or just refrigerating them. Reheat in a skillet on medium-high heat and sauté until heated through.

What Goes Well With Chicken Shish Kabobs?

Want to make these tasty shish kabobs but aren’t quite sure what to serve along with them? You can never go wrong with a green salad, plain white rice, or corn on the cob. Here are some more of our favorite side dish choices:

  • Cilantro Lime Rice (and Black Beans): Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans are the perfect complement to these kabobs. I often make these recipes as a side dish to my regular meals.
  • KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe: Coleslaw goes great with any grilled dish. The cool, crunchy, creamy cabbage always complements kabobs on hot summer days!
  • Easy Lemon Rice: The zesty flavor of the Easy Lemon Rice goes perfectly with this dish. The sweet from the kabobs and the savory/zesty from the rice.. Mmmmmm.
  • Fresh Mango Avocado Coleslaw: This Fresh Mango Avocado Coleslaw is such a flavorful and colorful summer salad! We will be eating this delicious side dish all summer!

Read Next: 35+ BBQ Side Dishes

FAQs About Chicken Shish Kabobs

What is the best way to cook chicken kabobs?

Chicken kabobs taste best when grilled. You just can’t beat that grilled flavor!

How long do chicken kabobs take to cook on the grill?

Between 8-12 minutes depending on how hot the grill is and how large the chicken pieces are. Always use a meat thermometer to determine doneness. You want the internal temperature of the chicken to be 165-degrees F.

How do you keep chicken kabobs from drying out on the grill?

Adding a glaze or marinade to the kabobs while they are cooking will help prevent them from drying out. You also want to check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer so the kabobs can be removed from the grill as soon as they reach the perfect temp (165-degrees F).

Grilled Caribbean Shish Kabobs on a Serving Platter

Chicken Shish Kabobs (Caribbean Style)

5 from 4 votes
Grilled chicken shish kabobs are one of our favorites on the grill! Pineapple, marinated chicken, and bacon wrapped bananas, it's a vacation on a stick!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Grill/BBQ, Hawaiian, Island
Servings 4

Video

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts cut into chunks
  • 1 Bottle Lawry’s Teriyaki w/ Pineapple marinade (see notes above)
  • 1 pound bacon or about 10 slices, cut into halves so you have 20 pieces
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 4 bananas (underripe)
  • 2 cups fresh pineapple cut into large pieces
  • wooden skewers soaked in water

Instructions

  • Marinate chicken pieces in teriyaki or peanut sauce for at least 3 hours. 
  • Cut bananas into about 5 pieces each. 
  • Slightly cook the bacon slices so you can pat off some of the grease, but don’t cook them too long because you want them long and soft enough to wrap around the bananas. Then lightly coat the bacon in maple syrup.
  • Wrap the bacon around the bananas and put them securely onto skewers alternating with chicken and pineapple. 
  • Grill over medium heat until chicken is cooked through.
  • Optional: Brush on more teriyaki sauce to the skewers while they are grilling.
  • Allow to rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For more flavor you can marinate the chicken and pineapple together. If you are adding onion and bell pepper you can also include those in the marinade.
  • Use a meat thermometer to get determine when the chicken is cooked through. You want it to have an internal temperature of 165-degrees F when the meat thermometer in placed into the thickest piece of chicken.
  • If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least an hour before you thread on the chicken and other ingredients.
  • Oil the grill grates before turning on the grill. This will help prevent the kabobs from sticking.
  • Place the leftover marinade in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until the marinade comes to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer on low for 5 minutes and then brush over the kabobs while they are being grilled
  • No grill? No problem. Place the kabobs on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 532kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 50gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 279mgPotassium: 1478mgFiber: 5gSugar: 50gVitamin A: 210IUVitamin C: 69.5mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 1.5mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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5 from 4 votes

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is such a unique dish! I was a little weirded out by the bananas, but they totally made the dish – definitely wouldn’t be the same without them!

    1. You could use mushrooms instead.. bacon-wrapped mushrooms are SO tasty! It wouldn’t have the sweetness but would still be good 🙂