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These Chipotle Pineapple Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are a new warm weather go-to. We just love these! Chicken seasoned with spicy chipotle chilies, tamari, ginger, and honey. Add chunks of pineapple to each skewer for a tropical island flare. Serve these chicken skewers with spicy, tangy, creamy restaurant-style bang bang sauce, it never disappoints. Add extra limes and green onions, plus a bowl of coconut or cilantro rice (or cook up some baked french fries). Such a yummy family meal!
To me, Memorial Day is the official kick-off for grilling season. Burgers, chicken, steaks, and sweet corn will be on rotation from now until mid-September when the brisk fall air sweeps in to stay.
Honestly, I’m not the biggest “griller”. We live in a chillier environment, so our summer nights are a little too cold to stand outside and grill. I usually just use my trusty grill pan any time I want the flavor of something from the grill. Works like a charm!
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Tomato paste
- Tamari/soy sauce
- Honey
- Chopped pickled ginger
- Chipotle chilis in adobo
- Sweet or smoked paprika
- Fresh thyme
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Fresh pineapple chunks
- Green onions and basil
Bang Bang Sauce
- Mayo
- Sweet Thai chili sauce
- Tamari/ soy sauce
- Small clove garlic
- Lime zest
- Chopped pickled ginger
But of course, I know the rest of you all love a delicious grilled summer dinner. Coming from the Midwest, where summertime is very hot and humid, I totally get it! This year I’m looking forward to sharing some of the dishes I used to make from our summers spent in Cleveland.
We certainly adored making chicken skewers! Something about chicken on a stick is just better, you know?
I’ve always enjoyed adding pineapple to anything grilled. So when I had this idea, I made it almost immediately. It is such a delicious flavor combination!
Here are the details
Step 1: Make the Chipotle marinade
This is a very simple mix of extra virgin olive oil, tomato paste, tamari (or use soy sauce), honey, ginger, chipotle, and fresh thyme. To streamline the process of the marinade I whipped everything together in a blender, so it was ready in seconds.
Next, take the chicken and cut it into 1 or 2-inch cubes. Add the chicken to a bowl and toss with the marinade. At this point, and if time allows, you can refrigerate the chicken for a day or two before grilling. It will develop an even more intense flavor the longer it sits.
Step 2: Thread the chicken and pineapple onto skewers
Now the fun part. Take the chipotle-seasoned chicken and the chunks of pineapple and thread them one after another onto metal or wooden skewers.
I layer/thread 1 piece of chicken, then 1 pineapple chunk. If you want more pineapple, do 1 chicken piece, then 2 pineapple chunks.
Heat your grill and cook each skewer until light grill marks appear.
Step 3: Make the bang bang sauce
Mix mayo in a bowl with Thai chili sauce tamari, garlic, and lime zest. You can add a pinch of salt and pepper or even more chili flakes too!
This is one of my favorite sauces! The sweet Thai chile sauce is the secret to the deliciousness.
To Sum it all up!
The chicken is spicy and just a smidge smoky, but at the same time a little sweet too. It’s such a wonderful marriage of flavors.
The sauce is creamy and tangy with a touch of heat. Putting everything together turns into the most delicious grilled chicken dinner. Serve with rice and you’ll have a complete meal with so much (really) good flavor!
Looking for more recipes? Here are a few to try:
Coconut Chicken Fingers with Bang Bang Sauce
Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken
Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Feta Potatoes
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Buffalo Cauliflower with Spicy Tahini Ranch
Lastly, if you make these Chipotle Pineapple Bang Bang Chicken Skewers, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
These Chipotle Pineapple Bang Bang Chicken Skewers:
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 435 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons tamari/soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon chopped pickled ginger
- 1-3 chipotle chiles in adobo
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sweet or smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size chunks
- 3 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- green onions and basil, for serving
Bang Bang sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/3 cup sweet Thai chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons tamari/soy sauce
- 1 small clove garlic grated
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 tablespoon chopped pickled ginger
Instructions
- 1. In a blender, blend the olive oil, tomato paste, tamari/soy sauce, honey, ginger, chipotle, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper until the chilies are chopped. 2. Mix the chicken and chipotle sauce in a bowl. Take the skewers and thread the chicken with the pineapple chunks.3. Set your grill, grill pan, or skillet to medium-high heat. Grill the skewers until lightly charred and cooked through, turning them occasionally throughout cooking, about 10 to 12 minutes total. 4. To make the sauce: combine all ingredients in a bowl.5. Serve the chicken and pineapple with limes, green onions, and bang bang sauce for dipping. Add extra chili sauce mixed with a couple tablespoons of ketchup for a little double-dip action. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on May 31, 2023
Just made this.
HEAVEN on a plate.
My husband requested it for Father’s Day next week and my toddler ate it.
Thanks so much for making this recipe and your comment, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
Delicious recipe (as always) and perfect for the hot/humid Iowa nights when we don’t want to heat up the house!
I used chicken thighs and added green peppers and onions with the pineapple to the skewers. It was excellent – sweet, smoky, and the bang bang sauce off set the heat which was nice!
Thanks Tieghan!
Hey Melissa,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and your review!! 🍓🫐🍉
I don’t eat meat, but I made these for my partner and he said it was one of the better things I’ve ever made him, 🙂 The pineapple stuck to my grill a bit, but it didn’t affect the flavor!
Love to hear this Hilary!! Thanks so much for trying the recipe and so glad to hear it was enjoyed:) xT
Another knock it out of the park recipe. This is so good! I didn’t feel like dealing with the grill so I broiled the skewers & they were amazing. I marinated the chicken (I used breasts) overnight so the flavors were incredible. The sauce is everything.
Hi Beth,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and your review!! 🍓🫐🍉
Hi Tieghan,
What a great recipe these chicken skewers were delicious and the sauce was simply amazing!! Do you usually use chicken breast or thighs when doing this any preference?? Thanks for sharing this recipe I loved it well done!! Have a great weekend.
Hi Mike,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and your review!! I personally like to use chicken breasts as I find they are easier to cute in a uniform size. 🍓🫐🍉
I made this! I really enjoyed the smokey sweet. I added a bit of chilies paste for some heat. Perfect combo. I did add orange peppers to the the skewers mostly for the colour and some extra veg. It looked so bright and colorful
Sorry I didn’t bother with the bang bang sauce. Too many calories for me, but trust me I wanted to. It sounds delicious.Next time.
Thanks for another addition to our weekly menu choices.
Hi there,
Happy Friday!!🍪🍦 Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
These are were delicious! Making again for a big gathering
Thanks so much Christine! I’m so glad to hear that this dish was enjoyed and I appreciate you making it! xx
Hey Tieghan! Looks yummy! I don’t have any pickled ginger…do you think fresh regular ginger would work? Thanks!
Hi Laura,
Sure, that will work for you, I would just reduce the amount that you use! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
Oh. My. The best bang bang sauce ever!! The whole dish is delish!
Hi Allison,
Happy Friday!!🍪🍦 Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
Do you have a recipe for sweet chili sauce and a sub I can use? can’t find it locally. Thank you!
Hey Amanda,
Here is a recipe you might like:
Homemade Sweet Thai Chili Sauce: Mix 1/3 cup honey, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1-2 tablespoons chili sauce, 2 teaspoons lime zest, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons tamari or soy sauce, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, and 1 clove grated garlic in a glass jar. Shake or stir well. Use as directed.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
W.o.w.~^~_~_~_AMAZING_^_^_^_!!!!!!!!!! I agree with Orla…I knew when I was making it that it would be good. In fact I knew when I was reading the recipe and looking at the pictures that my family would love. The sauce recipe is brilliant…and of course dipped a finger in it before putting with the chicken….and then was anxiously awaiting the skewers coming off the grill! BUT I totally didn’t think the dinner plan all the way through because here in Upstate NY we have an unsafe air quality alert due to the Canadian fires…so didn’t think about hubby outdoors on the grill! I made him wear his N95 out there! Probably should have used the broiler 🙁 for the side dish I made your Creamy Golden Rice…but without the yummy chickpea topping due to time constraints…and had no spinach so shaved up some zucchini instead. Still yummy!!! Will make the topping today to go with the leftovers. Tieghan, you continue to inspire me!
Hi Shelley,
Thanks so much for your kind message and making this recipe:) I’m so glad it was a hit with your family!! Hopefully the air clears up soon! xT
Tieghan, you are brilliant! how do you keep coming with amazing recipes like that? My whole family that doesn’t care about chicken was moaning and groaning and their eyeballs were rolling to the back of their heads. It was absolutely delicious! Thank you so much, made our day
Lol thanks so much for your kind message Nikki!! I love to hear that this recipe was such a hit and appreciate you making it! xT
Such a hit in the household. We have been so swamped that dinners have not been fun or new lately so thank you for giving something easy to spice up the nightly routine. My husband fell in love with the bang bang sauce too – all about the sauce.
Hi Amanda,
Wonderful!! I’m so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
Holy flavor! I made this last night since I had some fresh pineapple leftover and wow!! I want to make this every night! I plan using the bang bang sauce with a variety of other proteins, next up – Shrimp!
So amazing!
Thanks so much Jo!! So glad to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for trying it out! xT
I did these in my air fryer. They were delicious and flavourful. Added yellow bell peppers. Fam loved it too!
Thank you!!
Hey Shannon,
Amazing!! Thanks for sharing that these worked well for you in the air fryer! So glad to hear they were enjoyed! xT