Grilled Chicken Skewers with Red Pineapple, Zucchini, and Guajillo-Orange-Oregano Marinade

Name: Grilled Chicken Skewers with Red Pineapple, Zucchini, and Guajillo-Orange-Oregano Marinade
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 48 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusión mexicana a la parrilla
Ingredients: 1.5 lb skinless chicken breast, cubed; 2 cups fresh pineapple, cubed; 2 cups zucchini, thick half-moons; 1.5 cups red onion, cut into chunks; 4 chiles dried guajillo chiles; 0.5 cup orange juice; 3 tbsp olive oil; 4 cloves garlic; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1.5 tsp salt; 0.5 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp honey; 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; 2 tsp orange zest

Original grilled chicken skewers marinated in a citrusy blend of guajillo chile, orange, garlic, and oregano, threaded with fresh pineapple, red onion, and zucchini for a balance of sweetness, smokiness, and brightness off the grill.

30 minPrep

18 minCook

48 minTotal

4Servings

Gluten-FreeDairy-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g skinless chicken breast, cubed (1.25 inch)
300 g fresh pineapple, cubed (1.25 inch)
250 g zucchini, thick half-moons (0.6 inch)
180 g red onion, cut into chunks (capas separadas)
20 g dried guajillo chiles (without stalk ni semillas)
120 ml orange juice (freshly squeezed)
45 ml olive oil (divided)
12 g garlic (chopped)
2 g dried oregano
2 g ground cumin
2 g smoked paprika
15 ml apple cider vinegar
8 g salt (divided)
2 g black pepper
15 ml honey
16 g fresh cilantro, chopped (for terminar)
4 g orange zest (for terminar)

Nutrition facts

per serving

318 kcal

Calories

36 g

Protein

17 g

Carbs

11 g

Fat

2.5 g

Fiber

14.5 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

No declared allergens

Instructions

1
1. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes to keep them from burning on the grill.
2
2. Heat a small skillet or griddle over medium heat. Toast the dried guajillo chiles for 20 to 30 seconds per side, being careful not to burn them. Transfer to a bowl, cover with hot water, and soak for 10 minutes; drain well.
3
3. In a blender, combine the soaked guajillo chiles, orange juice, 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil, garlic, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, apple cider vinegar, 6 g (1 tsp) salt, black pepper, and honey until smooth.
4
4. Place the chicken in a large bowl and add two-thirds of the marinade. Toss well to coat all pieces and let marinate for 15 minutes in a cool spot. Reserve the remaining one-third of the marinade for basting.
5
5. In another bowl, toss the pineapple, zucchini, and red onion with the remaining 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil and the remaining 2 g (1/2 tsp) salt.
6
6. Thread the skewers, alternating marinated chicken, red onion, pineapple, and zucchini until all ingredients are used. Discard any marinade that came into direct contact with raw chicken.
7
7. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, about 425 °F / 220 °C. Clean the grates and lightly oil them.
8
8. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 14 to 18 minutes at 425 °F / 220 °C, turning every 3 to 4 minutes for even browning. During the last 4 minutes, baste with the reserved marinade that did not touch raw chicken.
9
9. Cook until the chicken is fully done and reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F / 74 °C in the thickest part.
10
10. Remove the skewers from the grill, sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro and orange zest, and let rest for 3 minutes before serving.

Chef tips

For a smokier flavor, grill the pineapple first for 1 to 2 minutes per side before skewering. If the grill runs very hot, move the skewers to indirect heat to finish without burning the marinade.

Substitutions

You can swap the chicken breast for boneless chicken thighs. Zucchini can be replaced with yellow squash, and honey can be replaced with agave syrup for a different sweetness.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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