These grilled Mediterranean chicken kabobs are a healthy and flavorful source of protein with a tasty Greek flair! Pair them with pita bread, garlic roasted potatoes, rice, or a simple green salad for a refreshing and light summertime meal that requires minimal prep and clean up. {Gluten-free & Paleo}
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Healthy Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs
It’s time for grilling season! Although we make our fair share of steaks and burgers, you can never go wrong with these summery chicken kabobs!
All you need to do is marinate the chicken pieces with lemon, olive oil, and garlic, then skewer with fresh veggies and grill. Make them right away or pop them in the fridge to grill later…it’s basically a meal-on-a-stick!
There’s no better way to serve a crowd and they’re nutritious enough to serve everyday. Great for salads, wraps, and so much more!
For more recipes perfect for grilling season, be sure to try my Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick and Healthy Chicken Marinades.
Why We Love these Healthy Chicken Skewers
- Great source of lean protein
- Includes some colorful veggies for extra fiber, vitamins and minerals
- Requires minimal ingredients and easy to customize with your favorites
- Ready in about 15 minutes of cooking!
- Infused with flavor in every single bite
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs, but they may take a little longer to cook through.
- Oil: Marinades generally require oil to add in some fat and moisture to the meat, in addition to helping the flavors penetrate. Extra virgin olive oil provides that classic Mediterranean flair, but canola or avocado oil would work well too.
- Lemon juice: Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled for a much brighter flavor. The lemon zest is packed with lots of flavor, too, and can be added as well if desired.
- Fresh garlic: You can never have enough garlic! Mince the cloves and add them to the marinade for extra flavor. Feel free to measure with your heart, too. Make them extra garlicky, if you want!
- Oregano: We use dried oregano for this recipe, but you could also sub in fresh if you have some on hand.
- Vegetables: For these skewers, we add a mix of veggies including zucchini, yellow bell pepper, red onion and cherry tomatoes for a whole array of color and nutrients.
How to Make Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs – Step-by-Step
- Cut chicken pieces into 1 inch cubes, and place in a large bowl or ziplock bag.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together all the ingredients for the homemade marinade until combined.
- Reserve a couple tablespoons of the marinade and pour the rest over top of chicken and toss until completely coated.
- Seal the bag or cover and marinate chicken in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours for more flavorful chicken kabobs.
- Pre-heat grill to medium-high heat, making sure to lightly coat grill grates with oil to avoid sticking.
- To assemble the kabobs, first add a zucchini slice, followed by a pepper slice, a few onion slices, a cherry tomato and a couple pieces of chicken. Then repeat this pattern until you reach the end of the skewer. Repeat on remaining skewers until chicken and veggies are gone. Discard the marinade used for the chicken.
- Place kabobs on the hot grill and cook them about 5 to 6 minutes on each side, brushing with the reserved marinade until the chicken is cooked through. The internal temp should reach 165 degrees F.
Scroll to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
- Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 4 hours as the acidity from the lemon juice may start to break down the chicken if it’s left too long.
- Be sure to cut the chicken breast and vegetables into pieces that are roughly the same size so that they all finish cooking at the same time.
- If using wooden or bamboo skewers, make sure to soak them in cold water for 15 to 20 minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill.
- The number of kabobs this recipe makes will depend on the length and type of skewers used. I used long metal skewers and got about 5 skewers after threading on all of the chicken and veggies.
How to Store
If you have any leftovers, these chicken skewers will keep well, covered in the fridge, for 3 to 4 days. You can also remove the chicken and veggies and store them in an airtight container.
Enjoy them cold over salads, or reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes until heated through.
Recipe FAQs
Can I bake chicken kabobs in the oven?
Definitely! To bake these, simply place them on baking sheet covered with foil or nonstick spray and bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 20 to 25 minutes, turning the kabobs halfway through. You’ll know the chicken is done with the juices run clear and the internal temp of the chicken reads 165 degrees F.
Can I prep chicken kabobs in advance?
You can marinate the chicken up to 4 hours ahead of time. You don’t want to marinade the chicken for much longer as the acid in the lemon juice will break down the chicken too much.
You can thread the veggies and chicken onto the skewers and keep them covered in the fridge until ready to cook.
How do I know when chicken kabobs are done?
There are a few different things to look for when trying to determine if your kabobs are done cooking:
- Thermometer: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should reach 165°F (74°C). Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, avoiding the skewer to get an accurate reading.
- Color: The chicken should turn from pink to white and should be opaque all the way through. It also should be golden brown around the edges.
- Juices: When pierced, the juices should run clear, not pink or red.
- Firmness: The chicken should feel firm to the touch. Raw chicken will be soft and gelatinous.
- Separation: The meat should easily pull away from the skewer without feeling rubbery or too soft.
What Goes with Greek Chicken Kabobs
These healthy chicken kabobs are such a great summer main, and are perfect paired with dips, salads, rice, pita bread or quinoa!
- Healthy tzatziki sauce
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Spiralized cucumber salad (or your favorite Greek salad)
- Chickpea Pesto Pasta Salad
- Greek Lentil Salad
Recipe Variations
- Switch up the veggies: You can also try mushrooms, yellow squash, red bell pepper, and a range of other summer veggies.
- For a kick: Try adding some red pepper flakes to the marinade for a bit of heat.
More Healthy Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Tikka Kebabs
- Grilled BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Feta Burgers
- Chicken Shawarma Wrap
- Sheet Pan Chicken Pitas
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Healthy Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Juice of one lemon (about ¼ cup lemon juice)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 small zucchini, sliced into 1/2 inch slices
- 1 yellow pepper, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1 small red onion, cut into 1 inch chunks
- ½ pint cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Place the diced chicken in a large bowl or ziplock bag.
- To make the marinade, whisk together all the ingredients until combined. Reserve a couple tablespoons of the marinade and pour the rest over top of chicken and toss until completely coated. Seal the bag or cover and marinate chicken in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Pre-heat grill to medium-high heat, making sure to lightly coat grill with oil to avoid sticking.
- To assemble the kabobs, first add a zucchini slice, followed by a pepper slice, a few onion slices, a cherry tomato and a couple pieces of chicken. Then repeat this pattern until you reach the end of the skewer. Repeat on remaining skewers until chicken and veggies are gone.
- Discard the marinade used for the chicken.
- Place the skewers on the grill and cook them about 5 to 6 minutes on each side, brushing with the reserved marinade until the chicken is cooked through. The internal temp should reach 165 degrees F. Serve warm with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 4 hours as the acidity from the lemon juice may start to break down the chicken if it’s left too long.
- Be sure to cut the chicken breast and vegetables into pieces that are roughly the same size so that they all finish cooking at the same time
- If using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in cold water for 15 to 20 minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill.
- The number of skewers this recipe makes will depend on the length and type of skewers used. I used long metal skewers and got about 5 skewers after threading on all of the chicken and veggies.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted June 2018 and was updated July 2024 to include more helpful tips and photos. The text and formatting were updated again in July 2025.
Simple, delicious flavors. Proof that healthy is far from boring. Wonderful recipe.
Thanks so much Angela! Definitely no boring healthy food in this house ;)
This is my kind of meal! Light, fresh and perfect for summer!
Thanks so much Allison! It’s one of our favourite meals for summer!
Nothing better than making your dinner on a grill! I always prefer quick meals and these kabobs are definitely one of them!
Lemon garlic chicken is always a hit, and these skewers are a fun summery twist.
Thanks so much Debi — a perfect quick and easy meal for summer!
This is so pretty! I love lemon chicken in the summer – especially a healthy version like this one!
Thanks Annemarie! Can’t go wrong with lemon-flavoured chicken!