Description
Succulent BBQ beer-marinated chicken skewers blend hoppy complexity with smoky grilled perfection. Juicy meat marinates in rich beer, creating tender bites that promise a delightful culinary journey you won’t want to miss.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
Marinade Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beer (lager or ale works best)
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasoning and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Additional Items:
- Wooden or metal skewers
- Extra BBQ sauce for basting (optional)
- Chopped parsley or green onion, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Craft a robust marinade by vigorously whisking beer, BBQ sauce, olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a medium mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Submerge chicken pieces completely in the marinade within a sealed container or zip-top bag, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing flavors to penetrate deeply, with a maximum marination time of 8 hours for maximum taste intensity.
- Prepare wooden skewers by immersing them in water for at least 30 minutes, preventing potential charring during grilling and ensuring safe cooking.
- Extract chicken from marinade, carefully threading pieces onto pre-soaked skewers. Discard remaining marinade to avoid cross-contamination.
- Heat grill to medium-high temperature, targeting approximately 400 degrees fahrenheit for optimal cooking conditions.
- Position skewered chicken on grill, rotating every few minutes to ensure uniform cooking and attractive grill marks. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until chicken reaches complete internal doneness.
- Optional: During final grilling moments, generously brush additional BBQ sauce over skewers for enhanced flavor and glossy appearance.
Notes
- Choose a darker beer like amber ale or stout for deeper, richer flavor complexity that complements the BBQ sauce.
- Pat chicken dry before marinating to help seasonings adhere better and ensure perfect caramelization during grilling.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and use gluten-free BBQ sauce to maintain identical taste profile.
- Quickly marinate chicken for 30 minutes if short on time, though longer marination develops more intense flavor and tenderness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg