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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!
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.
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!
Absolutely amazing, as always.
Sometimes I put some pineapple in the marinade
It also works great with pork instead of chicken (probably any protein you have on hand will go great)
Thanks so much Sam!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it! xT
Hi Tiegan, If I commented on every recipe we’ve loved, I’d be here a long time. This one deserves a special mention though. Yum. Yum. Yum. A massive hit with my boys (senior and junior) and it’s straight to the top of the favourites list 😋
Lol thank you so much Kate!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you making it! xT
Okay to sub ginger for the pickled ginger? Our grocery store doesn’t have any!
Hi Christy,
You bet! I would just reduce the ginger since it’s going to be more potent than the pickled ginger:) I hope you love this dish! xT
I LOVE this recipe. I have made it a number of times now and it is always delish. I even substituted shrimp for chicken and it works great with the pineapple. Made a batch for our Summer Solstice party and the skewers disappeared. The bang bang sauce is great on all sorts of other grilled items as well. Thanks for another yummy recipe!
Hi Katia,
Fantastic!!🍒🍉 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your comment, so glad to hear it was a winner! xx
Made the recipe as written and it was phenomenal – definitely one I’ll be coming back to throughout the summer. Looking at the ingredients, I was a little concerned about the spice level (there were also some that I hadn’t worked with before, like the sweet Thai chili sauce and pickled ginger), but I’m so glad I gave it a try! And the bang bang sauce? Chef’s kiss!
Love to hear this Erin!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe! The bang bang sauce is the best! Have a great week! xT
This recipe was fantastic! The spice and then the pineapple and dipping sauce, 10 out of 10!!
Hi Elizabeth,
Happy Monday!!🇺🇸😎 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! xT
This recipe looks delicious!!! I can’t wait to do it. I would like to ask you if it is ok if I use canned pineapple. Also, does the pineapple get burned or over cooked since it has to be cooked with the chicken?
Hi Tania,
If you are using canned pineapple, I probably wouldn’t grill it. They are going to be much smaller, more delicate pieces than using a fresh cut pineapple:) Let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
These skewers were fantastic!!!! On repeat at our house this summer, the grilled pineapple with the marinated chicken is just the best and the bang bang sauce is a must!!! 🙂 Absolutely can’t go wrong with these.
Thanks so much for trying this recipe Justine!! I love to hear that it was a winner and appreciate you making it! xx
outstanding, this was really good
Thanks so much Ellen!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and I appreciate you making it:) xT
This was outstanding!! So easy, delicious, and full of flavor. I’ve already shared this recipe with friends. I’ll definitely be making it again and again.
Hi Cindy,
Awesome!!😎 Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
LOVED this. A few modifications: When I make this again, I will grill the chicken and the pineapple separately. Pineapple cooks faster and it got a little burned on the skewers with the chicken. Also, the marinade uncooked on its own is not my favorite BUT the flavor of the grilled sauce and chicken and pineapple combo is amazing. I also used half water and half coconut milk in the rice. Highly recommend!
Hi Maribeth,
Perfect!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your notes:) I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
This was so so good and so easy! Everyone loved it. I used the extra bang bang sauce the next day in the Red’s Favourite Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl instead of spicy mayo and it was delicious!
Hi Lisa,
Happy Monday!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great week! xT
We loved! Loved! Loved it!!! I’m so glad I tried out this recipe!!! It’s amazing!! I will definitely be making it again!!! The bang bang sauce was yummy as well! Delicious served with coconut rice!! Thanks for another fantastic recipe!!!
Hi Nancy,
Happy Friday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for making it and sharing your review!🍓🍑 xT
Love this recipe!! I’ve made it twice in the last week for large gatherings. Both times I froze the chicken pieces in the marinade in order to prep a few days in advance. Reviews were fabulous with many requests for the recipe. I also tried this recipe replacing the chicken with firm tofu for some vegetarian guests – equally yummy!
Hey Elizabeth,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, love to hear that it was tasty! xT
Do you think the same marinade would work well with steak too??
Hi Sabrina,
Sure, I don’t see why not! Let me know how this recipe turns out for you, I hope you love it! xT
Drool!! We have made many of your recipes and you never fail to impress. Thank you for all your hard work and inspirational dishes ♥️
Hi Kathleen,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it turned out well for you!🍒🥭
Sooooo good!!! One of my favorites!!! I will be passing this on to friends and family.
Hi Suzie,
Awesome!!😎 Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT