Grilled BBQ Chicken Kebabs (with bacon)

Poultry
Kebabs
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 2 tsp kosher salt

  • 2 Tbsp sweet paprika

  • 4 tsp sugar

  • 2 tsp smoked paprika

  • 2 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

  • 4 12-inch metal skewers

Sauce
  • ½ cup ketchup

  • ¼ cup light or mild molasses

  • 2 tablespoons grated onion (use large holes on box grater)

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

  • 2 Tbsp cider vinegar

  • 1 Tbsp light brown sugar

For the sauce: Bring all ingredients to simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce reaches ketchup-like consistency and is reduced to about 1 cup, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer 1/2 cup sauce to small bowl and set aside remaining sauce to serve with cooked chicken.
For the kebabs: Toss chicken and salt in large bowl; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
Turn all burners to high, close lid, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Scrape cooking grate clean with grill brush. Leave primary burner on high and turn off other burner(s).
While grill heats, pat chicken dry with paper towels. Combine sweet paprika, sugar, and smoked paprika in small bowl. Process bacon in food processor until smooth paste forms, 30 to 45 seconds, scraping down bowl twice during processing. Add bacon paste and spice mixture to chicken; mix with hands or rubber spatula until ingredients are thoroughly blended and chicken is completely coated. Thread meat onto skewers, rolling or folding meat as necessary to maintain 1-inch cubes.
Place kebabs over coals and grill, turning one-quarter turn every 2 1/2 minutes until well browned and slightly charred, 10 minutes. (If flare-ups occur, slide kebabs to cool side of grill until fire does down.) Brush top surface of kebabs with 1/4 sauce; flip and cook until sauce is brown in spots, about 1 minutes. Brush second side with remaining 1/4 cup sauce; flip and continue to cook until brown in spots and instant-read thermometer inserted incenter of meat registers 175 degrees, about 1 minutes longer. Remove kebabs from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve, passing reserved sauce separately.
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