These Spicy Chipotle Chicken Skewers are smoky and packed with bold flavor from an easy chipotle mayo marinade. Grilled until perfectly caramelized and slightly charred, and perfect for family weeknight meals or weekend barbecues!
If you love tender and crispy chicken recipes, try our Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs or Chicken Spiedini!
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Why This Recipe
The all-time best way to get crispy caramelized chicken is to marinate it in mayonnaise. These tender chicken skewers are perfectly caramelized because mayo is the perfect combo of sugar and fat to caramelize on the grill.
I like to add butter to the basting, like I do with my Garlic Parm Chicken Skewers. It adds to the tenderness of the chicken when you're grilling and makes it easier to remove the chicken from the grill.
Chicken thighs are much more tender and moist than breasts, making them the perfect meat to grill over direct heat.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Boneless Chicken Thighs. Chicken thighs are perfect for skewers because of their fat content. They caramelize to a perfect crisp tenderness. You could substitute chicken breast, but it will be slightly drier.
- Seasoning. I use chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. You could add more garlic with garlic powder or cayenne to spice it up.
- Chipotle mayo. I use the same chipotle mayo recipe as my Volcano Shrimp Tacos. It's perfect to marinate these chicken thighs and as a sauce on its own. The mayo provides fat and sugar for caramelization.
- Butter. Basting with butter and mayo while cooking gives you the tender and crispy perfection that you recognize in good street-food style skewers.
*Please see the recipe card below for more information on ingredients.
How to Make Spicy Chipotle Chicken Skewers
Step 1: Combine mayo, garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and lime juice in a mixing cup or food processor.
Step 2: Use an immersion blender or food processor to blend the sauce together until it is smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Chop the boneless chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces. Place them in a large bowl with olive oil, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Step 4: Add half the chipotle mayo to the bowl. Mix well and marinate for at least 1 hour.
Step 5: Preheat the grill to medium heat, 450 ℉. Place the chicken thighs onto the skewers.
Step 6: Melt the 3 tablespoon of butter in a pan or a small bowl in the microwave. Combine it with the remaining chipotle mayo. Place the skewers on the grill. Using a basting brush, brush the mayo and butter onto the chicken. Close the grill and cook for 4 minutes.
Step 7: Turn the skewers every 4 minutes, brushing with mayo each time. If they don't release, let them cook another minute on that side. Cook for a total of 15-16 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 ℉.
Step 8: Take the chicken and rest for 10 minutes. Serve with fresh lime wedges.
Pro-Tip: You'll notice the skewers are caramelized when the sauce looks sticky, and the chicken begins to char.
Serve Spicy Chipotle chicken skewers with a Grilled Shrimp Salad with Cilantro Mango Vinaigrette. Or serve them with a Cowboy Caviar Salad or Italian Green Bean Salad and a spicy pasta like Cajun Shrimp Scampi.
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Cooking Variations for Spicy Chipotle Chicken Skewers
No grill? No problem. You can make these all winter long
- In the oven: 425°F, 20-25 minutes
- Airfryer: 400°F 15-20 minutes
- Less Spicy: Use one chipotle pepper
- In advance: Marinate chicken for up to 24 hours in advance.
Pro-Tips
- Spice up the chipotle mayo by adding half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper or an extra chipotle pepper.
- Marinate the chicken for at least an hour, but overnight is best for the flavor to penetrate the chicken.
- Grill the chicken thighs on one side and don't flip until they no longer stick.
- Rest the chicken for 10 minutes before removing them from the skewers.
Serving Suggestions
Here's what to serve with Spicy Chipotle Chicken Skewers:
- Roasted or Grilled Vegetables: Serve these easy chicken skewers with Zucchini alla Scapece or Roasted Carrots and Fennel!
- Make-ahead salads: I love to grill when I have all the side dishes made in advance. Try these salads like Garbanzo Bean Kale Salad, Italian Red Potato Salad (No Mayo), or Caprese Tortellini Salad.
- Summer Appetizers: Enjoy some Traditional Panzanella Salad, Antipasto Caprese Skewers, or Eggplant Caponata.
FAQs on Spicy Chipotle Chicken Skewers
They're not ready to be flipped if they're still sticking. Wait another two minutes and then try again once they are cooked more.
Marinating chicken in mayo is perfect to get the crispiest results because it has a high fat content, and it will caramelize while on the grill.
The chipotles in the adobo sauce are spicy and the chili powder also adds a mild spice. You can marinate with cayenne chili pepper to add more heat.
More Delicious Grilled Recipes
Please leave a comment and star rating below in the recipe card! I love to hear what you think of our recipes. Feel free to tag us on Instagram @vindelgiudice.
Spicy Chipotle Chicken Skewers
Equipment
- 8-10 skewers
- 1 grill
- 1 large bowl
- 1 immersion blender or food processor
- 1 basting brush
Ingredients
- 3-4 lbs boneless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
Chipotle Mayo
- 1 cup mayo
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1.5 tablespoon lime juice
Instructions
- Combine mayo, garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and lime juice. Use an immersion blender or food processor to blend the sauce together.
- Chop the boneless chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces. Place them in a large bowl with olive oil, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Combine and then add half the chipotle mayo. Mix well and marinate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat, 450 ℉. Place the chicken thighs onto the skewers. Melt the 3 tablespoon of butter in a pan or a small bowl in the microwave. Combine it with the remaining chipotle mayo.
- Place the skewers on the grill. Using a basting brush, brush the mayo and butter onto the chicken. Close the grill and cook for 4 minutes. Turn the skewers every 4 minutes, brushing with mayo each time. Cook for a total of 15-16 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 ℉.
- Take the chicken off the grill and rest for 10 minutes. Serve with fresh lime wedges.
Video
Notes
- Spice up the chipotle mayo by adding half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper or an extra chipotle pepper.
- Marinate the chicken for at least an hour, but overnight is best for the flavor to penetrate the chicken.
- Grill the chicken thighs on one side and don't flip until they no longer stick.
- Rest the chicken for 10 minutes before removing them from the skewers.
Vinny says
These are my wife's favorite skewer recipe on the website. They're spicy and tender making them the perfect grilling recipe for our family!