Delicious breaded Italian Chicken Skewers breaded and grilled to perfection. Chicken Spiedini is an easy and tasty recipe for chicken thigh skewers marinated in lemon and fresh garlic!
Serve with our Crispy Garlic Parmesan Potatoes and Sauteed Rapini with Garlic for the perfect summer meal!
Looking for more recipes on the grill? Try our Big Fat Greek Chicken Burger or Italian Ring Sausage (Chevalatta).
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Why this Method
Chicken Spiedini are the most tender and crunchy chicken skewers you'll ever have. It's the perfect Italian Street Food with a little squirt of lemon to finish it off.
Marinating the chicken in lemon, garlic, and olive oil makes the chicken even more tender, like our Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs, plus gives the chicken all of its flavor. That's why marinating for an hour or so is important to penetrate that flavor into the chicken.
We then dredge the skewers in a breadcrumb parmesan mixture to achieve the ultimate char and crunch once we grill the skewers. The little squirt of lemon juice at the end finishes these off with the perfect flavor. Try Garlic Parm Chicken Skewers if you're looking for a version without breadcrumbs.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Chicken thighs. It is important to use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast to achieve the tenderness desired in this dish. Chicken breast will be too tough and won't mimic the tenderness of veal and sheep that this dish was originally made with. If you want to use chicken breast, try Cast Iron Chicken Breast.
- Breadcrumbs. Panko breadcrumbs are the best for this recipe. They will give you the best crunch. I've tried regular Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, which can be substituted, but I prefer panko.
- Dijon. Mustard helps bind the breadcrumbs to the chicken.
*Please see recipe card below for more information on ingredients.
How to Make Chicken Spiedini
Step 1: Mince up the garlic until it is almost a paste. Then whisk together the lemon, olive oil, dijon, salt, and garlic until the marinade is combined.
Step 2: Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
Step 3: Combine the chicken with the marinade and place in the fridge for 1-3 hours. Marinating chicken thighs, like in our Bang Bang Chicken Skewers lets the flavor penetrate the chicken.
Step 4: Combine seasoned panko breadcrumbs mixture and place on a large plate.
Step 5: Once the chicken is done marinating, skewer the chicken thighs onto the skewer.
Step 6: Toss the chicken skewers in the breadcrumb mixture until thoroughly covered.
Step 7: Preheat the grill to medium. Spray or brush the grill with oil to avoid chicken sticking to the grill. Place the chicken thighs on the grill and turn every 3-4 minutes until the chicken reaches 165 degrees (about 12-16 minutes total).
Squirt with fresh lemon and serve! This Mediterranean dish is so delicious. Grilling recipes like chicken spiedini or Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops in the summer are the perfect way to end the day. Serve alongside an Orzo and Garbanzo Bean Salad to complete the meal.
Pro-Tips
- Marinate for at least 15 minutes but preferably 1-4 hours.
- Spray the grill or brush the grates with oil right before you put the spiedini on the grill so that the breadcrumbs don't stick to the grill and rip off.
- Prep the spiedini a day in advance. Egg and bread the skewers and store in the fridge overnight until you're ready to grill.
Alternate Methods of Cooking
While chicken spiedini is best cooked on the grill, there are 2 other options I would use to cook them that would work well.
Air Fryer: Place the spiedini in the air fryer at 425 degrees, cook for 8 minutes, and then flip them. Cook for another 8 minutes or until they reach 165 degrees. They get nice and crispy like Air Fryer Garlic Parm Wings.
Cast iron: Heat a cast iron to medium-high heat. Add olive oil and cook on each side for 4 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees.
Recipe FAQs
Spiedini is traditionally made with veal or sheep and bay leaves. This recipe is made with chicken thighs to mimic the tenderness.
It's huge in Kansas City, MO but originated in Abruzzo, Italy. It's an Italian street food that is famously from the streets of Abruzzo.
Chicken Spiedini is a summertime recipe for me. Serve it alongside some Italian pasta salad, steamed artichokes, Italian Green Bean Salad, or fried green tomatoes.
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More Summer 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.
📖 Recipe
Chicken Spiedini
Equipment
- 1 grill
- 1 large bowl
- skewers
Ingredients
- 3-4 lbs boneless chicken thighs
- salt and pepper
Marinade
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
breadcrumb mixture
- 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Whisk together the marinade ingredients until combined.
- Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Cut chicken thighs into 1-inch squares. Combine the chicken with the marinade and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Combine breadcrumb mixture ingredients on a large plate. Once the chicken is done marinating, skewer the chicken thighs onto the skewer. Toss the chicken skewers in the breadcrumb mixture until thoroughly covered.
- Preheat grill to medium. Spray the grill with cooking spray to avoid chicken sticking to the grill. Place the chicken thighs on the grill and turn every 3-4 minutes until the chicken reaches 165 degrees (about 12-16 minutes total).
- Place the chicken spiedini on a plate and squirt with lemon juice. Serve hot!
Notes
- Marinate for at least 15 minutes but preferably 1-4 hours.
- Spray the grill right before you put the spiedini on the grill so that the breadcrumbs don't stick to the grill and rip off.
Lauren Drew
Easy prep and so delicious! Melt in your mouth tender and flavorful. We loved it and will make it again!!!!
Vinny
Crunchy and tender. This is always on the summer menu on repeat! Hope you enjoy!