This baked chicken skewers recipe with less than 5 ingredients is the perfect way to have juicy bbq chicken without a grill. I use a cast iron skillet to char the meat and caramelize the bourbon bbq sauce. Plus, I use my homemade bbq chicken rub to add flavor. Learn how to make bbq chicken skewers in the oven with this easy recipe.
Why Make Baked Chicken Skewers
- No need for a grill: I love bbq food, but I don’t have/can’t use a grill. So, the next best thing is to get those flavors indoor. That’s why I love this recipe and others like Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs, BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs, BBQ Chicken Sliders, and Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Tenders.
- Easy recipe: this recipe includes just 5 ingredients & less than 5 minutes of prep.
- Delicious: my homemade bbq dry rub combines with the steak seasoning to give the chicken bold flavor. Then, I use my cast iron skillet to get some char on the meat and caramelize the bourbon bbq sauce.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you need to know about the ingredients to make this baked chicken skewers recipe successfully.
As always, be sure to go to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient amounts and full step-by-step instructions.
- Chicken thighs: I’m using boneless and skinless chicken thighs. They are fresh (not frozen). I cut them into bite-sized pieces.
- Steak Seasoning: I use this one, but something a Montreal steak seasoning will also work
- BBQ Chicken Rub: this is a homemade brown sugar bbq dry rub that’s easy to make with simple ingredients. I store it in a glass jar to use it in multiple recipes.
- Avocado Oil: this is my favorite neutral-tasting oil. It stands up to high heat.
- Bourbon BBQ Sauce: I pick this up from the grocery store, but any bbq sauce will work in this recipe.
Tools
- Metal Skewers: I prefer metal since they are reusable, dishwasher-safe, and can be used to make Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs too!
- Cast Iron Skillet: I’m using a 12-inch cast iron skillet.
How To Make Baked Chicken Skewers
- Prepare the cast iron skillet: Add 1 tbsp avocado oil to a 12 in cast iron skillet – tilt the skillet to coat the bottom of it with the oil. Add the skillet to the oven and preheat the oven at 425 degrees.
- Season the chicken thighs: Add the chicken pieces, seasoning, dry rub, and the rest of the avocado oil to a large bowl. Use tongs to evenly coat the chicken.
- Make the chicken skewers: Lace the chicken pieces onto the skewers. Add the skewers to the cast iron skillet in a single layer.
- Bake & baste
Recipe Tips & FAQs
- Preheat your skillet: This takes 15-20 minutes to fully heat the skillet and oven. By heating the skillet, the meat is able to start cooking and searing immediately. This gives it a browned, charred look.
- Avoid stuffing the chicken on the skewers: it only makes the chicken harder to cook evenly. I use about 5-6 chicken bites per skewer.
Which cut of chicken is best for skewers?
I prefer to use dark chicken meat since it has naturally more fat. The fat allows the chicken to be cooked at higher temperatures for longer without overcooking.
How do you keep chicken skewers from drying out?
I use chicken thighs to keep the chicken skewers from drying out.
More Baked Chicken Recipes
Baked Chicken Skewers
BBQ Baked Chicken Skewers with less than 5 ingredients & DIY chicken bbq rub. Uses cast iron to char the meat & caramelize the bbq sauce.
Equipment
- 12 inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1.25 lb chicken thighs boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp steak seasoning I use this one, but something like a montreal steak seasoning will also work
- 2 tbsp bbq chicken dry rub from above
- 3 tbsp avocado oil
- ⅓ cup bourbon bbq sauce I pick this up from the market
Instructions
- Add 1 tbsp avocado oil to a 12 in cast iron skillet – tilt the skillet to coat the bottom of it with the oil.
- Preheat the oil and the skillet in the oven at 425 degrees. This takes 15-20 minutes to fully heat the skillet and oven. By heating the skillet, the meat is able to start cooking and searing immediately.
- Add the chicken pieces, seasoning, dry rub, and the rest of the avocado oil to a large bowl. Use tongs to evenly coat the chicken.
- Lace the chicken pieces onto the skewers. Avoid stuffing them since it makes the chicken harder to cook. I use about 5-6 chicken bites per skewer.
- Add the skewers to the cast iron skillet in a single layer.
- Bake at 425 for 12 minutes.
- Use a basting brush to coat both sides of the skewers with bbq sauce.
- Bake at 425 for 5-10 more minutes to cook the chicken skewers through. I tend to cook for 10 minutes because we like our skewers to be slightly charred. For photos, please show the most seared side facing up.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!