Make chicken on skewers in the oven using this easy recipe. It requires just 5 ingredients, but tastes like sweet and smokey BBQ (minus the grill). Enjoy this easy chicken recipe with your favorite side dish like Instant Pot Collard Greens or Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn to make a meal.

Oven-baked chicken skewers adorned with parsley

Why Make BBQ Chicken Skewers in the Oven

Simple recipe: this chicken main dish uses just 5 ingredients. Most of them are pantry staples (or things that you can easily find in your local grocery store.
BBQ without the grill: put your cast iron skillet to work in this recipe. It helps to sear the meat, giving a delicious bbq flavor without needing a grill.

Ingredients Needed

Here’s what you need to know about the ingredients in this recipe to make it successfully:

Chicken Thighs: I’m using boneless and skinless chicken thighs. I cut them into bite-sized pieces. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but they cook quicker and won’t get as seared. So, be sure to check in on them during the last 2-3 minutes of cook time.
Steak Seasoning: You can use any steak seasoning blend that you prefer like Montreal Steak Seasoning.
BBQ Chicken Dry Rub: this is a homemade brown sugar bbq spice rub. I’m using my homemade chicken dry rub, but you can also use BBQ Spice Rub (AKA Magic Dust).
Avocado Oil: I prefer this because it has a high smoke point. You can also use other oils that have a smoke point of at least 425 degrees.
Bourbon BBQ Sauce: these are available in the BBQ sauce aisle. It’s an easier option than using my henny bbq sauce.

You can get the exact ingredient amounts and full step-by-step instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Ingredients for chicken skewers: diced chicken thighs, steak seasoning, BBQ dry rub, avocado oil, bourbon BBQ sauce

Recipe Tools

In addition to the ingredients above, this recipe also works best with these cooking tools:

Metal Skewers: I used these metal skewers. I love that they are dishwasher safe and can be used in the air fryer or oven, and on the grill.
Cast Iron Skillet: this helps to search the baked chicken skewers and give them a nice brown color even though they are baked in the oven. I use a 12-inch skillet.

How To Make Chicken on Skewers in the Oven

Here are the key steps to baking chicken skewers in the oven:

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.
Season the meat: 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 skewers: Lace the chicken pieces onto the skewers.
Bake the chicken skewer in the oven: Add the skewers to the cast iron skillet in a single layer. Bake, flip, using a basting brush for sauce, and bake until the meat is cooked through.

4 steps in cooking Chicken on Skewers in the cast iron skillet

Recipe Tips & FAQs

Avoid stuffing the chicken on the skewers since it makes the chicken harder to cook. I use about 5-6 chicken bites per skewer.
Preheat the oil and the skillet in the oven. By heating the skillet while the oven is also preheating, the meat is able to start cooking and searing immediately.

More BBQ Chicken Recipes

Here are some more easy and delicious bbq chicken recipes to add to your menu:

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Chicken on Skewers in the Oven

Make chicken on skewers in the oven using this easy 5 ingredient recipe. Perfect for smokey BBQ flavor without needing to start up a grill.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 156kcal

Equipment

12 6-inch metal skewers I used these metal skewers
cast iron skillet I used a 12-inch pan

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 I used this bbq chicken rub recipe
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.

Nutrition