Description
These garlicky lemon herb chicken skewers are juicy, flavorful, and perfect for pairing with fresh basil rice. Marinated in garlic, lemon, parmesan, and herbs, the chicken grills up tender and aromatic, making it an easy yet impressive dinner. Served with fragrant basil rice and a refreshing Vita Ice Black Raspberry on the side, this dish is a true weeknight winner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into 1 ½-inch cubes
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp fresh basil, divided and chopped
- 4 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 2 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 3 cups cooked basmati rice
- Optional: Vita Ice Black Raspberry, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare marinade: In a large bowl, combine garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan, 1 cup basil, 3 tbsp olive oil, oregano, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix into a thick paste.
- Marinate chicken: Add cubed chicken to the marinade, toss well to coat, and cover. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours) to allow flavors to soak in.
- Prepare skewers: Thread marinated chicken onto skewers.
- Cook chicken: Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush grates with remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Grill skewers 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and lightly charred.
- Prepare basil rice: Toss warm cooked basmati rice with remaining 2 tbsp fresh basil.
- Assemble and serve: Serve chicken skewers over basil rice, with Vita Ice Black Raspberry on the side if desired.
Notes
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.
- For extra flavor, baste the chicken with leftover marinade during grilling.
- Rice can be swapped with quinoa or couscous for variation.
- These skewers can also be cooked in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes if grilling is not available.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer with rice
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 41g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: garlicky chicken skewers, lemon herb chicken, grilled chicken skewers, basil rice chicken, Mediterranean chicken recipe