Honey Chile Chicken Kabobs

Honey Chile Chicken Kabobs

Prep 15 min Cook 10 min Total 25 min Serves 4-6 Difficulty Medium 280-320 Cal Heat Medium 4.8 (38) Jump to recipe

Juicy chicken marinated in a sweet-and-spicy blend of Hatch Red Chile Powder, honey, soy sauce, and sesame oil, then grilled to perfection with colorful bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions. These honey chile chicken kabobs are endlessly customizable and perfect for summer grilling or weeknight dinners.

Spicy and sweet! These kabobs are the epitome of a perfect summer meal to get you out and grill. Tender, marinated chicken plus your favorite veggies will have your mouth watering.

There's something about kabobs that just screams summer—colorful vegetables, tender marinated chicken, and that smoky char you can only get from the grill. These Red Chile Chicken Kabobs bring a New Mexico twist to the classic with a marinade that's sweet, savory, and packed with the smoky heat of Hatch Red Chile Powder.

Our family has been growing Hatch chile in the fertile soils of the Hatch Valley for five generations, and our Red Chile Powder is made from chiles that have been dried and ground to perfection. It adds depth and warmth to this Asian-inspired marinade that balances soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, fresh garlic, and ginger into something truly special.

The key to great kabobs is in the marinade—give your chicken at least an hour (or up to a full day) to soak up all those flavors. When you thread everything onto skewers and hit the grill, you're rewarded with juicy, caramelized chicken and perfectly charred vegetables. The extra marinade gets brushed on as they cook, building layers of flavor with every turn.

These kabobs are endlessly customizable. Love zucchini? Throw it on. Want some sweetness? Add pineapple chunks. Feeling fancy? Toss on some baby potatoes or corn. The beauty of kabobs is that you can make them your own.

Serve them over rice, with a simple salad, or just grab one off the plate and enjoy. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro, and you've got a meal that's as beautiful as it is delicious. Fire up that grill—it's kabob time.

The recipe

Honey Chile Chicken Kabobs

4.8 from 38 reviews
  • Prep15 min
  • Cook10 min
  • Total25 min
  • Yield4-6
  • Calories280-320
Mediummedium heat
Made with Hatch New Mexico Red Chile Powder — grown in the Hatch Valley.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Mix the Vegetable Oil, Sesame Oil, Garlic, Ginger, Red Chile Powder, Soy Sauce, and Honey together in a small bowl.
  2. Place the chicken in a bowl and pour on three quarters of the marinade (save the rest for brushing on the chicken during cooking). Cover and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or up to a day).
  3. Soak your skewers if they're wooden ones (to prevent them burning) or use metal skewers.
  4. Thread a piece of chicken onto a skewer, followed by a chunk of red bell pepper, then a slice of onion, and a slice of mushroom. Repeat until you use up all ingredients.
  5. When you're ready to cook, heat your BBQ or griddle until it's very hot.
  6. Place the skewers on the BBQ or griddle, and cook for 8-10 minutes until cooked through. Turn 3-4 times during cooking, and brush with the extra marinade through cooking.
  7. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and coriander, then serve with your favorite sides.

Pantry

Shop the chile used in this recipe

Hatch New Mexico Red Chile Powder

$10.95

Dried Hatch Red Chile Pods

$9.99

Fresh Hatch Red Chile Sauce

$10.95

Frequently asked questions

How long should you marinate chicken for kabobs?
Marinate the chicken for at least one hour, and up to a full day, for the best flavor. The honey-and-Hatch-red-chile marinade needs time to penetrate the cubed chicken so it stays juicy and picks up that sweet, smoky kick. Save about a quarter of the marinade to brush on while grilling.
Are honey chile chicken kabobs spicy?
They land at a medium heat that's more warm than fiery. One tablespoon of Hatch red chile powder gives a gentle, sweet-edged kick balanced by the honey and soy. For more bite, use two tablespoons; the heat builds slowly rather than overpowering the chicken and vegetables.
What vegetables go best on chicken kabobs?
Red and green bell peppers, onion, and mushrooms are the classic trio for these kabobs, holding up well to the grill. They're endlessly customizable, though: zucchini, baby potatoes, corn, or pineapple chunks all work beautifully and soak up the leftover marinade as everything chars together.
Where can I buy Hatch red chile powder for this marinade?
You can order Hatch NM Red Chile Powder directly from our family farm in the Hatch Valley. It's made from chiles dried and ground to perfection, giving the marinade its smoky depth and warmth. It keeps its bold flavor far longer than mass-market chili powder.
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