Maria's Ranch Chicken Kabobs

Oh, wow – you must try this recipe! My friend Maria's Ranch Chicken Kabobs have quickly become a favorite dinner around here, and I'm willing to bet that they will be a staple in your summer dinner rotation, too!

When I posted my recipe for Honey Sesame Shrimp Kabobs last month, my high school friend, Maria, mentioned that her three boys love her version of Ranch Chicken Kabobs. Fortunately for all of us, Maria was kind enough to share her recipe!

After all, what child could possibly complain about chicken and ranch dressing served on a stick?! I knew that it would be a winner in our house.

When Maria sent me her Ranch Chicken Kabobs recipe, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the marinade includes some fresh rosemary as well. After all, the rosemary in my garden is growing out of control at the moment and I’m constantly looking for ways to use it up!

And don’t be fooled – this marinade is much more sophisticated than just some store-bought Ranch dressing. The lemon juice adds a light freshness to the dish, the Worcestershire sauce gives it  saucy tang, and the sugar lends a hint of sweetness in the background (and creates a really great char on the grill).

Maria was also quick to note that these chicken kabobs can be prepared indoors if you don't have easy access to a grill.

How do you Cook Chicken Kabobs on the Stove?

There are a couple of different alternatives to the grill:

• Use a grill pan OR a flat griddle on the stovetop. Heat the grill pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken kabobs for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
• You can also cook the chicken and vegetables like a stir-fry in a large skillet. To do so, remove the meat and vegetables from the marinade (and discard marinade). Instead of threading the meat and vegetables onto wooden skewers, cook them in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through (about 10 minutes). This method is easy and fast, but it will not give you the same char that you get from an outdoor grill or an indoor grill pan.

Can you Bake Chicken Kabobs?

Yep, the oven works, too! To bake the Ranch Chicken Kabobs, place the skewers on a rimmed baking sheet that has been lined with foil (for easy clean up). Bake in a 450-degree F oven for a total of about 20-30 minutes (or until chicken is cooked through), turning the skewers at least once halfway through.

This is one of those perfect easy, make ahead family meals, as it will please both children and adults alike. In fact, Keith called it one of the best meals we’ve had all summer. Enjoy!

More kabob recipes that you might enjoy:

• Beef Shish Kabobs {Oven, Stovetop or Grill}
• Hawaiian Kielbasa Kabobs
• 5-Ingredient Grilled Italian Sausage Kabobs
• Garlic & Herb Grilled Pork Kabobs
• Easy Marinated Beef Kabobs

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Maria's Ranch Chicken Kabobs

My friend Maria's Ranch Chicken Kabobs have quickly become a favorite dinner around here, and I'm willing to bet that they will be a staple in your summer dinner rotation, too!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken, grilling, kabobs

Prep Time 3 hours 30 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 399.3kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

• ½ c. olive oil
• ½ c. ranch dressing
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon finely-minced fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon sugar

For the Kabobs:

• Approximately 1.5 - 2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 sweet bell peppers (any color), seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 large red onion or sweet onion, cut into 1-inch cubes

Instructions

• Pre-soak wooden kabob skewers in water for a few hours before grilling.
• Place chicken chunks in a large Ziploc bag. Place chopped vegetables in a separate large Ziploc bag. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. Pour half of the marinade into the bag with the chicken and the other half of the marinade into the bag with the vegetables. Toss to coat everything in the marinade and then place bags in the refrigerator for a few hours.
• Alternate threading chicken and vegetables on skewers. Grill over medium-high heat (on an outdoor grill or on an indoor grill pan) until chicken is cooked through (about 10 minutes), turning kabobs as they cook.

Notes

Cooking Just for Two? Cut all of the ingredients in half. Cooking instructions remain the same.

These chicken kabobs can also be prepared in a skillet on the stovetop or in the oven (see notes above for those instructions).

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of the chicken and vegetables with 2 Tablespoons Marinade | Calories: 399.3kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.1g | Protein: 41.2g | Fat: 19.3g | Saturated Fat: 3.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 738.4mg | Potassium: 787.5mg | Fiber: 1.9g | Sugar: 4g

This recipe for Ranch Chicken Kabobs was originally published in July, 2013. The photos were updated in July, 2018.