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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Chicken

    BBQ Chicken Kebabs with a Spicy Bacon Rub

    Published by Melissa on June 8, 2012 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 36 Comments

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    BBQ Chicken Kebabs with a Spicy Bacon Rub

    Slathering on a spicy bacon rub before grilling chicken kebabs not only gives them a wonderful smokey flavor, it also keeps the chicken moist and tender. 

    Cook’s Illustrated sent me an email with a link to their Barbecued Chicken Kebabs recipe. What’s unique about their recipe is it’s smeared with spicy bacon paste before grilling.

    BBQ-Chicken-Kebabs-with-a-Spicy-Bacon-Rub-collage-Barbara-Bakes

    The flavor of these kebabs was fantastic. Cook’s recommended using chicken thighs, but chicken breasts would have been much easier to cube and put on skewers.

    I changed up the spices because I don’t like paprika. Also, Cook’s made their own barbecue sauce, but I took the easy way out and just used my favorite BBQ sauce. If you like to grill chicken, give this one a try.

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    BBQ Chicken Kebabs with a Spicy Bacon Rub

    Prep Time45 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Chicken
    Keyword: Chicken, cooking, food, recipe
    Servings: 10 -12 kebabs
    Author: Barbara Schieving
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    Ingredients

    • 3 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 3 slices bacon uncooked, cut into ½-inch pieces
    • ½ cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
    • 10-12 12- inch metal skewers

    Instructions

    • In a large Ziploc bag, mix chicken and salt and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.
    • Heat grill to high. While grill heats, pat chicken dry with paper towels.
    • Pulse bacon in food processor until it forms a smooth paste, about 30 to 45 seconds, scraping down bowl occasionally.
    • In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, lemon pepper and sugar. Add spices to bacon paste and mix well.
    • Using your hands, coat chicken with spicy bacon paste. Thread chicken onto skewers.
    • Place kebabs on grill and cook turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. During the last few minutes of cooking, brush kebabs with BBQ sauce and continue to cook until brown in spots and instant-read thermometer inserted in center of meat registers 160 degrees for breasts and 175 degrees for thighs.
    • Remove kebabs from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with additional BBQ sauce if desired.

    Notes

    Adapted from Cook's Illustrated

    More BBQ recipes you might like:

    Orange Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs, Barbara Bakes
    Spicy Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Barbara Bakes
    The Secret to Grilled Babyback Spare Ribs, Foodie Crush
    Lemon Herb BBQ Chicken, Picky Palate
    Grillin’ Recipe Contest Winners, The Pioneer Woman Cooks

    BBQ-chicken-kabobs- collage -Barbara-Bakes

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    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Winnie

      June 09, 2012 at 8:43 pm

      Wow…I just bought bacon and chicken…I will try them and let you know how they turned out!! Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Deeba Rajpal (@vindee)

      June 09, 2012 at 4:58 am

      My word GF, those look SO GOOD! How cool is the idea of that rub. Beautifully captured to Barbara. Mmmmm

      Reply
    3. Kellie M. Mercie

      June 09, 2012 at 2:05 am

      I like this bacon to a rub barbecue .Nice recipe i want to try this .That rub sounds delicious! nice and spicy . Thanks for sharing this great recipe

      Reply
    4. Valérie ( Franche-Comté )

      June 09, 2012 at 12:54 am

      Extra ces brochettes
      Je te souhaite un beau WE
      Valérie.

      Reply
    5. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

      June 09, 2012 at 12:49 am

      Ooh I’m thinking this would remind me of a club sandwich? In the best way of course! 😀 xxx

      Reply
    6. Angie@Angie's Recipes

      June 08, 2012 at 10:29 pm

      A great rub! These chicken kebabs look mouthwatering!

      Reply
    7. Claire @ Claire K Creations

      June 08, 2012 at 7:03 pm

      I love a good BBQ recipe. You reminded me that we bought metal skewers for the BBQ a few months ago but haven’t actually used them yet.

      Reply
    8. Coleens Recipes

      June 08, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      This sounds PERFECT for dinner!!! One question, do you have to rinse off the salt after its been in the fridge, or do you just leave it on?

      Reply
      • Barbara

        June 08, 2012 at 7:39 pm

        Hi Coleen. Nope I didn’t rinse the salt, just patted the chicken dry, which I assume takes away some of the salt. Good question. Thanks!

        Reply
    9. kristy

      June 08, 2012 at 6:57 pm

      OLALA…… these kebabs not just sounds incredible and also looks divine. I know it’s not too good to look at it early in the morning cause I’m going to feel very bad the whole day for not having some of them right now. haha…..
      Hope you’re having a great weekend, dear.
      Blessings
      Kristy

      Reply
    10. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel

      June 08, 2012 at 2:51 pm

      Bacon RUB?! Oh my! I have no words. 🙂

      Reply
    11. Nic

      June 08, 2012 at 1:45 pm

      Oooh, spicy bacon rub sounds like a genius of an idea! Lovely!

      Reply
    12. Ryan

      June 08, 2012 at 1:41 pm

      These look so good, I wish I had some right now! I pinned this recipe to try soon– always love to find new delicious recipes for chicken!

      Reply
    13. Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy

      June 08, 2012 at 1:22 pm

      that rub sounds delicious! nice and spicy:) thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    14. Rocky Mountain Woman

      June 08, 2012 at 10:38 am

      Totally would never have thought of using bacon as a rub. Brilliant!

      Reply
    15. CJ at Food Stories

      June 08, 2012 at 8:23 am

      Spicy bacon rub sounds fantastic!

      Reply
    16. Jen @ Savory Simple

      June 08, 2012 at 8:08 am

      a bacon rub????? YES.

      Reply
    17. Steph@PlainChicken.com

      June 08, 2012 at 7:56 am

      The chicken kebabs look amazing! I bet they tasted great with that bacon rub on them.

      Reply
    18. Rosa

      June 08, 2012 at 7:07 am

      That rub is amazing! A great idea. I bet those kebabs taste mighty scrumptious.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply
    19. Micha

      June 08, 2012 at 7:00 am

      Definitely trying this one. I would have never thought to use bacon in a rub.

      Reply
    20. Blog is the New Black

      June 08, 2012 at 6:54 am

      What a great idea to add bacon to a rub! Great for a BBQ! Saving this one.

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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