Description
Chicken Spiedini is an Italian-American dish featuring marinated chicken pieces that are breaded, skewered, and broiled to perfection. Served with a zesty lemon garlic butter sauce, this flavorful and easy-to-make dish is ideal for weeknight dinners or special gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Chicken & Marinade:
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1½-inch pieces
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup chicken broth
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon (2 tbsp)
2 tsp minced garlic
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Breading:
1⅓ cups Italian-style panko breadcrumbs
½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (refrigerated kind)
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
For the Garlic Butter Sauce:
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp garlic, minced
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Other:
Cooking spray
Skewers (metal or soaked wooden skewers)
Instructions
- Prep & Marinate Chicken:
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the chicken to the marinade, toss to coat, and chill for 30–60 minutes.
- Prepare Breading:
- In a second bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Bread the Chicken:
- Remove the marinated chicken from the bowl, letting any excess marinade drip off.
- Toss the chicken pieces in the breading mixture, ensuring they are evenly coated.
- Skewer and Broil:
- Preheat the broiler on high. Line a baking sheet with foil and generously spray it with cooking spray.
- Thread the breaded chicken pieces onto skewers and lay them on the baking sheet with space between each skewer. Press any extra crumbs onto the chicken and spray again with cooking spray.
- Broil the chicken for 10–12 minutes or until golden and the internal temperature reaches 160–165°F.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce:
- While the chicken is broiling, melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the lemon juice and chopped parsley, and cook for another minute.
- Serve:
- Drizzle or brush the garlic butter sauce over the cooked skewers. Serve hot with lemon wedges for added zest.
Notes
For a spicy kick, add more crushed red pepper flakes to the marinade.
For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken with vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or mushrooms.
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar or chopped herbs like basil or oregano for different flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (excluding marinating time)
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes (including broiling time)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Broiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer (approx. 1/4 of the recipe)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
