Chicken Shish Kebab

Chicken Shish Kebab is a medium Turkish recipe that serves 5. 288 calories per serving. Recipe by Refika's Kitchen on YouTube.

Prep: 1 hr 5 min | Cook: 21 min | Total: 1 hr 41 min

Cost: $10.05 total, $2.01 per serving

Ingredients

  • 500 g Chicken Breast (boneless, skinless, cut into 1‑cm cubes)
  • 1 piece Red Bell Pepper (seeded, diced)
  • 1 piece Green Bell Pepper (seeded, diced)
  • 4 cloves Garlic (peeled, minced)
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley (chopped)
  • 2 tbsp Turkish Red Pepper Flakes (Pul Biber) (optional, can use regular red pepper flakes)
  • 1 tsp Salt (heaping, adjust to taste)
  • 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter (room temperature, divided)
  • 1 tbsp Sunflower Oil (for sauce, can use olive oil)
  • 2 tbsp Hot Water (helps release flavor from pepper flakes)
  • 4 pieces Lavash Bread (warmed for serving)
  • 1 piece Tomato (sliced for garnish)
  • 1 piece White Onion (thinly sliced for garnish)
  • 1 tsp Sumac (for garnish)
  • 6 pieces Wooden Skewers (soaked in water 30 min before use)

Instructions

  1. Prep Vegetables & Garlic

    Dice the red and green bell peppers into small cubes. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Set aside.

    Time: PT10M

  2. Cube the Chicken

    Trim the chicken breast and cut into 1‑cm bite‑size cubes.

    Time: PT5M

  3. Mix Marinade

    In a mixing bowl combine the chicken cubes, diced peppers, minced garlic, chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, heaping tsp of salt, 1 tbsp butter, and 2 tbsp hot water. Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.

    Time: PT5M

  4. Marinate & Soak Skewers

    Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, place wooden skewers in a bowl of water to soak.

    Time: PT40M

  5. Preheat Grill

    Place the cast‑iron grill or grill pan over medium‑high heat and let it heat up until it’s hot (about 200°C).

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: 200°C

  6. Shape Kebabs on Skewers

    Remove a handful of the marinated mixture, wet your hands with a little water, and press the meat onto a soaked skewer, forming a thin, even kebab about 2‑inch long. Repeat for all skewers.

    Time: PT10M

  7. Grill Kebabs

    Place the skewers on the hot grill. Grill, turning every 2‑3 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred, about 12 minutes total.

    Time: PT12M

    Temperature: 200°C

  8. Prepare Butter‑Parsley Sauce

    While the kebabs grill, melt 2 tbsp butter with 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes and a splash of water, stir, then stir in the chopped parsley. Remove from heat.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: 150°C

  9. Baste Kebabs

    During the last 2 minutes of grilling, brush the butter‑parsley sauce over the kebabs.

    Time: PT2M

  10. Rest Kebabs

    Remove the kebabs from the grill and let them rest for 2 minutes.

    Time: PT2M

  11. Plate & Garnish

    Warm the lavash briefly, then place each kebab on a piece of lavash. Top with sliced tomato, onion, a sprinkle of sumac, and extra chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

    Time: PT5M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
288
Protein
22 g
Carbohydrates
16 g
Fat
8 g
Fiber
1 g

Dietary info: High‑protein, Contains gluten, Contains dairy, Nut‑free

Allergens: Dairy, Gluten

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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Chicken Shish Kebab

Recipe by Refika's Kitchen

Juicy Turkish‑style chicken shish kebabs marinated with red pepper flakes, garlic, and butter, grilled on wooden skewers and served with a buttery parsley sauce, fresh tomato, onion, sumac and warm lavash.

MediumTurkishServes 5

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
1h 15m
Prep
26m
Cook
12m
Cleanup
1h 53m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$10.05
Total cost
$2.01
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Mixing the chicken with hot water and red pepper flakes to unlock flavor.
  • Marinating the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 40 minutes.
  • Shaping the kebabs so they stay together on the skewer.
  • Grilling until the chicken is fully cooked but still juicy.
  • Basting with butter‑parsley sauce to prevent dryness.

Safety Warnings

  • The grill surface becomes extremely hot – use tongs and wear heat‑proof gloves.
  • Hot oil and melted butter can splatter – keep face away and have a lid nearby.
  • Sharp knives can cause cuts – keep fingertips curled and cut on a stable board.

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