Mango Chicken Skewers Recipe
🥭🍗 Mango Chicken Skewers are juicy, colourful and flavour-packed, combining tender marinated chicken with sweet mango, vibrant peppers, red onion, lime, garlic and a hint of chilli. Grilled until beautifully charred, these easy skewers are perfect for family dinners, barbecues, parties, and summer entertaining.
Equipment
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Small Bowl –
- 1 Sharp Chef’s Knife
- 12 Wooden Or Metal Skewers
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Kitchen Tongs:
- 1 Grill Or Barbecue
- 1 Pastry Brush:
- 1 Serving Platter –
Ingredients
- 1½ teaspoons finely chopped lime zest
- 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- 4½ cloves garlic - finely chopped
- 3 teaspoons chilli powder
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅜ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1½ pounds boneless - skinless chicken breast, about 680 g
- 3 teaspoons honey
- 3 medium ripe mangoes
- 1½ medium yellow bell peppers
- 1½ medium orange bell peppers
- 3 medium red or sweet onions
- Water - for soaking wooden skewers
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare The Chicken Marinade
- Add the lime zest, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, chilli powder, sea salt and cayenne pepper to a small bowl.
- Whisk until the ingredients are well combined.
- Adjust the chilli level if desired.
Step 2: Marinate The Chicken
- Place the cubed chicken in a large glass or non-reactive dish.
- Pour approximately half of the marinade over the chicken.
- Toss gently until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes and up to 4 hours.
Step 3: Prepare The Honey Marinade
- Stir the honey into the remaining unused marinade.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble and grill.
- Do not reuse any marinade that has come into contact with raw chicken unless it has been thoroughly cooked.
Step 4: Prepare The Skewer Ingredients
- Peel and cut the mangoes into chunky cubes.
- Cut the yellow and orange peppers into pieces similar in size to the mango.
- Cut the onions into chunky sections.
- Drain the marinated chicken and discard the marinade that has touched the raw chicken.
- Soak wooden skewers in water before assembling if required.
Step 5: Build The Skewers
- Thread a piece of chicken onto each skewer.
- Add mango, bell pepper and onion.
- Continue alternating the ingredients until each skewer is filled.
- Distribute the colours evenly for an attractive presentation.
- Leave small gaps between the ingredients to allow the heat to circulate.
Step 6: Brush With Honey Marinade
- Place the assembled skewers on a clean tray.
- Brush each skewer generously with the reserved honey marinade.
- Ensure the chicken is well coated without allowing excess marinade to pool underneath.
Step 7: Grill The Chicken Skewers
- Preheat the grill or barbecue to medium-high heat.
- Place the Mango Chicken Skewers on the hot grill.
- Cook for approximately 6–8 minutes, turning every 2 minutes.
- Brush with the honey marinade as you turn the skewers.
- Continue cooking until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through.
- Cook until the mango is slightly softened with lightly caramelised edges.
- Check that the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature with a food thermometer.
Step 8: Rest And Serve
- Transfer the cooked Mango Chicken Skewers to a clean serving platter.
- Allow them to rest briefly before serving.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lime for extra brightness if desired.
- Garnish with fresh coriander or sliced spring onions if desired.
Notes
- 🥭 Choose Firm-Ripe Mangoes: Use mangoes that are sweet and ripe but still firm enough to hold their shape on the skewers during grilling.
- 🍗 Cut The Chicken Evenly: Cut the chicken into similar-sized pieces so everything cooks evenly without some pieces drying out before others are done.
- 🍋 Marinate for Maximum Flavour: Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 20 minutes so the lime, garlic and spices can infuse the meat.
- 🔥 Watch The Heat: Grill over medium-high heat and turn the skewers regularly to achieve beautifully charred edges without burning the honey glaze.
- 🪵 Soak Wooden Skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water before grilling to help prevent them from scorching over the heat.
- 🌡️ Check The Chicken: Cook until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through, using a food thermometer where possible to confirm it has reached a safe internal temperature.
- 🍯 Glaze Towards The End: Brush the honey marinade over the skewers as they cook, but avoid excessive heat because honey can caramelise and burn quickly.
- 🌶️ Adjust the Spice: Reduce the cayenne or chilli powder for a milder version, or add a little more if you enjoy extra heat.
- 🍽️ Serve Fresh: Serve the skewers while warm with jollof rice, coconut rice, salad, grilled vegetables, or a refreshing mango salsa.
