Easy Chicken Skewers Recipe with Orange Quinoa

Last Updated on October 12, 2021 by Anne-Marie

If you’re looking for a spicy orange chicken recipe, try this easy chicken skewers recipe served on orange quinoa.

Easy Chicken Skewers with Orange Quinoa on a black platter.

Why this recipe works

Marinating chicken with orange juice is a wonderful way to flavor and tenderize poultry. In addition, unlike adding barbecue sauce, it doesn’t add a lot of unwanted calories from a sugary sauce.

Not only can you use orange juice to make marinade for the chicken skewer recipe, you then can use it to make Orange Quinoa. Quinoa doesn’t have much flavor, so cooking it in orange juice adds something special to it.

Did I mention that Easy Chicken Skewers served with Orange Quinoa is gluten free? It’s the ideal grilling dish to serve for cookouts and tailgating!

Chicken Skewers served on quinoa a black platter with serving utensils and an orange napkin in the background.

Tips for making a delicious spicy orange chicken recipe

Since you put the chicken on bamboo kabob skewers before you marinade it, this soaks the skewers so they don’t burn while you’re grilling. This way you’ve conveniently skipped a step.

Most recipes have you do the two steps separately – marinate chicken in one dish and soak the bamboo skewers in water in another pan.

You can serve this spicy orange chicken recipe as a snack or party appetizer by cutting the chicken into smaller pieces and cooking the chicken on thin appetizer skewers. Serve them with a spicy yogurt dip.

Instead, I chose to make my Easy Chicken Skewers into a meal by putting them on thicker skewers and serving them over Orange Quinoa.

Serve them with a pitcher of (no-alcohol) Iced Tea Sangria – or the leftover orange juice.

Chicken Skewers served on Quinoa a black platter with serving utensils and an orange napkin.

Feel free to add more jerk seasoning to this spicy orange chicken recipe. My son and husband felt the chicken could have been spicier.

Besides using it in the Orange Quinoa recipe, I like keeping jars of roasted peppers for salads and pasta since they add color and flavor to so many dishes.

More grilling recipes

Love to grill? Try these delicious recipes on your grill or smoker today:

Yield: 6 SERVINGS

Easy Chicken Skewers Recipe with Orange Quinoa

Easy Chicken Skewers Recipe with Orange Quinoa

This spicy chicken skewers recipe is perfect for dinner or your next cookout. Serve this easy chicken kebab recipe on orange quinoa.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 3 hours
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 37 minutes

Ingredients

For easy chicken skewers:

  • 3 pounds chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces

For orange juice marinade:

  • 1 cup 100% orange juice
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons jerk seasoning
  • 3 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced

For orange quinoa:

  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup 100% orange juice
  • 1 16-ounce jar roasted peppers (any color), diced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

For easy chicken skewers:

  1. Thread chicken cubes onto skewers. Place in a non-metallic baking dish.

For orange juice marinade

  1. Prepare the orange juice marinade by combining all ingredients in a bowl. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Pour marinade over chicken skewers. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or preferably overnight.
  3. Remove chicken skewers from marinade and discard marinade.
  4. Grill chicken skewers over medium-high heat until cooked through. Serve with the orange quinoa.

For the orange quinoa:

  1. Place water and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat. Add quinoa, diced roasted red peppers, and salt to the saucepan.
  2. Bring quinoa back to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
  3. Remove from heat. Let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff with a spoon and serve with the easy chicken skewers.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1 skewer

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 614Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 290mgSodium: 588mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 56g

Nutritional information is automatically calculated per the ingredients list. Serving size may not be accurate. Please double-check with your preferred nutritional app for the most accurate information.

Originally posted on September 7, 2014. Updated with new photos and information.

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Recipe rating: 5 4 3 2 1