Ultimate Bacon Paste BBQ Chicken Kebabs: A Smoked & Savory Grilling Sensation
Prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable grilling experience! These Bacon Paste BBQ Chicken Kebabs aren’t just a meal; they’re a revelation. Truly, they stand out as one of the most incredibly flavorful dishes to emerge from our grill in recent memory – rivaled perhaps only by my husband’s legendary ribs. If you’re a fan of succulent chicken, rich bacon, and smoky barbecue flavors, you’ve stumbled upon your new favorite recipe.
The concept of “bacon paste” might sound a little unusual at first, perhaps even making you pause and wonder. But trust us, this isn’t just a quirky method; it’s a culinary genius move that transforms ordinary chicken kebabs into something extraordinary. The combination of smoky bacon and zesty barbecue sauce, expertly grilled, creates a symphony of flavors that any bacon lover will instantly adore. My husband couldn’t stop raving about this chicken for days, and we bet your family will too.
The Secret Weapon: Unlocking Flavor with Bacon Paste
What makes these BBQ chicken kebabs so uniquely delicious? It’s all in the bacon paste. This innovative technique infuses every bite of chicken with an incredible depth of smoky, savory, and slightly sweet flavor. Unlike simply wrapping chicken in bacon, which can sometimes lead to uneven cooking or a less integrated flavor, creating a paste ensures that the essence of bacon is thoroughly distributed and absorbed by the chicken.
The process might seem a bit unconventional, but it’s surprisingly simple and yields phenomenal results. By finely blending raw bacon with a strategic mix of spices, you create a powerful marinade that tenderizes the chicken while imparting an intense, irresistible taste. This paste not only coats the chicken evenly but also helps to keep it moist during grilling, preventing it from drying out, a common pitfall with chicken kebabs. Get ready to elevate your grilling game!
Crafting Your Bacon Paste: A Flavor Foundation
To begin this flavor adventure, you’ll utilize a food processor – your best friend in creating this unique marinade. In the bowl of your food processor, combine the following: kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, a pinch of cayenne for a subtle kick, rich dark brown sugar, and thinly sliced raw bacon. The magic happens as you pulse these ingredients together until they form a completely smooth, almost spreadable paste. It might look a little strange, but trust the process!
Once your bacon paste is beautifully smooth, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Now comes the barbecue sauce – the perfect sweet and tangy complement to the smoky bacon. Stir in about 2-3 tablespoons of your absolute favorite barbecue sauce. The choice of BBQ sauce is crucial here; it will blend seamlessly with the bacon paste, adding another layer of complexity and a familiar, comforting grilled flavor. Whether you prefer something sweet, spicy, or tangy, pick a sauce that truly excites your palate.
Marinating for Maximum Flavor
With your flavor-packed bacon paste ready, it’s time to introduce it to the chicken. Add your chicken pieces to the bowl with the paste. This step is hands-on, and we highly recommend wearing gloves to ensure an even, thorough coating and to keep things tidy. Use your hands to really work the paste into every nook and cranny of the chicken pieces, making sure each morsel is completely enveloped. This ensures maximum flavor infusion.
For this recipe, we prefer boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces. Chicken thighs are naturally more forgiving on the grill due to their higher fat content, resulting in juicier, more tender kebabs that are less prone to drying out. However, if you prefer chicken breast, you can certainly use it! Just be mindful that chicken breast tends to cook faster and can dry out more quickly, so you’ll need to adjust your grilling time accordingly.
Once the chicken is thoroughly coated, cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour. For an even deeper flavor, you can marinate the chicken for up to 4 hours. This resting period allows the intense flavors of the bacon paste and barbecue sauce to penetrate the chicken, making it incredibly tender and flavorful. Don’t rush this step; it’s key to the success of these amazing kebabs!
Grilling to Perfection: Building the Best Kebabs
As your chicken marinates, it’s time to prepare your grill. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. A properly preheated grill ensures even cooking and helps achieve those beautiful grill marks and a slightly crispy exterior. While the grill is heating, thread your marinated chicken pieces onto skewers. If you’re using wooden or bamboo skewers, remember to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to threading. This crucial step prevents them from burning on the hot grill.
Once the grill is hot and the skewers are loaded, carefully place the kebabs on the grates. Grill them for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is nearly cooked through. The bacon paste will render some fat, contributing to the incredible aroma and helping to baste the chicken as it cooks. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning, as the sugar in the brown sugar and BBQ sauce can caramelize quickly.
The Final Glaze: A Sweet & Smoky Finish
After the initial grilling, the kebabs will be almost done. This is the perfect moment for the final touch: brushing them with additional barbecue sauce. This adds another layer of flavor and creates a beautiful, glossy glaze that is synonymous with perfectly grilled BBQ chicken. Brush generously with your chosen barbecue sauce, then continue to cook for another minute or two on each side. This allows the sauce to caramelize slightly and adhere to the chicken, sealing in all those delicious juices.
Always ensure your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer for safe consumption. Once cooked, remove the kebabs from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in exceptionally tender and moist chicken. These Bacon Paste BBQ Chicken Kebabs are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for a summer barbecue, a weeknight dinner, or any occasion where you want to impress with incredible flavor.
Serve these amazing kebabs immediately, perhaps with a side of extra barbecue sauce for dipping, if desired. They pair wonderfully with classic BBQ sides like coleslaw, potato salad, grilled corn on the cob, or a fresh green salad. Get ready for rave reviews and empty plates – these bacon paste BBQ chicken kebabs are truly a game-changer!
Bacon Paste BBQ Chicken Kebabs Recipe
Bacon Paste BBQ Chicken Kebabs
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Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1″ pieces
- 8 oz barbecue sauce (for serving and glazing)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
- 6 slices uncooked bacon, cut into small pieces
- 2-3 tablespoons barbecue sauce (for mixing into paste)
Instructions
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In a food processor, combine the kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, dark brown sugar, and the small pieces of uncooked bacon. Pulse until the mixture is completely smooth and forms a paste. Transfer the paste to a large bowl and stir in 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite barbecue sauce until well combined.
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Add the chicken pieces to the bowl with the bacon paste. Using your hands (gloves recommended), thoroughly rub the paste onto each piece of chicken, ensuring it is completely coated. Once coated, cover the bowl and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours for enhanced flavor.
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While the chicken marinates, if using wooden or bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning. After marination, thread the coated chicken pieces onto your prepared skewers, ensuring even spacing.
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Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, ensuring it’s clean and oiled to prevent sticking.
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Place the skewers on the preheated grill. Cook for about 5 minutes per side, turning occasionally, or until the chicken is nearly cooked through and has developed nice grill marks. The internal temperature should be close to 165°F (74°C).
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Generously brush the kebabs with additional barbecue sauce. Continue to cook for an additional minute or two on each side, allowing the sauce to caramelize and create a beautiful glaze. Be careful not to burn the sauce due to the sugar content.
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Remove the finished kebabs from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes. Serve immediately, with any remaining BBQ sauce on the side for dipping, if desired. Enjoy your exceptionally flavorful Bacon Paste BBQ Chicken Kebabs!