Chicken Caprese Kebabs

Name: Chicken Caprese Kebabs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds chicken thighs, breast or tenderloin, cubed; 8 oz grape tomatoes; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 8 oz mozzarella cheese balls; 3-4 basil leaves, julienned; balsamic vinegar & olive oil for drizzling

by KetoFocus.com

Not yet rated

Caprese Chicken Kebabs are a fun and light version of classic baked chicken Caprese. Cubed chicken breasts alternating with cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balls drizzled with a tangy balsamic glaze are a quick and easy weeknight meal. This keto-friendly dish is made in under 30 minutes and is perfect for everyone in your family.

four chicken and tomato kebabs on a rack with mozzarella cheese balls at the end of the skewere

raw chicken threaded with tomatoes on skewers

22 Mins

Nutrition Facts

Servings

303

Calories

18.1g

Fat

32.3g

Protein

1.3g

Net Carb

2.1g

Total Carbs

Don’t miss these spicy turmeric chicken kebabs, bacon-wrapped brussel sprout kebabs, or bacon-wrapped asparagus kebabs.

Chicken Caprese skewers are lighter and easier to eat at backyard barbecues or pot luck dinners with your friends and family, and they’re great for kids with bite-sized chicken pieces.

four kebabs topped with basil and tomatoes around

You can easily remove the pieces from the skewers and serve them on a big platter drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar or pass the individual skewers around.

Serve them with a dark green salad, coleslaw, bread, or roasted vegetables. Pair them with a cold summer drink like lemonade, ice tea or your favorite cocktail.

How to make chicken caprese kebabs

There are only a few steps to make these Caprese chicken kebabs. Here is a brief description of how to make them. See the recipe card below for the full version.

Preheat the grill.
Thread the skewers. Alternate the chicken and tomatoes on each skewer.
Brush all sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Grill chicken kebabs on medium-high heat on each side until the chicken is cooked through, then remove them from the grill.
Thread the mini mozzarella balls on each end of the skewer.
Drizzle with more olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and serve.

raw chicken threaded with tomatoes on skewers

Key ingredients

There are only a few simple ingredients to make this version of traditional chicken Caprese and are easy to find at your local grocery store or farmer’s market.

Chicken – Can use chicken breast, chicken thighs or tenderloins. Chicken thighs tend to have more flavor and will stay juicy when grilled. Chicken tenderloins and breast meat are lower in fat; however have a tendency to dry out easily when cooked.
Tomatoes – Use either grape or cherry tomatoes.
Mozzarella balls – It’s best to get the small balls of mozzarella cheese; however, you can cut off small chunks of cheese if the balls are not available.
Fresh basil leaves – Slice up and top your dish with fresh basil.
Balsamic vinegar – Balsamic vinegar is lower in sugar compared to balsamic glaze; however, both can be used or you can make your own balsamic glaze with sugar free sweetener.
Olive oil – To help keep the chicken moist, especially if using chicken breast. Also used to keep the chicken from sticky to the BBQ grill as it cooks.

Chicken Caprese Kebabs Recipe Video

Subscribe to the KetoFocus YouTube Channel

With 100s of videos and millions of views, Ketofocus is one of the most popular Keto channels on YouTube.

Chicken Caprese Kebabs Ingredients

2 pounds chicken thighs, breast or tenderloin, cubed
8 oz grape tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 oz mozzarella cheese balls
3-4 basil leaves, julienned
balsamic vinegar & olive oil for drizzling

Chicken Caprese Kebabs Directions

STEP

1

Thread the skewers

Thread the skewers, alternating between tomato and two chunks of chicken until you get to the end of the skewer.

Quick Tip
If using wooden skewers, let the skewers soak in water for 20-60 minutes to prevent catching on fire when grill or splintering.
STEP

2

Season

Season the skewers with olive oil and salt and pepper.

Quick Tip
You can toss the chicken pieces in olive oil, salt and pepper before threading onto the kebab stick.
STEP

3

Grill or bake

Grill over indirect heat for 5-6 minutes each side or until chicken is cooked through. Or bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.
STEP

4

Add mozzarella

Add two mozzarella cheese balls to both ends of each skewer. Top with fresh basil and drizzle more olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Similar low carb recipes

Others who were looking for "Chicken Caprese Kebabs" were also interested in these recipes:

grilled chicken caprese kebabs on a rack

What is chicken caprese

Chicken Caprese is a flavorful dish made with breaded boneless skinless chicken breasts topped with fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, and fresh basil.

It’s then baked in an oven until the chicken is cooked and the cheese is melty and bubbly. The flavor combination is unique and delicious.

This kebab version of chicken Caprese is easy to cook on a busy weeknight because it involves very little prep but clean up and dishes is minimal. You don’t even need forks! It’s a lighter version of the classic dish and one you’ll love making for your family.

Variations

Here are some variations you can use to make these Caprese chicken skewers.

Drizzle basil pesto instead of balsamic vinegar on top after they’re done cooking.
Make a balsamic reduction by combining balsamic vinegar and sugar-free sweetener in a saucepan and let it simmer over medium heat until it’s slightly reduced.
Add veggies. Slide in some bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms for additional veggies.
Play with cheeses. Use a different type of mini cheese balls like smoked gouda or cheddar.
Season or marinate the chicken cubes before threading them on the skewers to add extra flavor. You can add onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes for this.

Skewers

You can use a couple of types of skewers with your Caprese kebabs.

Metal: Buying a set of metal skewers means you get to keep them and use them every time you make any type of kebabs. This also means you must clean them after each use instead of using wooden skewers.

Wood: Wooden skewers are great if you don’t want to have less to clean up after eating dinner. They must also be soaked in water for 20 minutes before threading the chicken and tomatoes. This helps to keep the wood from burning while on the grill.

Other meat to use

Chicken breasts work well with the combination of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese; however, you can easily swap out other meats in place of chicken breasts.

Make your choice based on what you already have in the fridge or freezer, the sides you want to serve, or the freshest selection at the grocery store.

Some options include steak, pork chops, fish, or shrimp.

kebab on a cooling rack with tomato, chicken and cheese balls and topped with basil

How to tell when the chicken is done

The key to cooking juicy chicken Caprese bites is to ensure it’s pulled from the heat as soon as it reaches the appropriate internal temperature.

You don’t want to undercook chicken because it could contain salmonella; however, you also don’t want to overcook it because it will dry out.

Use a digital thermometer to check the temperature while it cooks and remove it from the heat as soon as it reaches 165°F. Taking the temperature will ensure that it’s cooked through and still juicy on the inside.

How to serve

This Caprese recipe can easily stand on its own as an easy meal, or you can add side dishes to fill it out. Some options include avocado cucumber salad, keto antipasto salad, easy flaky keto biscuits, or easy keto cornbread.

Storage information & meal prep instructions

To refrigerate: Store leftover chicken, tomatoes, and cheese in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. You can eat them cold or heat them in the microwave or air fryer until heated through.

To meal prep: This is the perfect make-ahead dish. You can cube the chicken, thread the pieces with the tomatoes on a skewer, and prepare the cheese. Keep them in the fridge for up to three days until you’re ready to grill them. This would be a great time to marinate them if you want to add some extra flavor.

Chicken Caprese Kebabs: FAQS

What can I top Caprese chicken kebabs with?

You can drizzle balsamic vinegar on the kabobs or use homemade pesto, creamy avocado dressing, olive oil, or a roasted red pepper sauce.

Do I need to grill Caprese chicken kabobs?

Grilling the kabobs gives them flavor and texture, but you don’t need to do this. You can cook them on a stovetop in a large skillet or broil them in the oven instead.

What’s the best type of cheese to use to make Caprese skewers?

The best cheese for making Caprese kabobs is a soft, melty cheese like mozzarella or gouda.

Nutritional information & Macros

Amount Per Serving
Calories	303
Fat	18.1g
Protein	32.3g
Total Carbs	2.1g
Net Carbs	1.3g

Other Keto Dinner Recipes

Two spaghetti squash halves stuffed with buffalo chicken mixture.

65 Mins

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

This easy buffalo chicken stuffed spaghetti squash recipe is a low carb, gluten-free dinner that comes together with minimal effort. The squash...

See the Recipe

Grilled smashed taco filling with ground chicken and Asian spices on a wooden cutting board.

21 Mins

Low Carb Smashed Dumpling Tacos

These low carb smashed dumpling tacos combine the savory flavors of Chinese dumplings with the crispy texture of smashed tacos, offering a quick and...