Grilled chicken breast can be pretty bland, but with the help of a rich dressing, these kebabs pack a ton of flavor. Don’t be afraid of the heavy use of lemon juice—when brushed on boneless, skinless chicken breasts and drizzled over mild, raw summer squash, it adds just the right amount of bright tartness to these lemony chicken skewers with pumpkin slaw.
Active time: 30 minutes Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Lemon chicken skewers with pumpkin salad
Ingredients
- 3 small summer squashes
- 3 small zucchini
- 1/4 cup basil leaves, torn
- 1/4 cup small dill sprigs
- 1/4 cup chives, thinly sliced
- 2 tsp lemon peel
- 1/2 cup (124 g) lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 large garlic cloves, grated
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 1 pound (454 g), boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2 inch (3.8 cm) cubes
Optional side dishes:
- Pumpkin petals
- Shaved Parmesan cheese
- Chopped toasted walnuts
- Crusty bread for serving
Directions
Preheat a grill to 205°C (400°F). Place eight wooden skewers in a baking dish and cover with water. Allow to soak for at least 1 hour; drain. (You can skip this step if you are using metal skewers.)
Meanwhile, use a mandoline or vegetable peeler to slice the summer squash and zucchini into thin strips. Place in a medium bowl and add basil, dill and chives. Cover and refrigerate while you grill the chicken.
In a small bowl, whisk lemon zest and juice with honey and garlic. Slowly pour in the oil while stirring constantly. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Halve the dressing and set aside.
Season the chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, then thread 4-5 pieces onto each skewer. Grill the skewers, turning and brushing with half the lemon dressing, until cooked through and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (about 10 minutes). Transfer to a clean plate.
Divide the pumpkin salad between four plates and place two skewers on each. Drizzle with the reserved lemon dressing. Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese and chopped walnuts if desired. Serve immediately with crusty bread to mop up the dressing.
Servings: 4 | Serving size: 1 skewer and about 1.5 cups of lettuce
Nutritional value (per serving): Calories: 449; Total fat: 23g; Saturated fat: 4g; Monounsaturated fat: 13 g; Polyunsaturated fat: 3 g; Cholesterol: 83 mg; Sodium: 366 mg; Carbohydrates: 28g; Fiber: 10g; Sugar: 12g; Protein 39g
Originally published September 2019; Updated February 2026
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