Description
Delicious and vibrant grilled chicken kabobs featuring tender marinated chicken thighs and a colorful medley of vegetables, served with a zesty cilantro lime sour cream sauce and topped with cotija cheese and Tajin seasoning for a perfect smoky, tangy flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 4 chicken thighs (boneless and skinless, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces)
- 5 tbsp avocado oil (divided, or use any other high heat oil)
- 1 ½ tbsp taco seasoning
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Vegetables
- 2 ears corn on the cob (cleaned and cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 4 jalapeno peppers (cut into 1-inch pieces and seeded)
- ½ small red onion (cut into 2-inch pieces)
Sauce and Garnish
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp cilantro (finely chopped, plus 2 tbsp more for garnish)
- ½ small lime (juiced and zested)
- 1 tbsp Tajin seasoning (divided)
- ¼ cup cotija cheese (crumbled)
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill to 400ºF to prepare for cooking the kabobs at medium heat.
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, combine 4 tablespoons of avocado oil with 1 ½ tablespoons of taco seasoning. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss thoroughly to coat them. Refrigerate the marinated chicken while preparing the vegetables to allow flavors to meld.
- Assemble Kabobs: Thread the chicken pieces, corn chunks, red onion pieces, and jalapeno pieces alternately onto skewers. In the same bowl used for chicken marinade, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of avocado oil and lightly brush it over the vegetables on the skewers. Sprinkle kosher salt evenly on all sides of the kabobs.
- Grill Kabobs: Place the kabobs on the grill and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking. Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF for safe consumption.
- Prepare Cilantro Lime Sauce: While the kabobs grill, mix together the sour cream, 1 tablespoon of Tajin seasoning, lime zest and juice, and 2 tablespoons of finely chopped cilantro in a small bowl until well combined.
- Serve: Remove the kabobs from the grill and arrange them on a serving plate. Drizzle the cilantro lime sauce over the top, sprinkle an additional ½ teaspoon of Tajin seasoning, garnish with extra cilantro leaves and crumbled cotija cheese for a vibrant and flavorful finish.
Notes
- The chicken thighs are preferred for juiciness, but chicken breasts can be used if you prefer leaner meat.
- Adjust the amount of jalapenos based on your heat tolerance; removing seeds will reduce spiciness.
- If wooden skewers are used, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.
- Tajin seasoning adds a tart and spicy kick, but you can substitute with a chili-lime seasoning if unavailable.
- Serve with warm tortillas or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1 kabob with sauce)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: grilled chicken kabobs, chicken skewers, Mexican grilled vegetables, cilantro lime sauce, taco seasoned chicken, summer grilling recipe, cotija cheese kabobs
