Grilled Tarragon-Mustard Chicken Skewers Recipe

Simple pantry ingredients, plus some fresh herbs, are all you need to make these grilled tarragon-chicken skewers for your next easy summertime meal.

By
Morgan Eisenberg
Morgan Eisenberg is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Morgan Eisenberg
Morgan Eisenberg is a creative blogger at Host the Toast. She has an absolute obsession over all things edible.
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Updated February 12, 2025
20180816-tarragon-mustard-chicken-skewers-angled-morgan-eisenberg
Morgan Eisenberg

Why It Works

  • The acids in the lemon juice and mustard help to tenderize the meat.
  • Balancing the strong flavor of the tarragon with the sweetness and acidity in the marinade ensures the herb doesn't overwhelm the skewers.

A simple marinade incorporating fresh herbs is all you need to make grilled chicken exciting. These grilled chicken skewers combine sweet, savory, and tangy flavors from a mixture of Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, and tarragon.

Recipe Details

Grilled Tarragon-Mustard Chicken Skewers Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 15 mins
Active 30 mins
Marinating Time 60 mins
Total 80 mins
Serves 4 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup (3.5 g) fresh tarragon leaves, finely chopped

  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) Dijon mustard

  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice, plus lemon halves for grilling and serving alongside

  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) honey

  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, minced

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 pounds (900 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1 1/2–inch chunks

Directions

  1. If using bamboo skewers, soak skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together tarragon, mustard, lemon juice, honey, olive oil, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Toss the chicken in the marinade until fully coated, then cover and refrigerate for at least 1 and up to 4 hours.

  2. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over half of coal grate. Alternatively, set half the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate.

  3. Remove chicken from marinade and thread onto skewers. Discard the marinade.

  4. Grill skewers over high heat until chicken has cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side (12 minutes total). If skewers threaten to burn, move them to the cooler side of the grill to finish cooking. Meanwhile, grill the lemon halves, cut side down, until lightly charred. Transfer chicken skewers to a platter and serve warm with the grilled lemons.

Special equipment

Charcoal grill or gas grill, bamboo or metal skewers

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
355Calories
17gFat
11gCarbs
42gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories355
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g22%
Saturated Fat 5g23%
Cholesterol 206mg69%
Sodium 1182mg51%
Total Carbohydrate 11g4%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 42g
Vitamin C 8mg39%
Calcium 35mg3%
Iron 2mg12%
Potassium 509mg11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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