Smoky and Spicy Yogurt Marinated Chicken Kebabs

A riff on tandoori-style chicken, these chicken kebabs are marinated with smoked and hot paprika in place of the more traditional Indian spice blend.

By
Joshua Bousel
a photo of Joshua Bousel, a Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Joshua Bousel
Joshua Bousel is a Serious Eats old-timer, having started sharing his passion for grilling and barbecue recipes on the site back in 2008. He continues to develop grilling and barbecue recipes on his own site, The Meatwave, out of his home base of Durham, North Carolina.
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Updated July 14, 2023
Overhead view of spicy yogurt marinated chicken kebabs
Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine .

Why It Works

  • Using chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts results in juicier and more flavorful kebabs.
  • The yogurt in the marinade helps keep the chicken from drying out over high direct heat.
  • A mixture of both smoked and hot paprika gives a delicious smoky and spicy flavor, plus an attractive red color.

Simple, delicious, and extraordinarily versatile, good skewered meat is the perfect excuse to head out to the grill on a summer's afternoon with a nice, cool beer (or three). You're totally being productive, we promise. Start off with our guide to great grilled kebabs. Grill, eat, repeat. Not bad, huh?

This recipe is all about spice. As I went to put together a traditional tandoori marinade for these chicken kebabs, I paused for a minute and decided to take things in a new direction. I kept the yogurt base, which keeps the meat juicy, as well as the lemon, ginger, garlic, and cumin. But then, instead of mixing in an Indian spice blend, I tried an equal combo of smoked paprika, hot paprika, and cayenne.

The resulting kebabs were equally, if not more, delicious than the tandoori chicken I'd originally set out to make. The two paprikas gave a strong smoky and spicy boost to the moist, tender chicken. It just goes to show how even a small change can create something totally and wonderfully new.

June 2014

Recipe Details

Smoky and Spicy Yogurt Marinated Chicken Kebabs Recipe

Prep 10 mins
Cook 40 mins
Active 40 mins
Marinating Time 4 hrs
Total 4 hrs 50 mins
Serves 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup plain yogurt

  • 1/4 cup lemon juice from 2 lemons

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

  • 2 teaspoons paprika

  • 2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic (about 2 medium cloves)

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 2 pounds skinless,boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes

Directions

  1. Whisk together yogurt, lemon juice, oil, ginger, salt, smoked paprika, hot paprika, garlic, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl. Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour in marinade and seal bag, removing as much air as possible. Place in refrigerator and marinate for 4 to 8 hours.

    Four image collage of making the marinade and pouring it onto chicken in a plastic bag

    Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine

  2. Thread chicken tightly onto skewers.

    Overhead view of chicken threaded on skewers

    Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine

  3. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Grill skewers until well browned on all sides and center of chicken registers between 160-165°F (71-74°C) on an instant read thermometer, 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer skewers to platter and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Two image collage of kebabs on the grill, before and after being grilled

    Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine

Special Equipment

Grill; wooden skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes prior to use

Notes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
295Calories
15gFat
3gCarbs
39gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories295
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g19%
Saturated Fat 4g22%
Cholesterol 187mg62%
Sodium 505mg22%
Total Carbohydrate 3g1%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 1mg4%
Calcium 88mg7%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 514mg11%
*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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