Looking for something unexpectedly delicious and ridiculously easy? These Cinnamon & Thyme Chicken Skewers are your new go-to. Tender chicken bathed in a sweet-savory marinade of cinnamon, fresh thyme, a hint of white pepper, and a kiss of sugar-this quirky flavor combo works like magic.
Why they're awesome:
- Easy to prep ahead: Marinate overnight, skewer just before cooking, and you're ready to roll
- Quick to cook: Cooked in just 6-8 minutes on a hot pan or grill-quick enough for weeknight meals
- Versatile: Great as snacks with carrot batons, or for dinner with couscous, bean salad, or even fries and salad (Mr 5 gives that option his seal of approval!)
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Pro tip: Marinade in a baking dish if prepping ahead! Zip-lock bags can leak the cinnamony chicken juice all over the fridge. Not good! (And don't ask me how I know this!)
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Cinnamon and Thyme Chicken Skewers
Cinnamon and Thyme Chicken Skewers. Sweet cinnamon and floral thyme give these chicken skewers a wonderful and unusual mix of flavours. A winning dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb chicken tenders or chicken breasts you have cut up yourself
- 12 wooden skewers (soaked in water to prevent burning)
- Fresh thyme or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Add the sugar, salt, cinnamon, thyme leaves, white pepper, minced garlic, and olive oil into a large zip lock bag. Squish everything about until it is well mixed.1 tablespoon sugar1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon ground cinnamon2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves¼ teaspoon white pepper1 tablespoon olive oil
- Place the chicken tenders into the bag and massage them with the marinade.1 lb chicken tenders
- Leave to marinade for at least an hour, but preferably overnight.
- When you are ready to cook, remove the chicken from the bag and thread onto the skewers. (see notes)
- Get a large frying pan or griddle pan, super hot and add the skewers to the pan. Turn the heat to medium and allow them to cook for 4 minutes before turning them and giving them a further 3-4 minutes until cooked through.
- Serve with a sprinkling of fresh thyme or parsley.
Notes
If you want to serve these up at a party and have all the prep done in advance. Then skewer the chicken before you marinade it. But I would suggest marinading in a baking dish (or something similar) instead of a ziplock bag.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Nutrition
Calories: 59kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 8gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 241mgPotassium: 144mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 28IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.2mg
Nutrition is per serving
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Sara | Belly Rumbles says
What more of a recommendation can you have for a recipe when your kids are quickly scoffing them down before you can even snap a pic!
Claire McEwen says
Exactly Sara. I think it was the hint of sweetness that they loved. It is an unusual combination but one that we loved.
Jo says
Oohh.. Can you omit or reduce the sugar? Or use half the amount but with brown sugar?
Claire McEwen says
Hi Jo,
I have never made it without the sugar, so I can't say for definite but I am sure it would still taste good. I use raw sugar in mine, but I think half the amount but with a deep flavoured brown sugar would be a good substitute.
I would say don't use honey, I tried that and it all tasted far too much like cough syrup!
If you do try it with no/reduced sugar I would love for you to come back and comment. I am sure plenty of readers would be really interested to hear how it worked.
Thank you so much for stopping by and your question x
Katalina @ Peas and Peonies says
oh God the flavor of these chicken skewers must be out of this world, I love it!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Katalina. My boys love the sweetness the cinnamon adds 🙂
Kristi @ My SF Kitchen says
This flavor combination sounds incredible!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Kristi, it is one of my boys favourite combos 🙂
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed says
Your chicken skewers look delicious, I love the idea of cinnamon and thyme. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Sarah Jane.
It is a bit unusual but it does just work.
Thank you for stopping by 🙂