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    Home > Meal Type > Main Dishes

    Chicken Adana

    Updated: May 21st 2022 • Published: May 21st 2022 • 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Pinterest Image: chicken adana kebabs with text overlay
    Pinterest Image: chicken adana kebabs with text overlay
    Pinterest Image: chicken adana kebabs with text overlay
    Pinterest Image: chicken adana kebabs with text overlay
    Pinterest Image: chicken adana kebabs with text overlay
    Pinterest Image: chicken adana kebabs with text overlay

    Chicken Adana is a delicious kebab that is perfect for grilling season! Ground chicken is flavored with herbs and spices and then grilled until charred on the outside and juicy within.

    These Turkish-style kebabs are easy to make, and they can be made in advance, perfect for a backyard party. The recipe is so easy to double or even triple!

    Cook these outside on your outdoor grill or bring them inside and cook them in a skillet or griddle pan. Add a salad and some flatbread, and you have an easy summer dinner.

    four grilled ground chicken kebabs on a plate

    Jump Menu

    • What is Chicken Adana?
    • Kebab sticks
    • How to cook Chicken Adana
    • Ingredients Notes
    • Recipe Tips
    • How to serve Chicken Adana
    • What to drink with Chicken Adana
    • Chicken Adana

    What is Chicken Adana?

    Adana Kebabs are long minced meat kebabs that originated in the city of Adana in Turkey. They are one of the most popular kebabs in Turkey and are usually grilled outside over hot coals. 

    Traditionally they are made with lamb hand-cut to a ground meat consistency. But beef or chicken can be used. 

    Chicken Adana is ground chicken mixed with Turkish spices and then molded onto a skewer before being grilled. They are very flavorful!

    Chicken Kebabs on a blue plate with salad

    Kebab sticks

    Traditionally Adana Kebabs are molded onto flat metal skewers; you can find them easily on Amazon or eBay. But I usually use the more common round wooden ones. Or you could also use the round metal kebab sticks.

    The meat will cook quicker with metal kebab sticks as the metal gets hot and cooks the kebabs from the inside.

    If using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes to help stop them from burning on the grill.

    How to cook Chicken Adana

    Traditionally adana kebabs are cooked outside over hot coals. But any outdoor grill or barbeque will give you that char and smoky taste. 

    You can also use a heavy skillet or a ridged griddle pan inside on the stovetop.

    Chicken Adana Kebabs piled up

    Ingredients Notes

    • Ground Chicken: Traditionally, the meat is hand-cut, but ground meat makes an easy alternative. 
    • Sumac: This is a tangy spice used commonly in Turkish cuisine. 
    • Red chili flakes: These add heat to chicken adana kebabs, but you can leave them out if you like. Or increase the amount if you want it spicy.
    • Parsley: Use fresh parsley for a traditional taste.
    • Capsicum: Use red capsicum to give your kebabs a sweet, smoky taste.

    Recipe Tips

    • Soak wooden skewers for 30 minutes in cold water to stop them from burning.
    • Wet your hand before you start to handle the meat. It helps to stop the meat from sticking to your hands. And keep a small bowl of water nearby to keep wetting your hands as you form all of the kebabs.
    • To form the chicken adana, take a handful of the meat mixture, form a ball with it, and then use your hands to pull it into a sausage shape; push the kebab stick through and then use your hands to spread the mixture out to an even thickness.

    How to serve Chicken Adana

    Chicken Adana Kebabs are often served with flatbread salad or veggies and dip or chutney. Try:

    • garlic yogurt dip
    • hummus
    • an eggplant dip
    • coriander chutney
    • labneh.
    • tomato and onion salad
    • Şakşuka
    • rice pilaf
    a chicken Adana Kebab in a flat bread with salad

    What to drink with Chicken Adana

    Although these are made with chicken, the spices can take a big bold red like a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentinian Malbec, or an Australian Shiraz.

    An oaked chardonnay could work for white wine lovers, but I love it with a heavily chilled Riesling.

    If you make this Chicken Adana, don't forget to come back and comment. You can also tag me on social media.

    Any questions about the recipe? Use the comments section below.

    Enjoy x

    close up on the char lines on a ground chicken kebab
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.96 from 21 votes

    Chicken Adana

    Chicken Adana is a delicious kebab that is perfect for grilling season! Ground chicken is flavored with herbs and spices and then grilled until charred on the outside and juicy within. These Turkish-style kebabs are easy to make, and they can be made in advance, perfect for a backyard party. Cook these outside on your outdoor grill or bring them inside and cook them in a skillet or griddle pan. Add a salad and some flatbread, and you have an easy summer dinner.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Turkish
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 211kcal
    Author: Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
    Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)
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    Ingredients

    US Customary - Grams
    • ½ red capsicum - roughly chopped
    • 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley - roughly chopped
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 lb ground chicken
    • 2 teaspoons paprika
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1 teaspoon ground sumac - see note 1
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes - see note 2
    • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

    Instructions

    • Place the chopped capsicum, parsley, tomato paste, and olive oil in a mini food processor and blitz to a paste. If you don't have one, then you can grate the capsicum.
      ½ red capsicum (roughly chopped)
      2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley (roughly chopped)
      2 tablespoon tomato paste
      1 tablespoon olive oil

    • Place the ground chicken in a bowl and tip in the capsicum mixture.
      1 pound/450g ground/minced chicken

    • Add in all the herbs and spices.
      2 teaspoons paprika
      1 teaspoon salt
      1 teaspoon ground cumin
      1 teaspoon ground coriander
      1 teaspoon sumac
      1 teaspoon smoked paprika
      ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
      ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

    • Use your hands to combine the chicken and capsicum mixture thoroughly.
    • Using wet hands, take a handful of the chicken mixture, form a ball with it, and then use your hands to pull it into a sausage shape; push the kebab stick through and then use your hands to spread the mixture out to an even thickness. (- see note 3)
    • Cook the kebabs on the grill or in a heavy-based skillet or griddle. They will need about 4-5 minutes on each side.

    Notes

    1. Sumac is a tangy spice used commonly in Turkish cuisine.
    2. Red chili flakes add a little heat to chicken adana kebabs, but you can leave them out. Or increase the amount if you want it spicy.
    3. If you are using the traditional flat metal kebab sticks, form the mixture around the skewer rather than trying to push it through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 720mg | Potassium: 766mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1579IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda says

      May 26, 2022 at 1:17 pm

      5 stars
      I love chicken kebab and this version is so flavorful and moist. Perfect for the whole family to enjoy!

      Reply
    2. Sachi says

      May 25, 2022 at 10:39 pm

      5 stars
      We love a good adana kebab and, since our local takeout place went downhill recently, I've been looking for a good recipe. These were juicy and delicious and better than takeout!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        May 26, 2022 at 10:57 am

        So happy that you can now make them at home. It is the worst when a favourite takeout place goes downhill or closes!
        Glad you enjoyed these 🙂
        Cx

        Reply
    3. Sherry says

      May 24, 2022 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      Your chicken kebab recipe was a big hit in our house! 2 thumbs up from everyone in my house!!

      Reply
    4. Alex says

      May 24, 2022 at 2:33 am

      5 stars
      I've never made this before and it was fantastic. A great amount of flavor came out of all the spices involved. The chicken was really moist as well. I'll be using this all summer! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        May 26, 2022 at 10:55 am

        Oh I am glad you tried it then 🙂
        It is perfect for the outdoor grill!
        Cx

        Reply
    5. Jennifer says

      May 23, 2022 at 10:44 pm

      5 stars
      These were soooo good! I served them with veggies and tzatziki on pita bread and everybody raved about them!

      Reply
    6. Lynn Polito says

      May 21, 2022 at 1:10 am

      5 stars
      My whole family loved this recipe! It was so flavorful and delicious!

      Reply

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