Name: Chicken Chorizo Skewers in a Paprika-Oregano Lemon Marinade
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 lb chicken breast (boneless & skinless, cut into relatively large cubes, roughly 1.25-inch pieces (about 3.2 cm)); 8 oz cured Spanish chorizo; 2 large bell peppers (red, orange, or yellow, deseeded and cut into chunks, similar in size to your chicken pieces); 1 medium red onion (peeled and cut into pieces matching the size of the pepper chunks and chicken pieces); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 lemon (zest and juice); 1 tsp smoked paprika (mild or sweet, not hot paprika); 1 tsp dried oregano; 1/4 tsp garlic powder (or substitute 1/4 tsp powder with 1 large garlic clove, minced); 1 tsp kosher salt (half of that if using fine salt); 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

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These chicken chorizo skewers in a paprika, oregano, lemon marinade with peppers and onions are great for a dinner that’s easy to make but still feels special.

You can cook the skewers indoors on a grill pan (as pictured below) or you can make them on an outdoor grill.

close up of two chicken chorizo skewers on a bed of rice served on a white plate

Ingredients for the Skewers

overhead view of ingredients needed for chicken chorizo skewers laid out on a wooden board

Chicken Breast – 2 lb chicken breast, boneless & skinless (900 grams), cut into relatively large cubes, roughly 1.25-inch pieces (about 3.2 cm).
Cured (Spanish) Chorizo – 8 oz cured Spanish chorizo (225 grams), peeled and cut into roughly 24 thick slices. Make sure you use cured (hard) chorizo, not the soft, crumbly Mexican chorizo.
Bell Peppers – 2 large bell peppers (red, orange, or yellow), deseeded and cut into chunks, similar in size to your chicken pieces
Red Onion – 1 medium red onion, peeled and cut into pieces matching the size of the pepper chunks and chicken pieces
Olive Oil – 2 tbsp olive oil
Lemon – zest and juice from 1 lemon (about 2 tbsp lemon juice)
Smoked Paprika – 1 tsp mild or sweet smoked paprika, not hot paprika
Dried Oregano – 1 tsp dried oregano
Garlic Powder – 1/4 tsp garlic powder or 1 large garlic clove, minced
Salt – 1 tsp kosher salt (half of that if using fine salt)
Pepper – 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Note: Skewers. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes (while the chicken is marinating). You’ll need about 8 wooden skewers. If cooking on an outdoor grill rather than an indoor grill pan, you can use metal skewers.

How to Make the Skewers

Step 1. Mix the diced chicken breast with the marinade ingredients (salt, pepper, smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder (or fresh minced garlic), lemon zest, lemon juice, and olive oil). Cover and set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.

overhead view of chicken pieces in a paprika-oregano lemon marinade in a rounded rectangular white bowl against a wooden background

Step 2. Assemble the skewers. Start and end with a slice of chorizo as it keeps everything nicely contained. Alternate between chicken and peppers, onions, and chorizo. Use about 4 pieces of chicken, 3 slices of chorizo, 2 pieces of bell pepper, and 2 pieces of onion per wooden skewer when assembling.

If making this outside on an outdoor grill, use metal skewers. Since the metal skewers are generally longer, you can fit more on one metal skewer.

overhead view of eight assembled chicken chorizo skewers with onion and peppers on a baking tray

Step 3. Preheat the grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the skewers, turning them every 2-3 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked. The chicken is cooked through when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part. Depending on your grill and the size of the chicken pieces, it could take 10-15 minutes.

Note: If you have a standard-size grill pan, you will need to cook the chicken skewers in batches (likely 2 batches of 4 skewers).

overhead view of chicken chorizo skewers laid out on a grill pan

four cooked chicken chorizo skewers with peppers and onions on a grill pan

Once cooked, serve the chicken chorizo skewers on a plate, ready for family or guests to enjoy.

overhead view of four chicken chorizo skewers on a white plate

These skewers are great for all kinds of occasions. Make them for a summer barbecue, celebrations, or for a summer weeknight dinner.

close up of chicken chorizo skewers with peppers and onion on a white round plate against a dark blurred background

You can serve the skewers with lots of different sides.

overhead view of a round plate of chicken chorizon skewers in front of a bowl of white rice served on a wooden table

I really hope you enjoy these skewers. The charred peppers and onion are sweet, the chorizo smoky, and the chicken zesty and succulent. If you make them and love them, let me know in a review below. I’d also love to know the occasion, too.

overhead view of two chicken chorizo skewers served on a bed of rice on a rounded rectangular white plate

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