Chicken Spiedini is an Italian-inspired chicken dish that will linger in your memory long after the last bite. Known for its perfectly crispy exterior, incredibly flavorful marinade, and succulent, juicy meat, it’s a super simple yet impressive meal to prepare. This recipe elevates ordinary chicken skewers into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Irresistible Chicken Spiedini: Crispy, Flavorful, and Easy

Prepare to become utterly obsessed with this Chicken Spiedini recipe – it’s truly a game-changer! If you’re new to the world of Chicken Spiedini, you’re in for a treat. This delightful Italian-inspired dish features tender chicken pieces, expertly marinated to infuse maximum flavor, then coated in a crisp breading, skewered, and baked to golden perfection. We cook it at a high temperature, ensuring it’s ready in just 10-12 minutes, delivering that craveable crunch without drying out the chicken. Much like my easy baked chicken bites, these skewers offer a quick and effortless path to a delicious meal.

Each skewer emerges from the oven gloriously golden, incredibly crispy, and bursting with flavor. They are not only quick and easy to assemble but also utterly irresistible, making them a fantastic choice for a busy weeknight dinner or a casual gathering. This isn’t just another chicken recipe; it’s one of my all-time favorite ways to enjoy chicken. The secret weapon that truly takes them over the top is the effortlessly delicious lemon garlic butter sauce – a step you absolutely shouldn’t skip!

What Exactly is Chicken Spiedini?

The term “spiedini” (pronounced spee-dee-nee) is Italian for “small skewers” or “little spits,” referring to small pieces of meat, seafood, or vegetables that are threaded onto skewers and cooked. While traditionally spiedini can be grilled or fried, this particular recipe focuses on baking, which makes it healthier and less messy without sacrificing flavor or that coveted crispy texture. Our Chicken Spiedini combines succulent chicken thighs with a zesty marinade, a crunchy Parmesan-Panko coating, and a bright lemon-garlic butter drizzle, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Why You’ll Love This Crispy Chicken Spiedini Recipe

There are countless reasons why this Chicken Spiedini recipe deserves a permanent spot in your culinary repertoire:

• Unforgettable Flavor Profile: The chicken is first soaked in a vibrant marinade of olive oil, chicken broth, lemon, garlic, and Italian seasoning, ensuring every piece is infused with savory, tangy notes. This foundation is then complemented by a crispy breading and finished with an irresistible lemon garlic butter sauce.
• Perfectly Crispy Texture: Thanks to the golden Panko breadcrumb coating and a high-temperature baking method, these chicken skewers develop an incredibly satisfying crunch that contrasts beautifully with the juicy interior.
• Effortless to Make: Despite its gourmet appeal, this dish is surprisingly straightforward. The prep is simple, and the cooking time is remarkably short, making it ideal for busy evenings.
• Quick Cooking Time: Baked at a high temperature, your Chicken Spiedini will be ready in just 10-12 minutes, allowing you to get a delicious, home-cooked meal on the table in under an hour from start to finish.
• Versatile Serving Options: These skewers pair wonderfully with a variety of side dishes, from simple rice to roasted vegetables or a fresh salad, making it easy to tailor to your preferences.

Key Ingredients for Flavorful Chicken Spiedini Skewers

Crafting exceptional Chicken Spiedini starts with high-quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is crucial:

• Chicken Thighs: For this recipe, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are essential. Dark meat naturally stays incredibly juicy and offers a richer flavor compared to chicken breasts, which tend to dry out quickly during high-heat baking. Aim for about 2 pounds of trimmed chicken after removing excess fat.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The quality of your olive oil directly impacts the flavor of the marinade. Use a good extra-virgin olive oil for its robust, fruity notes that perfectly complement the other ingredients.
• Chicken Broth: A touch of chicken broth in the marinade adds an extra layer of moisture and savory depth, helping to keep the chicken tender. While not sponsored, I find brands like Swanson’s offer excellent flavor.
• Fresh Lemons: We utilize fresh lemons in two ways: the zest provides an intense, aromatic citrus burst to the marinade, while the juice adds a bright, tangy counterpoint in both the marinade and the finishing butter sauce. Fresh is always best here!
• Garlic: Minced garlic is a star player in this dish, contributing robust, aromatic flavor to both the chicken marinade and the irresistible lemon garlic butter sauce. Don’t be shy with it!
• Red Pepper Flakes: These optional flakes add a subtle warmth and a gentle kick to the marinade, enhancing the overall flavor without overwhelming it with heat. Feel free to adjust the quantity or omit if preferred.
• Italian Seasoning: This convenient blend of dried herbs (like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary) packs a punch of classic Italian flavor into a single ingredient, making the marinade quick and easy.
• Salt & Pepper: Proper seasoning is key to unlocking the full potential of your ingredients. We season in layers – in the marinade and the breading – so remember to taste and adjust as you go for perfect balance.
• Italian-Style Panko & Parmesan Cheese: This dynamic duo forms the golden, crispy coating. Panko breadcrumbs are coarser and provide a much crispier texture than standard breadcrumbs. Pair them with real grated Parmesan cheese (the kind found in the refrigerated section, not the shelf-stable variety) for its salty, nutty, umami depth that crisps beautifully. Garlic powder is also added to the breading for an extra savory kick.
• Unsalted Butter & Fresh Parsley: These simple ingredients create the glorious lemon garlic butter sauce that gets drizzled over the cooked spiedini. The melted butter provides richness, fresh parsley adds vibrant color and a herbaceous note, and a final squeeze of lemon juice ties it all together, taking the chicken to an exceptional level.

Delicious Side Dishes to Pair with Chicken Spiedini

Chicken Spiedini is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a variety of sides. Here are some of my favorite accompaniments that beautifully complement its flavors:

• Lemon Rice: A light and bright lemon rice is an excellent choice. Its subtle citrus notes harmonize perfectly with the lemon and garlic flavors of the spiedini, creating a cohesive and refreshing meal.
• Roasted Potatoes: Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, roasted potatoes are incredibly delicious when tossed with the flavorful garlic butter sauce from the spiedini, soaking up all that wonderful goodness.
• Caesar Salad: For a fresh and crisp contrast to the warm, savory chicken, a classic Caesar salad is always a winner. Its creamy dressing and crunchy croutons offer a delightful textural balance.
• Herb Rice: A light and fluffy herb rice, infused with fresh garden herbs, provides an aromatic and subtle base that allows the bold flavors of the chicken to shine without competing.
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes: If you’re craving ultimate comfort food, pairing Chicken Spiedini with a generous serving of creamy mashed potatoes is simply unbeatable. The rich, smooth texture perfectly balances the crispy chicken.

Expert Tips for the Crispiest, Juiciest Chicken Spiedini

Achieving perfect Chicken Spiedini is easy with these simple tips:

• Soak Wooden Skewers: If you’re using wooden skewers, immerse them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading the chicken. This crucial step prevents them from burning under the high heat of the broiler, ensuring a safe and successful cooking process. Metal skewers do not require soaking.
• Pat Chicken Dry Thoroughly: Before adding the chicken to the marinade, make sure to pat each piece completely dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps the marinade adhere better to the chicken, and more importantly, ensures the breading crisps up beautifully in the oven.
• Don’t Skip the Cooking Spray: After coating the chicken and threading it onto the skewers, give them a generous spray with cooking spray. This creates a thin layer of fat that significantly aids in achieving that desirable golden, extra-crispy crust, and also helps prevent the skewers from sticking to the foil-lined pan.
• Use a Meat Thermometer: For food safety and to prevent overcooking, always use an instant-read meat thermometer. Chicken Spiedini is fully cooked and perfectly juicy when it reaches an internal temperature of 160–165°F (71-74°C). This ensures your chicken is tender and safe to eat without being dry.
• Optimal Marinating Time: While marinating adds immense flavor, it’s important not to over-marinate. 30 minutes to 1 hour is ideal for chicken thighs to absorb the flavors without the acid in the lemon juice beginning to break down the proteins too much, which could result in a mushy texture.
• Cut Chicken into Even Pieces: For uniform cooking, aim to cut your chicken thighs into roughly 1 to 1½-inch pieces. This ensures that all pieces cook at the same rate, preventing some from being undercooked while others are overcooked.

Explore More Easy Chicken Dishes:

Recipe by Chelsea Lords

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (based on 2 votes)

Chicken Spiedini Recipe

Chicken Spiedini takes marinated chicken, coats it in crumbs, and bakes it to crispy, juicy perfection, finished with a bright lemon garlic butter sauce.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Marinating Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

• Metal skewers or wood skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes and dried)
• Large sheet pan (15″ x 21″)
• Aluminum foil
• 2 Large bowls

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• Cooking spray
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces (see Note 1 below)

Marinade

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 2 large lemons, divided (zest of 1 tsp and juice of 2 tbsp for marinade; 1 tbsp juice for sauce)
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic, divided (2 tsp for marinade, 1 tsp for sauce)
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper, to taste (approximately 3/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper for marinade)

Breading

• 1-1/3 cup Italian-style panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (see Note 2 below)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Garlic-Butter Sauce

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (from the “2 large lemons, divided”)
• 1 tsp minced garlic (from the “3 teaspoons minced garlic, divided”)

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to the center position. Preheat your broiler to high. Line a large sheet pan with aluminum foil and generously spray it with cooking spray. Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs and cut them into uniform 1-½-inch pieces. Pat the chicken dry thoroughly with paper towels.
2. In a large bowl, combine the 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup chicken broth, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Season with about ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste. Add the prepared chicken pieces to the marinade and toss gently until each piece is well coated. Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour (do not marinate longer than 1 hour to prevent the chicken from becoming mushy).
3. In a second large bowl, thoroughly stir together the panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
4. Using tongs, remove the marinated chicken from the bowl, allowing any excess marinade to drip off. Transfer the chicken pieces into the breadcrumb mixture and gently toss until each piece is evenly and completely coated.
5. Carefully thread the coated chicken pieces onto your prepared skewers, ensuring they are evenly spaced. Place the skewers on the foil-lined sheet pan, leaving some space between each for even cooking. Press any remaining breadcrumbs onto the chicken pieces for extra crispiness. Generously spray all the skewered chicken with cooking spray. Once your oven is fully preheated, broil the chicken for 10–12 minutes. Watch closely during this time, as broilers can vary, to prevent burning. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160–165°F (71-74°C) and the coating is beautifully golden brown and crisp.
6. While the chicken is broiling, prepare the lemon garlic butter sauce. In a microwave-safe dish, melt the 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter with the remaining 1 teaspoon of minced garlic. Once melted, stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and the finely chopped fresh parsley.
7. Once the Chicken Spiedini is cooked, remove it from the oven and immediately drizzle or brush the warm lemon garlic butter sauce generously over all the chicken skewers. Serve right away, with extra lemon wedges on the side for squeezing, if desired.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: For optimal juiciness and flavor, chicken breasts are not recommended for this recipe as they tend to dry out. Start with approximately 3 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs before trimming, which should yield around 2 pounds after removing all excess fat.

Note 2: For the best flavor and crispiness, use real Parmesan cheese from the refrigerated section of your grocery store. Ensure it is finely grated, almost like sand, rather than shredded, as this texture incorporates better into the breading mixture.

Storage: Chicken Spiedini is at its absolute best when served immediately, while the coating is perfectly crispy. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, though the coating may soften slightly. To help regain some crispness, reheat leftovers in the oven or an air fryer rather than a microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 387mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 0.7g | Vitamin A: 392IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is an approximation and should be used as a general guide.

Enjoy your homemade, crispy Chicken Spiedini! If you loved this recipe, please feel free to leave a comment below and share your experience.