Truly the most tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful chicken skewers marinated in a dill pickle juice and chive sour cream marinade, which has long been my secret to the best grilled chicken! This is a great prep-ahead recipe made with only 6 ingredients that is perfect for busy nights or effortless entertaining. Serve with my pickle and chive dipping sauce!
This chicken is a fun twist on a recipe I've been making for a few years now! The acid in sour cream breaks down the proteins, making the chicken extremely tender and also allowing it to absorb more moisture, which means juicy chicken!
But why use boring plain sour cream when you can use chive and onion sour cream?! It adds lots of extra flavor! It's really a win win. This is the perfect chicken for summer grilling!
While I enjoy these most on the grill, I also included instructions for using the oven or air fryer for when you need a more convenient option.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Juicy, tender and flavorful! This chicken ticks all the boxes. The marinade adds so much flavor, while also breaking down the proteins in the meat to make it super tender and juicy! Each little piece of chicken is then lightly charred on the grill (or in the air fryer or oven), adding extra flavor and texture.
- Quick and simple. Life is busy, especially during the summer. This marinade comes together in a few minutes, then add the chicken and marinate for at least 1 hour or ideally overnight. Skewer and grill! It's a great prep ahead meal.
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts.
- Dill pickles + pickle juice. Any brand works or even homemade!
- Chive and onion dip. This is just sour cream chip dip.
- Fresh dill. The fresh herbs aren't absolutely necessary, but I like the extra flavor they add!
- Fresh chives.
- Garlic cloves.
- Salt + pepper.
School down to the recipe card for the full ingredient list.
Recipe variations
- Whole chicken breasts. Instead of cutting the chicken breasts into small pieces for skewers, this marinade also works great for whole chicken breasts!
- Chicken thighs. Thighs are also a great option! They can be skin-on, skinless, bone-in or boneless. The choice is yours! I wouldn't use thighs to make skewers, but marinate the whole thighs and grill them up!
Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour or ideally overnight.
Thread the chicken onto skewers right before grilling.
Commonly asked questions
I love using Old Home Chive and Onion Chip Dip. If you can't find their products in your area, any brand of chive chip dip will work.
This has been my secret to the most juicy, tender and flavorful chicken for years. The acid in the sour cream helps to break down the proteins in the meat, making the chicken incredibly tender. Compared to using regular sour cream or greek yogurt, chive and onion dip also adds amazing flavor to the chicken!
The vinegar in the pickle juice helps to tenderize the chicken and lock in moisture, keeping the chicken juicy while cooking. It also adds incredible flavor without being overpowering.
The longer you marinate the chicken the more tender and flavorful it will be. You can marinate chicken for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, but I don't recommend any longer than that as the marinade can start to break down the proteins in the chicken too much, changing the texture.
Making chicken skewers in the oven or air fryer is a great alternative to grilling.
Air fry: Place chicken skewers in the air fryer in a single layer and cook at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
Oven: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. For crispier chicken, use a baking rack on top of the sheet pan. Add the chicken skewers in a single layer. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
Storing & reheating leftovers
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
I prefer to reheat leftover chicken in the oven at 400 degrees or in an oiled skillet on the stove over medium heat. You could also reheat the chicken in the microwave. If the chicken is frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
What to serve with dill pickle chicken
I love to serve this chicken with grilled, roasted or baked potatoes. You also can't go wrong with a simple side salad or grilled vegetables!
More recipes you'll love!
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Thanks so much! - Rachel
Dill Pickle and Chive Chicken Skewers
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken Skewers
- 2 pounds chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- ½ cup chive and onion dip
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Pickle and Chive Dipping sauce
- 1 cup chive and onion dip
- 2 tablespoons pickle juice
- ½ cup dill pickles, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the chicken pieces to a large bowl with all of the marinade ingredients. Cover and let marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or ideally overnight for the most tender and flavorful chicken.
- If you're using wooden skewers, place your skewers in a baking dish covered with water. Let them soak up to overnight while the chicken marinates. This helps to prevent the skewers from burning and breaking while grilling.
- When you're ready to grill the chicken, preheat the grill to medium-high heat. In the meantime, thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers. Pat the chicken dry using paper towel. This will help the chicken get a golden brown crispy exterior.
- Once the grill is hot, grill the skewers for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown and no longer pink in the center. If you're using a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should be 165 degrees.
- Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and let rest for 5 minutes. If desired, drizzle the chicken with freshly-squeezed lemon juice and garnish with fresh dill and chives. Serve with my pickle and chive dipping sauce!
Dill Pickle and Chive Dipping Sauce
- Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. This can be prepared right before serving, or prepare ahead of time and store in the fridge.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated by a third party software and is only an estimate, not a guarantee. This information is provided as a courtesy, and you are solely responsible for all decisions related to your health.
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