Healthy Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabobs: A Weight Watchers Friendly Recipe for Perfect BBQ Skewers
There’s nothing quite like the joy of grilling. For me, the sizzle and smoky aroma are synonymous with summer, even if I have to brave the chilly weather in my parka and winter boots just to get to the barbecue. Grilling isn’t just about cooking; it’s an experience that transports you to sunnier days, offering a taste of outdoor culinary magic. Beyond the incredible flavors, there’s an undeniable appeal in the minimal cleanup – no stacks of pots and pans to wash! While I’ll grill any time of year, true grilling season, when you don’t need a shovel to reach your BBQ, is pure bliss.
This healthy Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabob recipe holds a special place in my heart, not only because it’s a delicious and flavorful grilling staple but also because it was a Cook-off Finalist in 2014. What’s more, it’s incredibly Weight Watchers friendly, coming in at only 3 WW points per kabob on the blue plan. Despite its potential, it didn’t win the cook-off that year. I often wonder if the outcome would have been different had I been more prepared and asked crucial questions about the cooking equipment beforehand. A chef is only as good as their tools, after all, and sometimes, unforeseen circumstances can truly alter a recipe’s fate.
The original Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabob recipe was meticulously crafted for the direct, high heat of an outdoor BBQ grill. However, a significant challenge arose when I arrived at the cook-off: I was informed that I would have to cook on a flat griddle, a piece of equipment I had absolutely no experience with. This unexpected twist immediately set the stage for a dramatic culinary experiment. I quickly learned that the difference between grilling and griddle cooking is vast and profoundly impacts the flavor and texture of food.
💭 The Vital Difference Between Grilling and Cooking on a Griddle
Understanding the distinction between grilling and griddle cooking is key to appreciating this recipe’s intended perfection. Grilling involves direct heat, often over an open flame or heated grates, which creates a characteristic smoky flavor and beautiful char marks. This method allows meat and vegetables to cook at varying intensities, promoting moisture retention and the development of rich, complex flavors. The open nature of a grill lets air circulate around the food, leading to a more tender and juicy result, especially for meats like chicken, which can dry out easily. Temperature control on a grill, whether gas or charcoal, often allows for distinct hot and cooler zones, giving you the flexibility to cook different ingredients simultaneously to their ideal doneness.
In contrast, cooking on a flat griddle applies indirect, even heat across a solid surface. While excellent for pancakes, eggs, or even smash burgers, it fundamentally changes the cooking environment for kabobs. On a griddle, moisture can accumulate, leading to a steaming effect rather than the desired caramelization and char. Vegetables and meat, which ideally require different cooking temperatures and times to achieve their best texture, often cook at a more uniform, and sometimes compromising, rate on a griddle. This can result in some ingredients being overcooked or undercooked, and the overall flavor profile can become muted. You can read more about the intricate differences between cooking on a grill and a griddle here to truly grasp why this distinction was so critical for my kabobs.
During the cook-off, my chicken kabobs struggled immensely on the griddle. The chicken simply wasn’t cooking through at the expected rate, and the beautiful char I envisioned was nowhere in sight. In an attempt to salvage the dish, the judging chef suggested a drastic measure: pour chicken stock over the kabobs and cover them with a lid to encourage faster cooking. As a contestant, and with the judge’s authority looming, I felt compelled to follow his advice. Unfortunately, this intervention, repeated several times to ensure even cooking, effectively transformed my flavorful, marinated kabobs into a steamed, bland rendition of their former selves. The vibrant, sweet, and tangy notes of the maple cider marinade were completely washed away. It was a disheartening experience, and a powerful lesson in always inquiring about the available equipment, allowing for adequate practice on unfamiliar surfaces, or having a contingency plan for a portable griddle.
🥘 The Secret Behind the Delicious Chicken Kabob Marinade
The magic of these grilled chicken kabobs truly lies in the maple and cider marinade. This unique blend creates a very fresh, bright, and deeply flavorful profile that sets this recipe apart. The natural sweetness of maple syrup perfectly balances the tartness of apple cider vinegar, while Dijon mustard adds a subtle tang and garlic provides an aromatic depth. A hint of fresh lime juice and zest brightens the entire mixture, creating a marinade that not only tenderizes the chicken but also infuses every ingredient with an irresistible zing.
But the flavor doesn’t stop there! Each skewer is generously loaded with an assortment of fresh, vibrant ingredients: crisp apples, bursting cherry tomatoes, earthy mushrooms, and tender zucchini. The apples, especially, are a star, absorbing the marinade’s sweetness and softening beautifully on the grill to offer a delightful textural and flavor contrast to the savory chicken and vegetables. If you’re searching for a truly flavorful, healthy chicken kebab recipe that is also Weight Watchers friendly, then you’ve found your match. Follow these directions, and you’ll experience the authentic, intended taste of these homemade chicken kabobs – a taste that I believe truly represents what they should have tasted like at the cook-off. You certainly won’t be disappointed!
And the unexpected winner of the cook-off was…
“The vegetable soup.” Yes, you read that right. The recipe that ultimately won the contest was a remarkably simple vegetable soup. While it was undoubtedly pleasant and comforting, it lacked any truly stellar or unique qualities. It was essentially a medley of vegetables simmered in a basic stock. The irony, of course, was that while my meticulously crafted, marinated chicken kabobs were rendered bland by the griddle and chicken stock intervention, the vegetable soup, despite its simplicity, at least managed to retain its inherent flavor. The disappointment of losing to vegetable soup was compounded by the fact that I missed out on a $1000 grocery card, which would have been incredibly useful. This experience, my first and only cook-off to date, taught me a valuable lesson: always, always ask detailed questions about the equipment provided when entering any culinary competition.
🥗 What to Serve with Flavorful Chicken Kebabs
These Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabobs are incredibly versatile and pair beautifully with a variety of side dishes, making them perfect for any meal, from a casual weeknight dinner to a festive summer BBQ. Choosing the right accompaniment can elevate your dining experience and balance the vibrant flavors of the kabobs.
- Rice: Rice is often considered the quintessential side for kabobs, offering a comforting base that beautifully soaks up any lingering marinade or juices. This recipe shines particularly well with a Sausage & Apple Rice, which was the original accompaniment I created for these skewers. However, any rice will do! A simple fluffy white rice, brown rice for added fiber, or even quick-cooking Minute Rice when you’re in a hurry, are all excellent choices. For a low-carb alternative, consider serving them over a bed of cauliflower rice.
Some additional delightful ideas for what to serve with your grilled chicken kabobs include:
- Salads: A crisp, refreshing salad provides a wonderful counterpoint to the rich flavors of the grilled chicken and vegetables. A plain green salad with a light vinaigrette is always a good choice, or explore more adventurous options like my Easy Quinoa Salad (packed with protein and nutrients), a vibrant Easy Bean Salad, a hearty Healthy Macaroni Salad with Tuna, or a zesty Greek Pasta Salad. These salads add texture, freshness, and a variety of flavors to your meal.
- Veggies: Beyond the kabobs themselves, extra vegetables are always a welcome addition. Try something unique like my Quick Cucumber Kimchi for a spicy, tangy crunch that awakens the palate. Grilled corn on the cob or a simple roasted vegetable medley would also be fantastic.
- Potatoes: For a comforting and satisfying side, potatoes are a classic. My 3 Ingredient Onion Baked Potatoes in Foil are incredibly easy and flavorful, cooking alongside your kabobs on the grill or in the oven. Roasted sweet potatoes or a light potato salad would also be great options.
- Coleslaw: The creamy tang of coleslaw offers a delightful contrast to the smoky flavors of grilled meat. Opt for a lighter version like my Skinny Coleslaw Recipe, or try the more unique and flavorful Healthy Artichoke & Roasted Red Pepper Coleslaw for an elevated side that’s still Weight Watchers friendly.
💭 The Critical Danger of Wire Grill Brushes and Safer Alternatives
Just a crucial reminder for safe grilling practices: In recent years, alarming reports have highlighted the significant risks associated with using wire grill brushes. You may have heard stories surfacing about individuals experiencing severe health issues after inadvertently ingesting sharp metal bristles that detach from these brushes during cleaning. These tiny, dangerous fragments can easily stick to the grill’s cooking surface and subsequently adhere to your food, leading to painful and potentially life-threatening injuries. Bristles can become lodged in the throat, esophagus, stomach, or intestines, often requiring emergency medical intervention and, in some cases, complex surgery to remove. This is a serious safety concern that all grill enthusiasts should be aware of. You can read more about the profound danger of wire grill brushes HERE to understand the full scope of the hazard.
When I first became aware of this danger a few years ago, I was genuinely alarmed and immediately sought a safer, non-wire brush alternative. To my surprise, finding a bristle-free brush in local Calgary stores was incredibly difficult. Given the potential severity of the risks, I wasn’t willing to take any chances with my family’s safety, so I opted to order mine online. I’ve since found that many non-wire brush options work just as effectively, if not better, than their wire counterparts, and they provide invaluable peace of mind. I personally use the LauKingdom brand, but there are many excellent bristle-free options available. I’ve included some Amazon recommendations in the Notes section below (affiliate links) in case you encounter difficulty finding them in your local retailers. Switching to a safe grill brush is a simple yet vital step in ensuring a worry-free grilling experience for everyone.
This Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabob recipe truly offers a fantastic depth of flavor thanks to its unique marinade, especially when combined with the delicious mix of fresh vegetables and fruit on a stick! If you’re looking for a healthy, delicious, and Weight Watchers friendly chicken kebab or chicken skewer recipe, complete with a wonderful marinade, I highly encourage you to give this a try!
📋 Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabobs Recipe
Ingredients
Kabobs:
- 4 fresh boneless and skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 ½ -2 inch cubes
- 1 small fresh zucchini sliced I half, then into ½ inch half circles
- ¾ cup fresh cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup whole fresh button mushrooms
- 1 whole fresh Granny smith apple peeled, quartered and sliced ½ inch thick lengthwise
Marinade:
- ½ cup Maple syrup
- 3 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- zest from 1 fresh lime
Instructions
Marinade *heads up – there is a 6- 8 hour marinating time in this recipe!
- In a small bowl, combine all marinade ingredients, stir well and set aside.
- *** Important: before putting your meat and veggies on the skewer, make sure to soak your skewers in cold water for several minutes, while you’re chopping your ingredients. This will prevent the skewers from catching on fire.
Kabobs
- Cut chicken into about 1 ½ -2 inch cubes (see VIDEO) in notes on how to cut chicken.
- Cut zucchini into manageable pieces for skewer
- Cut apples into pieces. Make sure not to cut them too small, as they won’t go through the skewer OR stay on the skewer during cooking.
- Add chicken and veggies onto skewer as follows: (though it doesn’t have to be in this exact order): zucchini, mushroom,1- 2 pieces of chicken, tomato, apple, 1-2 pieces of chicken.
- Then repeat until skewer is full leaving about a ½ inch on each end. Do this for all 4 skewers.
Refrigerate
- Put kabobs into extra-large zip lock bag and pour marinade over meat. Lay flat in fridge. Marinate in the fridge for 6-8 hours (ideally overnight) in fridge, turning periodically, if possible.
Grill
- Preheat grill to 400 degrees F and spray with non-stick spray or olive oil.
- Covered, cook on grill for 5- 10 minutes on each side until no longer pink.
- Serve on rice pilaf, if desired. (https://foodmeanderings.com/sausage-apple-rice-gluten-free/)
Notes
Nutrition
📋 More Delicious Weight Watchers Grilling & BBQ Recipes!
If you loved these healthy Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabobs and are looking for more fantastic, Weight Watchers friendly recipes to enjoy on your grill or at your next BBQ, check out these other favorites:
- Grilled Steak Salad with Feta and Clamato Dressing: A light yet satisfying salad perfect for summer evenings, offering a unique flavor profile and lean protein.
- Healthy Barbecue Beer Can Chicken with Molasses: A classic grilling technique reinvented for health-conscious eaters, delivering incredibly moist and flavorful chicken with a touch of sweetness.
- Banh Mi Turkey Hot Dogs: A creative and healthy twist on a BBQ staple, infusing the vibrant, fresh flavors of a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich into a leaner hot dog.
- Healthy Classic Potato Salad – WW friendly: No BBQ is complete without potato salad, and this version offers all the creamy, comforting taste you love without the guilt, making it perfect for your Weight Watchers plan.
- Healthy Artichoke & Roasted Red Pepper Coleslaw: Weight Watchers Friendly: Move beyond traditional coleslaw with this elevated recipe, boasting a delightful blend of artichoke hearts, sweet roasted red peppers, and a creamy, healthy dressing.
Happy grilling, and enjoy these wholesome and flavorful Weight Watchers friendly BBQ creations!