HOMEMADE CHICKEN SPIEDIES (MARINATED CHICKEN SKEWER SANDWICH)
on Apr 27, 2025
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Pieces of marinated chicken are grilled on wooden skewers and served alongside sweet caramelized onions on top of crunchy gluten-free rolls.
This recipe is summertime entertaining at its finest: quick, relatively inexpensive, prepped in advance, and (of course) delicious!
Homemade Chicken Spiedies (aka Marinated Chicken Skewer Sandwiches) are a simple dish with origins from an upstate New York town called Binghamton.
For those of you like me who didn’t grow up with spiedies, it’s essentially marinated, grilled cubes of meat (such as chicken or pork) that are served in a crunchy roll, such as a hoagie or bun.
My husband Kyle is from Eastern Pennsylvania and this was one of the dishes his family made for me the first time I came home with him. I was instantly hooked!
My twist is adding some caramelized onions to the mix. I like the contrast of the sweet, melt-in-your-mouth onions next to the charred chicken.
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Sandwich the marinated chicken chunks and the caramelized onions between two slices of your favorite bread. You can also just serve the skewers as is with your favorite summertime sides, such as a fresh salad or coleslaw.
These sandwiches are a casual, fun option that’s ideal for a warm evening eaten outdoors with your closest family and friends. Hope you love it!
Ingredients for Chicken Spiedies Sandwiches
Summertime meals shouldn’t be complicated, and these chicken skewers couldn’t be easier. Here’s what you’ll need to grab from the store.
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are easy to grill and turn out so juicy. You can also use chicken breasts.
- Sweet Onion: Slice these thinly into half-moons before adding them to the chicken and the marinade. They’ll cook quickly over the stovetop, becoming rich and incredibly sweet.
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Pin It- Garlic: This adds a ton of flavor to the marinade, especially as the chicken sits overnight.
- Avocado Oil: I like using this type of healthy cooking oil whenever I’m grilling over high heat.
- Lemon: This adds acidity to the marinade, making the chicken pieces incredibly juicy.
- Red Wine Vinegar: This ingredient helps tenderize the meat, adding a bit more acidity and tang too.
- Spices: Onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, and bay leaves are a perfect combo of flavors that really stand out on the grill.
- Gluten-free Ciabatta: I was lucky enough to find gluten-free ciabatta rolls at my grocery store, but look for whatever you can find or sounds best! Kyle grew up eating them on a hot dog bun or fresh Italian bread.
How to Make Chicken Spiedies
First, add the chicken to an airtight container or sealable plastic bag (such as a @stasherbag) along with the sliced onions and the smashed garlic cloves.
Whisk together the marinade ingredients (avocado oil, lemon, red wine vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper) and pour over the chicken.
Marinate overnight for optimal flavor!
Soak the skewers in water for at least 20 minutes before cooking. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
Spray the grill pan with avocado or olive oil spray. Add the skewers and cook on each side for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the skewers from the pan and reduce heat to medium.
Recipe Tip
If using an outdoor grill, heat to 450°F and cook for 4 minutes at a time, rotating three times.
Add the onions and cook for 10 to 12 minutes until nicely caramelized.
Serve the chicken skewers on your favorite gluten-free bun, top with caramelized onions, and enjoy!
More Marinated Chicken Recipes:
- Saucy Braised Ginger Chicken Thighs and Broccoli
- One Pan Mediterranean Chicken and Potatoes
- Chimichurri Chicken Thighs
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks
HOMEMADE CHICKEN SPIEDIES (MARINATED CHICKEN SKEWER SANDWICH)
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 1 sweet onion, sliced into half-moon slices
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed
Marinade:
- ½ cup avocado oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ¾ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Serving Suggestions:
- Gluten-free ciabatta
Instructions
- Add the chicken to an airtight container or sealable plastic bag along with the sliced onions and smashed garlic.
- Whisk together the marinade ingredients (avocado oil, lemon, red wine vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper) and pour over the chicken. Marinate overnight.
- Soak the skewers in water for at least 20 minutes before cooking.
- Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Spray the pan with avocado or olive oil spray.
- Add the skewers and cook on each side for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove the skewers from the pan and reduce heat to medium.
- Add the onions and cook for 10 to 12 minutes until nicely caramelized.
- Serve the chicken skewers on your favorite gluten-free bun, top with caramelized onions, and enjoy!
