Looking for an easy grilling recipe that uses refreshing summer produce? Check out these Lemony Cucumber Mint Pesto Chicken Kebabs! Also paleo and whole-30 approved!
To be quite honest with you, this recipe was almost a disaster. Actually, not even the recipe part, that was a piece of cake. It was everything else that went wrong. At first, everything was going well.
I put the kebabs on the grill and set up an area on my picnic table out to take the pics because the lighting was perf👌.
But thennnnnnn, a huge gusp of wind and a dark cloud appeared just as I was about to take pictures and blew away most of my picture props. As I was trying to put them all back on the table, I realized that the grill was up way too high, so I went to lower it.
Then my shirt almost caught on fire and I burnt my finger, then the props blew away again. I had a little two year old temper tantrum and didn’t think these picture would happen. But then by the grace of God, the wind stopped for a few minutes and my props stayed on the table and it became sunny again. Hallelujah!🙌
Besides that horror story, I also feel the need to mention that this is my second time ever grilling, and now I feel like a pro💁 (first was this pineapple chicken buddha bowl).
Eating grilled food makes me happy. Maybe because it tastes better than baked food, or maybe because it reminds me of summer. No matter the reason, grilling creates a fresh flavor that no other cooking technique can mimic. Just don’t burn your food🙅
Since summer brings the abundance of fresh produce, there is all the more reason for me to make recipes that highlight this freshness. So what exactly did I experiment with in this recipe?
All the most refreshing produce that you can find right now (besides watermelon): Cucumbers, lemon and mint. There is nothing more refreshing that that trio of flavors, am I right?
Lemon Cucumber Mint Pesto Chicken Kebabs
Just imagine chicken marinated in a refreshing lemony cucumber mint pesto and then perfectly cooked on the grill with fresh summer veggies. It’s pretty much summer’s perfect meal. If I, the grill amateur can make it with ease, you’ll have no problem!
Lemon Cucumber Mint Pesto Chicken Kebabs
Equipment
- 10 metal skewers
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breasts about 6 oz. each, cut into 1 in cubes
- 2 large zucchini cut into thick slices
- 1 large onion cut into large slices
- Lemon Cucumber Mint Pesto
- 1 large cucumber grated
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 Tbsp. walnuts or pine nuts
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 1 Tbsp. lemon zest
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place grated cucumber in a dish towel or paper towel and drain excess water.
- To make pesto, add grated cucumber and mint. Blend until combined. Add remaining ingredients for pesto and blend until a smooth sauce forms.
- Place cubed chicken in a large ziploc bag or a large bowl and add pesto to marinate.
- Let chicken marinate in pesto for at least one hour (I let it marinate for 2 hours).
- Once ready to cook,heat your grill to medium-high. Thread onto skewers with the marinated chicken pieces, alternating the chicken with the vegetables (makes about 10 skewers).
- Lightly oil the grill, then place the kabobs on the grill, cover, and let cook until the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink, about 6 to 8 minutes, turning the chicken once or twice throughout so that it cooks evenly.
- Enjoy!
Like This Recipe? Pin For Later!
You May Also Like These Recipes!
Pineapple Chicken Buddha Bowl {Paleo & Whole 30}
Lemon Rosemary Greek Yogurt Chicken
Questions of the day!
Are you a grilling master?
What is your favorite summer produce?
Linking up for Foodie Fridays!
If it were up to me I would exclusively grill 365 days a year 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Friday Finisher 6/17/16
I’ve had some cooking nightmares too! I tried to grill a banana in my panini maker and yep, made banana mush instead! It still turned out really tasty but not what I wanted at all! But I love cooking on the grill, especially when you get to take a bite into crispy edges and grilled surfaces!
Cassie recently posted…NYC Recap 2: Chelsea Market is a Foodie’s Dream
haha cooking nightmares are some great stories! Grilling is the best!
ummm same!! grilled food is the best food!
This sounds super refreshing, lemon, mint and cucumber!? All of my summer favorites 🙂
Sarah @ BucketListTummy recently posted…What Time Away From Running Taught Me
These literally sounds like summer 🙂 My fiancé would go crazy over these— I’ll definitely have to give them a try soon!!
Liz recently posted…Cornmeal & Safflower Crusted Fish Tacos
Oh man I love chicken and pesto and kebabs! These are a win for me 🙂
AZ@…And a Dash of Cinnamon recently posted…BlueNana Almond Butter Protein Smoothie
These kebabs look so delicious! My dad is super picky, but I think he’d really like these so I’m definitely keeping your recipe! Plus these are so perfect for summer!
Rachael Miner recently posted…Vanilla Chia Energy Balls
Haha, what a day – but we appreciate your sacrifices to bring us these delicious kebabs! I’m all about the grilled food in the summer and kebabs are a favorite. Something about food on a stick… love the pesto addition here – so light and flavorful!
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table recently posted…Healthy blueberry cake
I so wish my grill were working right now. I’ve been missing it all year. Once it’s fixed, I’ll be making these kabobs. So easy and yummy. That lemon cucumber mint flavor is my favorite combo. Very mediterranean!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…Walnut Pesto Chicken Summer Squash {GF, Low Cal, Paleo}
Eating grilled food makes me ridiculously happy, too! And since I have a garden full of fresh mint, I think these kabobs NEED to go on our menu. Delicious!!!
Blair recently posted…Simple Italian Green Bean Salad + $100 Giveaway!
I Love grilled food! it’s the best! Heck yes!
grilled food is the best, I hope your grill gets fixed soon! Thanks so much 🙂
haha it was a great day lol. Thank you so much!
thank so much! They are perfect for the summer weather!
thank you! they are a great combo 🙂
thanks, they basically are summer lol!
I love grilling. It makes everything taste better. Thanks for sharing at the Blogger’s Pit Stop.
Debbie recently posted…The Friday Wrap Up: Popsugar Must Have Box and Chana Masala
YUM! What a perfect summer kabob!!!
Hi Bethany & Rachel,
This look delicious! Some things I think do taste much better grilled, but you do need to watch those flame flare ups! We actually have a pellet grill not a gas one so it doesn’t flame up so easily. I love that you added the cucumbers and mint on the kabob. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & Tweeted
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This post is among the most clicked on the Bloggers Pit Stop. Congratulations, look for a feature on Friday.
Kathleen
Bloggers Pit Stop
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