Jerk Chicken Pineapple Kabobs

These chicken pineapple kabobs are a summer recipe that you’re gonna want to hold onto forever! Sweet and spicy jerk-rubbed chicken pairs with juicy sausage, sweet pineapple, and tender red onion.

Summer’s not officially kicked off until you’ve thrown some fire kabobs on the grill! And these jerk chicken kabobs certainly are on the fiery side as far as flavors are concerned.

Not only are these kabobs packed with just the right amount of heat, but we’ve also got extra meat from sausage and sweet fresh pineapple giving that awesome sweet-with-heat flavor.

Basically what I’m saying is that it’s a kabob that belongs on your grill 24/7 all summer long.

My absolute favorite part about these kabobs is the homemade jerk seasoning. It’s packed with a little zap of heat, a little sweetness, and just a touch of warm, fruity spices. It perks up regular old boring chicken thighs like you wouldn’t believe!

Let’s just say your dinner fare is not going to be boring in the flavor department tonight.

These Kabobs feature…

• Juicy chicken thighs rubbed with a homemade jerk seasoning
• Tender sausage and juicy fresh pineapple
• Easy to prep ahead of time for cookouts

Making the Kabobs

(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)

Ingredients You Will Need

• Brown sugar
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Allspice
• Cinnamon
• Coriander
• Thyme
• Nutmeg
• Cayenne pepper
• Chicken thighs
• Sausage links
• Red onion
• Pineapple
• Cilantro and lime

Choosing Your Sausage

I love using a lighter less-greasy sausage such as chicken or turkey, but this dish will work great with a variety sausage types! Kielbasa is one of my other go-to’s when we don’t have chicken or turkey sausage on hand.

I recommend buying sausage links and cutting them 1-inch thick pieces for best results.

Tips for Perfect Kabobs

1. Soak wooden skewers or use metal ones – if using wooden skewers, soak them in water 20 minutes before proceeding with recipe. This will keep the skewers from snapping while grilling.
2. Cut kabob ingredients in uniform 1-inch pieces – uniformity will ensure that all the kabob ingredients cook at the same rate.
3. Top kabobs with cilantro and fresh lime after grilling – this adds one last little zing of fresh flavor that compliments the spicy chicken, sweet pineapple, and salty sausage perfectly.
4. Prep kabobs ahead of time – you can assemble the ingredients on skewers, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days before grilling.

Recipe Variations

Try these ideas for a different twist on this recipe.

• Add veggies – add cubed zucchini, sweet peppers, or mushrooms to kabobs.
• Skip sausage – if you’re not a fan of sausage, you can easily skip it and add a veggie or extra pineapple in its place.
• Adjust heat level – start with 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder in season mix and add more to taste for a more mild version. You can also add more cayenne pepper than the recipe calls for to taste for an even spicier kick.

Serving Suggestions

These kabobs go great with a variety of meals! I love serving them alongside steamed rice and beans, roast potatoes, roast vegetables, or a big leafy green salad.

Stovetop and Oven Instructions

This recipe can easily be converted to an indoor recipe if you don’t own a grill!

• Stovetop: lightly grease a large nonstick skillet or a grill pan and heat over medium-high heat. Sear salmon kabobs 3-4 minutes on each side until chicken registers 165F.
• Oven: assemble the kabobs per recipe instructions and arrange on a greased sheet pan. Bake kabobs at 400F 15-20 minutes until chicken registers 165F.

Once you try these kabobs, I think you’ll agree that this is a recipe you’re gonna want to keep around! The smokiness from grilling is absolutely dynamite with the sweet-and-spicy jerk chicken, juicy pineapple, and tender sausage cubes.

How summer dinners should be!!

Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.

More kabob recipes you’re going to want to grill up next!

• Beer Marinated Chicken Kabobs
• Lemon Garlic Chicken Kabobs
• Greek Grilled Salmon Kabobs

This post was updated with new recipe tips and photos on 6/20/24.