Easy Grilled Chicken And Bacon Skewers

If you want bold flavor with little hassle, these easy grilled bacon and chicken skewers are going to be your new favorite. Juicy chicken and smoky bacon weaved together, with a sticky glaze that’s perfect for weeknights or weekend cookouts. 

The bacon keeps the chicken moist and adds a crispy, smoky kick everyone loves, even without sauce. Easy to make and full of flavor, these skewers are great for family dinners or feeding a crowd.

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Why Bacon and Chicken Are Perfect Together

Chicken and bacon are a match made for the grill. Chicken is lean and mild, so it soaks up flavor like a sponge.

Bacon brings a smoky, salty goodness and plenty of fat so it helps keep the chicken moist while it cooks. When they cook together, the bacon actually bastes the chicken with rendered fat.

On skewers, this means crispy bacon edges and juicy chicken in every bite. It’s a great way to add a lot of flavor without a lot of work.

How to Weave Bacon on Skewers

I like to use two slices of bacon as opposed to a single slice of thick cut bacon. The double slice just seems to weave better on the skewers. 

Start with the bacon, then chicken. As you thread on each piece of chicken, fold a slice of bacon into an “S” shape and weave it between the chunks.

This lets the bacon hug the chicken without wrapping it completely, so it still gets crispy. Plus, the bacon fat melts into the chicken while it cooks.

Tips for Grilling Chicken Skewers Without Drying Them Out

Cut your chicken into even-sized chunks so everything cooks at the same rate. I shoot for one inch squares.  Thighs are more forgiving than breasts, but either can work if you don’t overcook.

Once the skewers are assembled, season them with my Homemade BBQ Rub. It’s a really balanced blend of smoky paprika, garlic, and just the right touch of sweetness.

This rub adds a ton of flavor and helps the bacon and chicken caramelize beautifully on the grill. You can also use your favorite off the shelf BBQ rub here as well, I just happen to be partial to mine. 

Grill over high heat first to crisp up the bacon and get a nice char on the chicken. Then finish them over indirect heat to let the chicken cook through. 

Brush on the sauce near the end to avoid burning the sugar over direct heat. Let the skewers rest for a few minutes before serving so the juices can redistribute into the chicken.

Best Sauces to Glaze Chicken

A good glaze can take grilled skewers from solid to “Holy Smokes!” The sweet, sticky finish adds flavor and helps everything caramelize on the grill, especially the bacon. 

One of my go-to favorites is this Homemade BBQ Sauce. It’s sweet, tangy, and perfectly balanced, so it compliments both chicken and shrimp. Just brush it on during the last few minutes of grilling to avoid burning the sugars over high heat.

If you want to change it up, try a teriyaki glaze, sweet chili sauce, or even a bourbon based glaze. Maple Dijon and balsamic glazes also work well if you’re after something a little different. 

Just keep the glaze light at first, you can always add more after grilling but it’s hard to take it away. Serving a few dipping sauces on the side is a fun way to let everyone do their own thing.

Add Quick and Juicy Shrimp Skewers for Variety

If you want to mix things up, adding shrimp skewers alongside your bacon and chicken is a great move. For flavor consistency, season the shrimp with that same Homemade BBQ Rub you used on the chicken.

It brings a smoky, savory punch that works surprisingly well on seafood too.

Shrimp cook fast and offer a nice contrast to the richness of the bacon. Brush on a little glaze near the end of cooking, and you’ve got a surf-and-turf combo that tastes like it came from a high end steakhouse.

How to Grill Shrimp Skewers Alongside Chicken and Bacon

Grilling shrimp skewers with your bacon and chicken is easy. Season the shrimp with my Homemade BBQ Rub, which blends bold spices like smoked paprika and garlic with just enough sweetness to complement both chicken and shrimp.

Since shrimp cook quickly, thread them onto separate skewers and grill over medium-high heat for two minutes per side. I like to match the flavor of the chicken skewers, so I use the same glaze during the final minute on the grill.

Start the shrimp a little later, so everything finishes at the same time.

How To Make Chicken and Bacon Skewers

Serves: 6 | Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 20 min

Ingredients
3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 25 1” squares
1 lb bacon
1 lb large shrimp, (optional) deveined
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp bbq rub,  or your favorite bbq rub
1 cup bbq sauce, or your favorite bbq sauce
2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped

Step 1: Light your grill and set it up for two zone cooking. 

Step 2: While the grill heats up, make the skewers. Put five pieces of chicken on a flat skewer. Weave a double slice of bacon between each piece of chicken.

Step 3: Divide the optional shrimp into three equal portions, and place them on sets of double skewers. Using a double skewer prevents the shrimp from spinning on a single skewer.

Step 4: Evenly coat the chicken and shrimp skewers with a light coat of oil, and then lightly season both with the BBQ rub.

Step 5: Place the chicken and bacon skewers on the preheated grill, over direct heat. Turn them often, letting them cook until evenly charred on all sides, about six minutes total.

Step 6: Transfer the chicken to the grill’s indirect side and apply a layer of BBQ sauce. Close the grill lid and let the sauce set for four minutes.

Step 7: Lift the lid and place the shrimp skewers over direct heat. Let them cook for two minutes. Flip the shrimp, brush on BBQ sauce, and cook for two more minutes.

Step 8: Use a reliable instant read thermometer and check the chicken’s temperature for doneness. Remove chicken and shrimp skewers from the grill, and garnish with parsley.