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Looking for a grilled chicken skewer that naturally infuses flavor as it grills? My Buffalo Rosemary Chicken Skewers do exactly that. Juicy chicken breast pieces are marinated in buffalo sauce sweetened with apple juice, fresh rosemary, and melted butter. As the chicken cooks, the rosemary releases its aroma, flavoring the meat from the inside out. Serve with a creamy blue cheese dipping sauce for the ultimate grilled appetizer or main. Because food on a stick? Always a good idea for a tasty bites as well as a pretty presentation.

Rosemary skewered chicken served on a white platter with dipping sauce viewed from overhead

Table of contents

Ingredients

  • Fresh rosemary sprigs
  • Chopped rosemary
  • Buffalo hot sauce
  • Apple juice
  • Butter or olive oil
  • Chicken breast or skinless chicken thighs
  • Salt & pepper
  • Blue cheese dressing

Why I love this recipe


These chicken kabobs/chicken kebabs aren’t just eye-catching—they’re a deliciously unique way to infuse great flavor from fresh herbs into grilled chicken. The combo of tangy buffalo sauce and fresh rosemary is unexpected, but incredibly tasty. It’s a fresh twist on a classic buffalo flavor.

A closeup showing the buffalo chicken grill marks and fresh rosemary sprigs

The best buffalo sauce marinade


The marinade is one of the reasons I love this recipe. Not only does the thick marinade helps coat chicken evenly, the buffalo flavor adds a little spicy kick. The spices is also mellowed by adding melted butter and a hint of sweetness from apple juice and earthy rosemary balance out the flavors.

How to a make rosemary skewers for grilling


Start by selecting thick, sturdy rosemary sprigs—these will act as your natural skewers. Choose stems that are firm enough to hold and thread pieces of chicken (or other ingredients) without breaking. Not only do they hold everything together, but they also infuse your food with delicious, herbal flavor as it grills. Also, when you grill chicken you get those great grill marks.

Preventing rosemary skewers from burning on the grill


This was a tricky one to figure out—you definitely don’t want a mini brush fire on your hands! What worked for me is hanging the ends of the rosemary sprigs off the edge of the grill, away from direct heat and open flames.

Pieces of chicken coated in buffalo sauce skewered onto fresh rosemary sprigs lying on a square white plate

No grill, no problem


If you don’t have an outdoor grill, or it’s too cold to grill outdoors, you can use an indoor grill pan for the stovetop. This also ensures no rosemary will burn. You can also cook them under the oven broiler/oven grill, just cover the rosemary in foil.

Do I have to use rosemary for the skewer?


No, but the rosemary does give a lovely flavor to the chicken. You can use regular metal or wooden skewers. Just remember to soak wooden skewers before grilling on the outdoor grill, but you wont get the rosemary infusion or any ooh’s and aah’s from your family or guests, just sayin’.

Buffalo Rosemary Chicken Skewers step-by-step

Whisking buffalo sauce, melted butter and fresh rosemary
  1. Whisk the buffalo sauce, melted butter and rosemary in medium bowl.


2. To a ziptop bag, place chicken pieces and mix with ⅔ of the marinade and mix to coat. Seal the bag and allow to marinate for at least 1 hour, up to 24 hours in the fridge.

Marinating chicken pieces
Threading chicken onto rosemary skewers


3. Thread the chicken pieces on to rosemary sprigs.

4. Grill the chicken on each side.

Grilling chicken skewers
Brushing grilling chicken with marinade

5. Brush with the rest of the marinade.

Blue cheese dipping sauce


What goes better with buffalo sauce than blue cheese? I have the best and easiest recipe for Chunky Blue cheese Dressing. 

Dipping a buffalo rosemary chicken skewer into blue cheese sauce

More buffalo recipes to try

Love that tangy, spicy taste? Here are a few more delicious ways to use Buffalo sauce:

  • Buffalo Sauce Burgers – Juicy burgers with a spicy kick served with blue cheese celery slaw
  • Warm Buffalo Chicken Salad – A bold, flavor-packed twist on a classic
  • Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders – Crispy, oven-baked tenders served with a creamy blue cheese sauce
A beef burger in a bun with coleslaw and buffalo sauce
A warm buffalo chicken salad on a white rectangle plate
A crispy Panko breaded chicken tender served with a spicy blue cheese sauce


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    Yield: 16

    Buffalo Rosemary Chicken Skewers

    6 pieces of grilled chicken on rosemary skewers

    Classic buffalo chicken is skewered onto fresh rosemary sprigs for a pretty presentation and little infusion of rosemary, served with a delicious blue cheese dipping sauce.

    Prep Time 1 hour
    Cook Time 4 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 4 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 16 rosemary sprigs
    • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
    • ½ cup (118 ml) hot sauce buffalo sauce
    • ¼ cup (60 ml) apple juice
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
    • Salt and pepper
    • 1 pound (453 grams) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
    • Blue cheese dressing

    Instructions

    1. Remove about ⅓ of the rosemary from the end of the sprigs. Finely chop the rosemary for the sauce.
    1. To a mixing bowl, add the hot sauce, apple juice, melted butter, chopped rosemary and salt and pepper to taste, mix well.
    2. Add the chicken to a sealable bag or dish with a lid. Pour ⅔ of the hot sauce mixture over the chicken and mix well. Seal and refrigerate for 1 hour up to 24 hours. Set the other ⅓ of the sauce aside.
    1. Once the chicken has marinated, pat the pieces dry with a paper towel.
    2. Take a sprig of the rosemary and skewer the 2 pieces of chicken, repeat with the rest of the chicken.
    3. Preheat a grill pan over medium high heat.
    4. Brush the chicken with olive oil and grill.
    5. Turn the chicken after 2 minutes and brush the grilled side with reserved hot sauce (do not use the marinade).
    6. When the chicken is cooked on the second side transfer to a plate and brush with more hot sauce.
    7. Serve hot with blue cheese dressing.
    8. This recipe yields 16 skewers with 2 pieces of chicken on each skewer.

    Notes

    Step-by-step video:

    Nutrition Information

    Yield

    4

    Serving Size

    1
    Amount Per Serving Calories 126Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 35mgSodium 161mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 2gSugar 3gProtein 10g

    This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.

    © Janette
    Cuisine: American / Category: Dinner Ideas