Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers: Easy Summer Grilling Recipe
If you love dill pickles, grilled chicken, and easy summer dinners, these Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers bring all three together.
The chicken is marinated in pickle brine to help it stay tender and flavorful, seasoned with Milford Spice Company Pink Pickle™, and grilled until lightly charred around the edges.
A cool, creamy dill-pickle sauce finishes the skewers without making the recipe feel heavy. Serve them with grilled corn, potato salad, cucumber salad, roasted potatoes, or warm flatbread.
This is the kind of summer recipe that feels fun and different but still uses familiar ingredients.
Why Pickle Chicken Is So Good
Pickle brine is not only for keeping pickles in the jar. It can also be used as a quick chicken marinade.
The brine usually contains salt, vinegar, water, and seasoning. Together, these ingredients help flavor the outside of the chicken and can make it taste juicier and more seasoned after grilling.
The result does not taste overwhelmingly sour. Instead, the chicken gets a salty, tangy background flavor that works especially well with dill, garlic, ranch, crispy potatoes, and grilled vegetables.
Pickle brine adds tang.
Pink Pickle adds concentrated dill-pickle flavor.
The grill adds smoke and caramelized edges.
What Is Pink Pickle Seasoning?
Pink Pickle™ is Milford Spice Company’s pickle-inspired seasoning blend.
It gives food a bright, tangy pickle flavor without requiring you to chop pickles or add extra liquid to every dish.
That makes it useful for chicken, potatoes, popcorn, vegetables, burgers, fish, dips, deviled eggs, pasta salad, and homemade ranch.
In this recipe, it seasons both the chicken and the creamy dipping sauce so the pickle flavor runs through the entire dish.
Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers Recipe
Easy Grilled Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus marinating
Cooking time: 10 to 14 minutes
Total active time: About 30 minutes
Ingredients for the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
- 3/4 cup dill pickle brine
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Milford Spice Company Pink Pickle™
- 1 teaspoon honey, optional
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Pickle slices for serving, optional
- Fresh dill for serving, optional
Ingredients for the Creamy Pickle Sauce
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped dill pickles
- 1 teaspoon pickle brine
- 1 teaspoon Pink Pickle™ seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Fresh dill, optional
Equipment
- Grill or grill pan
- Metal or wooden skewers
- Medium mixing bowl
- Small bowl for the sauce
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide.
- Place the chicken in a bowl or food-safe bag with the pickle brine.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Avoid marinating it overnight because the acidic brine may make the surface of the chicken too soft.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the brine and pat it lightly with paper towels. Discard the used brine.
- Add the chicken to a clean bowl with the olive oil, Pink Pickle seasoning, honey, and lemon juice.
- Toss until every piece is evenly coated.
- Thread the chicken onto the skewers, leaving a small space between the pieces so they cook evenly.
- Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Grill the skewers for approximately 10 to 14 minutes, rotating every few minutes.
- Cook until the chicken is browned, firm, and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest the skewers for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
Make the Sauce
- Mix the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, chopped pickles, pickle brine, Pink Pickle seasoning, and lemon juice.
- Taste and add more Pink Pickle seasoning for a stronger dill-pickle flavor.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Get Pink Pickle for This Recipe
Chicken Breast or Chicken Thighs?
Both work well, but they give you slightly different results.
Chicken breasts are lean, cook quickly, and absorb the pickle flavor easily. Keep the pieces similar in size and avoid overcooking them.
Chicken thighs are richer and usually stay juicier on the grill. They are a good choice for outdoor grilling, parties, and situations where the skewers may sit for several minutes before serving.
For maximum tenderness and easier grilling, boneless chicken thighs are the more forgiving option.
How Long Should You Marinate Chicken in Pickle Juice?
Thirty minutes is enough to give the chicken noticeable flavor.
For a stronger pickle taste, marinate it for one to two hours. That is generally long enough for small skewer-sized pieces.
Avoid leaving the chicken in acidic pickle brine for a full day. The vinegar can begin changing the texture of the outside of the meat.
Can You Use Leftover Pickle Juice?
Yes, pickle juice left inside a refrigerated jar can be used as a chicken marinade as long as it has been handled and stored properly.
Pour the amount you need directly from the jar into a separate bowl or bag. Do not return marinade that has touched raw chicken to the original pickle jar.
Discard all brine that has come into contact with raw meat.
Can You Make These Without a Grill?
Yes. These pickle chicken skewers can also be made in the oven, under the broiler, in an air fryer, or on a stovetop grill pan.
Oven Method
Heat the oven to 425°F. Arrange the skewers on a lined baking sheet and bake for approximately 16 to 20 minutes, turning once.
Broil for the final one to two minutes if you want more browning around the edges.
Air-Fryer Method
Preheat the air fryer to approximately 390°F. Arrange the skewers in a single layer and cook for 10 to 14 minutes, turning halfway through.
Cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken pieces and the size of the air-fryer basket.
Grill-Pan Method
Heat a lightly oiled grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the skewers for approximately 10 to 14 minutes, rotating until browned on all sides and fully cooked.
What to Serve with Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers
The tangy chicken works especially well with fresh and creamy summer side dishes.
Try serving it with:
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Potato salad
- Cucumber and tomato salad
- Street corn pasta salad
- Roasted or grilled zucchini
- Crispy potatoes
- Coleslaw
- Warm pita or flatbread
- Rice or quinoa
- Watermelon salad
- Grilled peaches
- Macaroni salad
How to Make Pickle Chicken More or Less Tangy
For a mild pickle flavor, marinate the chicken for approximately 30 minutes and use one tablespoon of Pink Pickle seasoning.
For more pickle flavor, marinate it for up to two hours and use the full amount of seasoning in the recipe.
You can also add sliced pickles directly to the finished plate or increase the chopped pickles in the sauce.
For less tang, replace half of the pickle brine with cold water and leave the lemon juice out of the marinade.
Can You Put Pickles Directly on the Skewers?
You can, although pickle slices hold more water than chicken and may soften or slip between the grill grates.
Use thick pickle chips or small whole pickles and thread them securely between the chicken pieces.
Another option is to grill the chicken by itself and add fresh pickle slices after cooking. This gives you a stronger crunch and a fresher pickle taste.
Easy Dill Pickle Chicken Bowl
You can turn the same recipe into a complete summer bowl.
Add cooked rice, quinoa, or roasted potatoes to a bowl. Top with the grilled chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pickles, red onion, and creamy pickle sauce.
For extra protein, add chickpeas, hard-boiled eggs, cottage cheese, or a scoop of plain Greek yogurt.
This is also a useful way to serve leftover chicken the next day.
Dill Pickle Chicken Wraps
Remove the cooked chicken from the skewers and place it inside tortillas, pita bread, or flatbread.
Add shredded lettuce, sliced pickles, tomato, onion, and the creamy pickle sauce.
For a crunchy wrap, add crushed kettle chips immediately before serving.
Dill Pickle Chicken Sandwiches
Instead of cutting the chicken into cubes, marinate and grill whole chicken breasts or thighs.
Serve them on toasted buns with lettuce, pickles, cheese, and creamy pickle sauce.
Pink Pickle seasoning can also be stirred into mayonnaise to make a quick sandwich spread.
More Ways to Use Pink Pickle Seasoning
You do not need to save pickle seasoning only for chicken.
Try Pink Pickle on:
- Popcorn
- French fries
- Roasted potatoes
- Deviled eggs
- Egg salad
- Tuna salad
- Potato salad
- Pasta salad
- Grilled corn
- Cucumbers
- Roasted chickpeas
- Salmon
- Burgers
- Homemade ranch
- Greek-yogurt dip
The easiest method is to add a little seasoning, taste the food, and increase it gradually.
How to Store Leftover Pickle Chicken
Remove leftover chicken from the skewers and place it in an airtight container.
Refrigerate it promptly and use it within three to four days.
Reheat the chicken in a skillet, air fryer, or microwave until hot. You can also eat it cold in salads and wraps.
Store the creamy sauce separately so the chicken does not become soggy.
Can You Prepare the Skewers Ahead?
Yes. Cut and marinate the chicken earlier in the day, but remove it from the pickle brine after no more than approximately two hours.
After draining the chicken, season it and thread it onto skewers. Keep the prepared skewers covered in the refrigerator until grilling time.
The sauce can be prepared one day ahead. Stir it before serving and add a splash of pickle brine if it becomes too thick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does pickle juice tenderize chicken?
The salt and acidity in pickle brine can help season the chicken and alter its outer texture. A short marinating period works best for small pieces.
Will the chicken taste strongly like vinegar?
Not when it is marinated briefly. The flavor should be tangy, salty, and lightly pickled rather than sharply vinegary.
Can I use sweet pickle juice?
Yes, but the finished chicken will taste sweeter. Dill pickle brine is the better choice for a savory, classic pickle flavor.
Can I use spicy pickle brine?
Yes. Spicy pickle brine adds another layer of heat and works especially well with grilled chicken.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Yes. Use a dairy-free yogurt or mayonnaise-based sauce, or serve the skewers with a simple mixture of mayonnaise, pickle brine, lemon juice, and Pink Pickle seasoning.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
The basic chicken recipe does not require flour, breadcrumbs, or bread. Check the labels of every individual ingredient when cooking for someone with a specific dietary requirement.
Where to Buy Pickle Seasoning
Milford Spice Company’s Pink Pickle™ makes it easy to add tangy pickle flavor without opening a new jar of pickles every time you cook.
Keep it near the grill for chicken, burgers, corn, potatoes, salmon, and vegetables. Keep another bottle near the stove for eggs, popcorn, dips, and quick snacks.
It is bold enough to be noticed, but versatile enough to use throughout the week.
Final Thought
Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers are easy enough for a weeknight but interesting enough for a summer cookout.
The pickle brine keeps the flavor bright, the grill adds smoky edges, and Pink Pickle seasoning ties everything together.
Serve the skewers with a cool sauce and one or two simple summer sides. That is all you need for a fresh, fun dinner that pickle lovers will remember.