As the coals settle into that steady, even heat and the daylight starts to go syrupy around camp, Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewers are the kind of dinner that pulls people out of their chairs and over to the grill. Chicken breast turns bronzed and lightly charred at the edges, pineapple caramelizes into little golden cubes, and the whole thing smells like smoke, brown sugar, and soy as the teriyaki glaze tightens into a shiny, sticky lacquer.
Skewers are a campsite win: quick-cooking, easy to flip, and built for feeding a group without juggling a stack of pans. Threading chicken and pineapple together also keeps the grill work forgiving—juicy fruit buffers the lean meat, and everything finishes at about the same time. If you’re cooking over an open fire, aim for a medium-hot bed of coals so the glaze doesn’t scorch before the chicken is done.
Serve these straight off the grill with rice, quick-cooked noodles, or tucked into tortillas for a no-fuss lakeside dinner. And if you’ve got extra teriyaki, brush on one last coat right at the end—just long enough to set—then let the skewers rest a minute while you pass around plates.
Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
Equipment
- Grill grate or portable grill
- Metal or soaked wooden skewers
- Tongs
- Basting brush
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce plus more for brushing
- 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 large red bell pepper cut into chunks
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds for garnish
- 2 scallions sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl or zip bag, combine chicken, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup teriyaki. Marinate 15–30 minutes in the cooler.
- Thread chicken, pineapple, and bell pepper onto skewers.
- Grill skewers over direct campfire heat, turning and basting with extra teriyaki, about 14–18 minutes until chicken is cooked through and charred in spots.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions. Serve hot with extra sauce.