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Hannah Hufham / Food Styling: Tricia Stuedeman / Prop Styling: Joshua Hoggle
To celebrate the start of grilling season, I’ve been bookmarking all the recipes I want to try—and Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers are at the top of my list. The main dish (which features grill-seared and baked chicken skewers drizzled with a buttery and herbaceous garlic ranch sauce) is destined to wow friends and family at your next cookout or weeknight dinner. The easy recipe calls for tenderizing the chicken thigh chunks in a genius marinade: a jar of dill pickle brine.
Let’s break down how to make the chicken skewers—and why they deserve a spot on your must-make recipe list, too.
The Secret to the Juiciest Chicken Skewers
Hannah Hufham / Food Styling: Tricia Stuedeman / Prop Styling: Joshua Hoggle
The salt and acid in pickle juice helps break down the connective tissues and muscle fibers in meats, such as chicken and turkey. That’s why using your pickle brine as a marinade for chicken thighs helps the poultry pieces retain moisture, resulting in a juicy, tender interior. Whether you have a jar of pickles preserved in vinegar or pickles fermented in water and salt (often sold in the refrigerated section of grocery stores), both will work for making Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers.
How to Make Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers
Hannah Hufham / Food Styling: Tricia Stuedeman / Prop Styling: Joshua Hoggle
Start by transferring your dill pickles to a small bowl and popping them into the refrigerator for later. Marinade your chicken directly in the jar of pickle brine with brown sugar and salt for at least three hours or up to 12 hours. Discard the brine and thread your chicken onto the skewers, alternating with three pickle chips. Place your skewers on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle evenly with ranch dressing mix and salt, and char on a hot grill pan before finishing them in the oven.
While the chicken bakes, prepare the garlic sauce, which features butter, minced garlic, chicken broth, ranch mix, chopped dill, and salt. To give the sauce an extra-smooth texture, finish it with an additional pat of butter. Once the skewers are out of the oven, drizzle them with the warm sauce and garnish with fresh dill.
Get the Recipe: Dil Pickle Chicken Skewers
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