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Grilled Chicken Skewers with Tomatillos and Mint Vinaigrette

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Grilled Chicken Skewers with Tomatillos. There’s a surprise in every bite of these beautiful chicken kabobs. Predictable with zucchini and onion, and made special with a unique vinaigrette and zesty tomatillos. This grilled chicken skewer recipe will be a hit for your next cook-out.

Chicken, zucchini and tomatillo kabobs with mint vinaigrette.

We’ve been having beautiful weather here in Denver, so can’t get enough of Summer grill time recipes.

And what a great combination this recipe is for grilled chicken skewers.  

Predictable with onions and chunks of zucchini, the surprise in this skewer is a tart bite of tomatillo and a luscious mint vinaigrette

What Are Tomatillos?

New to cooking with tomatillos? And just what are they?

Tomatillos are little fruits. Yes, just like tomatoes.

Tomatillos are native to Mexico and are sometimes called husk tomatoes due to the leafy husk that wraps around the fruit.

They look like a small green tomato, but they’re not. They’re a beautiful bright green, acidic and not sweet like a tomato. But come with a tart flavor.

Tomatillos work their wonders in salsa when roasted. Or you can chop them fresh and add to salsa for a tangy experience.

Tomatillos are a wonderful compliment for chicken dishes like this one Crispy Chicken Thighs in Tomatillo Wine Sauce. = yes!

Overall, tomatillos are definitely an item you need in your Southwestern, Mexican pantry.

Mint Vinaigrette Recipe

This recipe comes together nicely dressed with a mint vinaigrette made with red wine vinegar and parsley.  Not only does it compliment the smoky flavor of the grilled chicken but is beautiful for those tangy tomatillos.

Served over beautiful mixed greens and sprinkled with salty feta this is a healthy meal and a beautiful flavor combination. And one that’s ready in a jiff. It doesn’t get any better than that.

This actually has been our go-to easy Summer chicken grilling recipe. It’s just that easy and that delicious.

Recipe for Grilled Chicken Skewers with Tomatillos and Mint Vinaigrette

I hope you give these grilled chicken skewers recipe a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating. Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes.

And if you have a favorite Southwestern grilled chicken skewer recipe, let me know, I'd love to give it a try.

Don’t forget to pour a nice glass of wine.  Always a sucker for Oregon wine, we enjoyed these with a tasty Oregon A to Z Pinot Gris .

Looking to fill your Summer dinners with chicken kabobs? You might like:

And if you’re looking for more Chicken Recipes, don’t miss my chicken category. You’ll find lots of mouthwatering recipes including the most popular on my site for Chicken Mushroom and Spinach Skillet.

And don’t miss one of our favorite Mexican themed chicken recipes for Pollo en Escabeche. Exotic with flavor, it’s a exciting recipe to try.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Chicken, zucchini and tomatillo kabobs with mint vinaigrette.
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Grilled Chicken Skewers with Tomatillos and Mint Vinaigrette

Healthy, easy, chicken skewers are predictable with onion and zucchini, with a surprise bite of tomatillo. These chicken kabobs on the grill are a great idea for your bbq dinner, or outdoor grill party. Easy enough for a weeknight dinner. This Mexican chicken Kabob Recipe is a party pleaser.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course Chicken
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2
Calories: 807kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 1 large red onion cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
  • 4 small tomatillos about ½ pound, halved
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 3 tablespoons mint chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 ounce crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat grill. Peel and rinse tomatillo and prepare other vegetables and chicken. On four 14-inch-long metal skewers, tightly thread the chicken, zucchini, red onion and tomatillos in an alternating pattern. Brush the skewers with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Grill the skewers over a medium-hot fire, turning frequently, until the chicken is just cooked through and the vegetables are lightly charred and barely tender, about 6 minutes per side.
  • Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the mint, parsley, garlic, vinegar and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil; season with salt and pepper.
  • Serve over mixed greens. Spoon the vinaigrette on top, sprinkle with feta.

Nutrition

Calories: 807kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 63g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 235mg | Sodium: 357mg | Potassium: 1304mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1362IU | Vitamin C: 55mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 4mg

Grilled Chicken Skewers with Tomatillos and Mint Vinaigrette …It’s What’s For Dinner

Birding Pawnee National Grasslands, Crow Valley Campground

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Birding Pawnee National Grassland and Crow Valley Campground. A Spring ritual for Colorado Birders. This post is an over view of our annual one-day birding trip to Crow Valley Campground and Pawnee National Grassland.

Pawnee Grasslands Birding Nature Drive.

The Pawnee National Grassland is an internationally known birding destination, and how fortunate for us that it’s only about a 2 hour drive from Highlands Ranch. The grassland lies 35 miles east of Ft. Collins. and is a 193,000 acre managed area.

Crow Valley Campground Pawnee National Grasslands

Every year, in Mid-may, armed with binoculars, scope and picnic lunch, we make our annual trip to the area. Loading up as early as we can to arrive as early as we can, once you head east out of Ault, the scenery turns to rolling hills and endless vistas.

Birdwatching at Crow Valley Campground

Taking the Briggsdale exit off of Highway 14, we head north and always start our morning by pulling into Crow Valley Campground. Turning onto the road that leads into the campground always triggers intense anticipation over what spring migrants those campground trees have attracted.  

An oasis to migrating birds in a wind swept prairie, the campground has proved that about anything is possible. The checklist of rarities documented over the years is impressive.

Common Night Hawk at Crow Valley Campground

A personal favorite past time of mine is searching the branches for a resting Common Nighthawk. If you look carefully, you can see a bump on the top of the curve of the branch. Bingo! This bird has recently migrated from South America and has arrived in the United States to choose a breeding spot.

Bird watching at Crow Valley Campground

After scouring the perimeter of Crow Valley Campground, the creek bed and the areas around the baseball fields, it’s time for a little lunch before we head out onto the grasslands.

Speaking of the creek bed, this year the creek bed ran dry and I found this nest. Anyone have a hunch of what lives inside that den of twigs and leaves?

Of course I use this trip as an excuse to make it a food event.  I mean, after all, ya gotta eat and you part of the charm of this desolate area is that you won’t find any golden arches anywhere in site.

Picnic Area At Crow Valley Campground

The picnic tables at Crow Valley Campground shaded by Elm and Cottonwood trees are a birdwatchers dream. With binoculars next to our sandwiches, we never miss a moment of the migration show.

This year I packed a sandwich I call “The Spaniard”. Ham and Manchego cheese with roasted bell peppers and onions on pumpernickel. And with some chips and dip, or a pasta salad, it’s a welcome picnic lunch.

Birding Pawnee National Grasslands Colorado

After lunch we drive about a mile further north to the entrance of the Pawnee National Grassland Bird Tour. The sign you see in the photo at the top of this post announces that you’ve arrived at the entrance.

Fasten your seat belts for a first class prairie grassland Sparrow, Bunting, Longspur extravaganza. Lark Bunting is our Colorado State Bird, and once on the grasslands you can see why it was appointed that honor. Thousands of those black birds with large white wing patches dance across the barren prairie and perch on the barbed wire fences that run along the dirt roads. How I managed to get a photo of one lone bird is a mystery.

Antelope on the Pawnee National Grasslands. Crow Valley Campground

Navigate those dirt roads at Pawnee National Grassland at a snail’s pace, because if you watch closely, it’s possible to also spot Mountain Plover and Burrowing Owls in the short grass areas.  Or if all else fails, an antelope. Swainson’s Hawks are also a common sight on the grasslands.

On this trip, we enjoyed a great day of spring migration birdwatching, with a total of 74 species.

What is the best time to visit Pawnee National Grassland?

Personally I think any time of year will yield a nice road trip and a few grassland specialties. To be there during peak migration, is beginning in May – early June. We always try to arrive about the 2nd week of May, keeping in mind keeping a close vigil on the current year migration patterns.

A Picnic and Birding at Pawnee National Grassland, a great way to spend a Colorado Spring Day.

And what sandwich was on that picnic table? Ham and Manchego Sandwich is our tradition when birding at Pawnee National Grassland.

Ham and Manchego cheese sandwich with roasted red bell peppers and caramelized onions on pumpernickel bread