Berber & Q-Style Buttermilk Chicken Shish Kebabs with Lemon Pickle
Tender chicken thighs bathed in buttermilk, garlic, and cumin, skewered with cherry tomatoes and grilled to golden perfection, accompanied by a tangy lemon pickle. This Middle Eastern-inspired grilling recipe, ready in about 135 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, buttermilk, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 385 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup red onion
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon pickle
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Trim excess skin from chicken thighs and cut into 1-inch pieces. Place in a bowl with 1/2 cup buttermilk, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, and the zest of 1 lemon. Mix well, cover, and marinate for 2 hours at room temperature.
- Step 2: Thread chicken pieces, cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion onto skewers, alternating ingredients. Brush lightly with 1 tbsp olive oil.
- Step 3: Preheat gas grill to medium (350°F). Place skewers on grill, close lid, and cook for 12-15 minutes, turning once, until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear (internal temperature 165°F).
- Step 4: While chicken grills, prepare lemon pickle: combine 1/4 cup lemon pickle with 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Drizzle over finished kebabs and serve immediately.









