Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab

Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab, also known as Tavuk Sis, is a popular Turkish dish made of chicken pieces marinated in olive oil, milk, tomato paste, Biber Salçası - Turkish Red Pepper Paste, and aromatic spices. If you want something unique and delicious for your summer BBQ parties, this recipe is perfect for you!

Jump to:

• What is Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab?
• Why This Recipe Works?
• What Part of the Chicken to Use?
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Top Tips From the Chef
• Serving Suggestions
• Storage Instructions
• Recipe FAQs
• Related Recipes
• Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab

Like Joojeh Kabab (Persian Chicken Kebab), these tender and juicy Chicken Shish Kebabs are ready in just 25 minutes plus the marinating time.

Turkish cuisine is renowned for its delicious and flavorful kebabs. I have shared many kebab recipes with you here on my blog, such as Patlican Kebabi - Eggplant Kebab, Lamb Shish Kebab, and Adana Kebab.

Among the wide varieties of kebabs, the Chicken Shish Kebab (Tavuk Sis) is one of the most popular dishes. This recipe features succulent pieces of marinated chicken skewered and grilled to perfection.

What is Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab?

Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab is a simple yet extremely delicious kebab dish made with marinated chicken breast or thigh pieces, threaded onto skewers, and then cooked over fire along with some vegetables. The simple marinade for Tavuk Sis is typically made with milk or yogurt mixed with olive oil and a few spices.

The same as Kuzu Tandir Kebab - Turkish Roasted Lamb, this authentic Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab dish is almost on every restaurant's menu in Turkey.

It is also popular in Western countries as takeaway food and is usually wrapped in a flatbread with some garlicky yogurt sauce. I promise they taste just as good, if not much better! 

Why This Recipe Works?

• They are absolutely delicious and very easy to make at home with my simple recipe.

• These shish kabobs are perfect for entertaining your dinner guests, you can prep them a few days ahead and cook them on the day.

• Turkish Chicken Kebab is a healthy and delicious dish with a minimum of prep time.

• They are freezer-friendly, you can keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

• You can save money and enjoy better taste by making your own chicken shish kebabs instead of buying them from a takeaway.

• There is only 173 kcal per portion of Turkish Chicken Kebabs.

What Part of the Chicken to Use?

The best type of chicken for chicken shish kebabs is boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken thigh meat.

You can also use a mixture of both if you want to enjoy two different textures at the same time. These cuts are tender and can be easily cubed or sliced to thread onto skewers.

It's also important to choose fresh and high-quality chicken for the best flavor and texture in your chicken kebabs.

Ingredients You'll Need

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

• Chicken - I prefer using skinless & boneless chicken thighs for kebabs but chicken breast works perfectly too. You can also use frozen chicken if that's what you have in hand. Make sure you defrost them overnight before marinating them.

• Olive oil - I use cooking olive oil instead of extra virgin olive oil for the marinade. It adds flavor to the meat and keeps it moist.

• Tomato paste - It is the staple of Turkish cooking. It adds an umami flavor to the dishes as well as a bright red color. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or buy it online from Amazon .

• Red pepper paste - Turkish red pepper paste is a rich, delicious paste made with juicy, spicy red peppers and I use it quite often in my Turkish recipes. You can buy it from Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or online from Amazon.

• Milk - I use semi-skimmed or full-fat milk. Milk helps the chicken get tender and melt in the mouth. Many recipes include yogurt for the marinade. I prefer milk instead as yogurt tends to burn quickly.

• Vegetables - Onions, peppers, and tomatoes are typically used for kebabs but you can use any other vegetables you fancy, such as chilies, mushrooms, or aubergines.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Marinate the Chicken

There are many recipes for chicken shish kebab marinade, and most of them use yogurt. I prefer using milk instead, as it gives a softer texture and better taste to the meat.

To prepare the marinade, mix milk, tomato paste, olive oil, salt, and spices in a bowl.

Add the chicken pieces into the marinade and nicely combine until all chicken pieces are covered, and then cover the bowl.

Let the chicken marinate overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours. Don't let them marinate for more than 24 hours, as the acid in the marinade will destroy the texture of the meat.

Thread the Chicken Pieces and Veggies Onto Skewers 

When the chicken is marinated, and you are ready to cook, start preparing the vegetables. Firstly, peel the onion and then cut it into chunky cubes a similar size to the chicken.

Secondly, wash the tomatoes and cut them into wedges, or use whole cherry tomatoes. And then cut the Turkish chili peppers into 4 pieces. If you are using bell peppers, cut them into chunky cubes similar size to chicken.

Thread the chicken and vegetables onto metal kebab skewers. If you want to use bamboo skewers, soak them in water beforehand for 30 minutes so that they don't burn.

Cook the Chicken Shish Kebabs

The best way to cook chicken shish is by grilling them on the BBQ. Alternatively, you can use your oven grill to cook them.

When cooking on the BBQ, make sure the grill is properly hot before you place the chicken shish kebabs on them. Cook for 12-14 minutes or the core temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C).

If you want to use the oven, preheat the oven grill to 410 °F (210 °C). Place them on a tin foil-lined tray and then cook for 15 minutes or until the core temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C).

The cooking time may vary on the size of the chicken cubes and the heat of your BBQ/oven. Make sure you keep a good eye on them to prevent burning.

Top Tips From the Chef

• To ensure that your chicken shish kebab cooks evenly, make sure that the chicken cubes are similar in size.

• I prefer using milk instead of yogurt for the marinade as it gives a softer texture and better taste to the meat.

• You can use the same marinade for marinating chicken wings or whole chicken. This marinade is perfect for any part of the chicken!

• Don't marinate the chicken for more than 24 hours as the acid in the marinade will destroy the texture of the meat.

• If you want to use bamboo skewers, soak them in the water beforehand for 30 minutes so that they don't burn.

• The cooking time for tavuk sis may vary on the size of the chicken cubes and the heat of your BBQ/oven.

Serving Suggestions

The best way to enjoy these homemade Turkish Chicken Kebabs is to serve them with Greek Pita Bread, our classic Turkish Rice Pilaf, Turkish Pickled Red Cabbage, and Toum - Lebanese Garlic Sauce.

You can also serve these delicious and juicy kabobs with some Bulgur Pilavi, Bazlama (Turkish Flatbread), Tomato and Walnut Salad , Tirokafteri, or Batata Harra on the side.

Storage Instructions

Allow the cooked chicken to cool down to room temperature before storing it. Remove the chicken from the skewers and place it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag.

You can keep them refrigerated for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. When reheating the Chicken Shish Kebab, preheat your oven or grill to 350°F (175° C).

Place the chicken on a baking sheet or grill, and cook until heated through, about 10-15 minutes. Do not leave the chicken shish kebab at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as it can lead to bacterial growth and spoilage.

Recipe FAQs

Related Recipes

For more delicious chicken recipes why not try:

Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

I hope you enjoy the process of making these better than takeaway Turkish Chicken Shish Kebabs as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂

Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun! 

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