Description
Smoky jalapeño popper soup delivers creamy comfort with a spicy kick. Grilled chicken and crispy bacon elevate this hearty dish, promising a delightful blend of flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
Marinade Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce and Garnish Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt)
- 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
- Wooden skewers
- Chopped fresh cilantro or scallions
- Chopped peanuts or toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Infuse the chicken with a robust marinade by whisking together soy sauce, lime juice, honey, garlic, ginger, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Submerge chicken cubes completely in the marinade, ensuring thorough coating, then seal and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to enhance flavor penetration.
- Create a zesty bang bang sauce by combining mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, and honey in a separate container, blending until smooth and adjusting seasonings to personal preference.
- Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high temperature, around 400-425F, preparing surface with light oil coating.
- Remove marinated chicken from refrigerator and carefully thread cubes onto pre-soaked wooden skewers, maintaining slight gaps between pieces for uniform heat distribution.
- Grill chicken skewers for 10-12 minutes, rotating periodically to achieve consistent charring and ensure internal temperature reaches 165F for food safety.
- Once fully cooked, transfer skewers to serving plate and generously drizzle or toss with prepared bang bang sauce for maximum flavor coverage.
- Elevate presentation by garnishing with freshly chopped cilantro, scallions, and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts or toasted sesame seeds for added texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Marinate chicken longer for deeper flavor absorption, ideally up to 2 hours for maximum taste infusion.
- Soak wooden skewers minimum 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling, preventing potential charring or flame incidents.
- Adjust Bang Bang sauce spice levels by increasing or decreasing sriracha and sweet chili sauce to match personal heat tolerance.
- Consider alternative protein options like tofu or shrimp for vegetarian or seafood variations, maintaining similar marinade techniques.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg