Grilled Chicken Kofta (Ground Chicken Skewers)

Name: Grilled Mediterranean-Style Chicken Kofta (ground chicken skewers)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 small onion; 2 medium garlic cloves; 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes in oil and herbs; 3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves; 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves; 1 piece sandwich bread; 1 large egg (beaten); 2 tablespoons milk; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground chicken breast; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste); 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper; 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander; 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1/4 teaspoon cumin; 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

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Chicken kofta is a delicious Mediterranean-inspired dish made with ground chicken, flavored with warm, aromatic spices, fresh mint, parsley, and sun-dried tomatoes. This version is skewered and grilled, but you can also bake them in the oven.

A platter of chicken kofta garnished with cucumber tomato salad, olives, and pita bread.

Kofta is a Middle Eastern dish that’s a cross between meatballs, burgers, and mini meatloaves. It’s often made with ground beef or lamb, formed into sausage shapes and grilled.

Swapping meat for chicken keeps this recipe lean, low-fat, and high in protein. And even though it’s lean, this chicken kofta is surprisingly moist and tender, thanks to some olive oil, milk, and an egg in the mix.

Dietitian tip: All ground chicken is high in protein, but for the lowest fat option, look for ground chicken breast. Packages that don’t say “breast” or “98% lean” will include more dark meat and skin.

Love grilled chicken? Try my Greek-style grilled chicken tzatziki too!

Recipe At-A-Glance

PREP TIME: 20 minutes
COOK TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
SERVES: 4
DIFFICULTY: easy
RECIPE HIGHLIGHTS: Seasoned ground chicken cooked on skewers
FEATURED INGREDIENTS: ground chicken, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, mint, parsley, spices

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

FAST AND EASY – Chicken kofta is faster and easier than regular chicken kebabs because there’s no cutting, pounding, marinating, or threading pieces of chicken onto skewers. It’s as fast as making 6 meatballs or burgers.
AMAZING FLAVOR – The combination of fresh herbs, plus spices like coriander, cumin, and paprika, gives this recipe the most amazing and unexpected flavor.
HIGH IN PROTEIN. Chicken is one of my favorite high protein foods. Each serving of this chicken kofta clocks in at 27 grams of protein. Add even more protein by serving it with homemade hummus, tzatziki sauce, or whipped feta with Greek yogurt.

Recipe Ingredients

Here are some of the key ingredients needed to make chicken kofta. Substitutions and variations are listed in the section below.

Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients with measurements.

Ground chicken– Chicken breast is the leanest option. I add a little olive oil to this recipe for healthy fat and to keep the chicken moist while it grills.

Homemade breadcrumbs – These add a nicer texture than dried, ground crumbs or panko. Tear a piece of sandwich bread into very small pieces to make homemade bread crumbs.

Egg and milk – These help bind the ingredients, so they hold together on the grill.

Sun-dried tomatoes – These add a bright pop of flavor and some moisture to the chicken mix.

Herbs and spices – Parsley, mint, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, cumin, and a pinch of cayenne add the classic Mediterranean Middle Eastern flavors.

Substitutions and Variations

Any or all of these would be delicious to add in. Mince them well and stir them into the meat mixture:

Crumbled feta cheese
Roasted red peppers
Baby spinach
Pine nuts or walnuts

For an egg- and dairy-free chicken kofta, use a “flax egg” (mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water; let it rest for about 15 minutes until it thickens to an egg-white consistency) and oat or almond milk.

This recipe works well with ground turkey too.

Feel free to skip the skewers if you like. Just shape the meat into mini sausages and place them on a hot grill.

How to Make Chicken Kofta

1. Measure and chop the ingredients. Make sure the breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs are minced well, so they mix easily into the ground chicken.

2. Mix the ingredients. Use a spatula or clean hands to mix everything well.

3. Shape the kofta. Divide the mixture into about 6 portions, then shape the chicken mixture into logs or cylinders with your hands. Slide a skewer into each one lengthwise, then press the meat into the skewer so it holds.

4. Grill the kofta. Heat the grill and oil it well so the meat doesn’t stick. Grill the kofta for about 5 minutes on the first side, then gently turn them over and let them cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.

Chicken kofta skewers garnished with olives, tomatoes, parsley, and pita bread.

Expert Tips!

Chill the kofta before grilling. I like to put the skewered kofta in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes while the grill heats. Chilling them helps them hold together better on the grill.

Oil the grill generously. This will ensure your kofta won’t stick to the grill grates.

Add the skewers to a hot grill. Let the grill reach 450°F before placing the meat on it. Don’t disturb the meat for at least 4 minutes. If you try to lift the skewers too early, they’re likely to fall apart.