It’s Time To Grill
The weather’s getting warmer which means it’s time to grill! This is honestly the first year that I genuinely feel confident and excited to grill. Growing up grilling always seemed to be the man’s job. But as someone who loves to cook and create recipes, it was something I’ve always wanted to conquer. I’ve been grilling more frequently the past few years, so I finally feel confident enough to share some of the recipes I’ve been loving. One of those recipes is these Grilled Cajun Skewers. It has shrimp, smoked andouille sausage, chicken, bell peppers and onions with a cajun seasoning. Then it’s finished with a delicious cajun garlic butter. This recipe cooks quickly and is a great dish to start with if you’re learning how to grill.
Cajun Seasoning
First we’ll start by making the cajun seasoning. You can use a store-bought cajun seasoning blend if preferred, but I like to make my own so I can control the spice and salt levels. In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, oregano, thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix until the spices are evenly combined. Scoop out 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture and set it aside to make the butter later on.
Add the shrimp, sausage, chicken, red and green bell pepper, and onion into a large bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and sprinkle the remaining cajun seasoning on top. Toss everything together until evenly coated. If using bamboo skewers, make sure they’ve been soaking in water before assembling the skewers. Assemble the skewers to your preference. I started with a piece of chicken followed by a piece of red bell pepper, green bell pepper and onion. Then I added on a slice of sausage and finished with a shrimp. I repeated these layers one more time.
Get Grilling
Now that our skewers are assembled, it’s time to grill! Preheat your grill over medium high heat for at least 5 minutes then grease the grill grates. Add on the skewers and close the lid. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. When the skewers are fully cooked, remove them from the grill. Combine the melted butter, 1 teaspoon of reserved cajun seasoning, parsley, lemon juice, and garlic in a bowl. Mix until combined. Brush the butter mixture onto the skewers. Serve with lemon wedges on the side if desired and enjoy!
These Grilled Cajun Skewers are great if you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner or something easy to grill. I love that you have your protein and vegetables all in one skewer. In the beginning of learning how to grill, I was always paranoid about making sure the food was cooked. It was especially intimidating if it was a thicker cut of meat. With these Grilled Cajun Skewers, the pieces of shrimp and chicken are essentially bite-sized so you won’t have to worry. All you need is 2-3 minutes on each side and you’re good! Try these skewers out the next time you grill, and let me know what you think!
Grilled Cajun Skewers
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tbsp Onion Powder
- ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper (½ tsp if you want it spicier)
- ½ tbsp Dried Oregano
- ¾ tsp Dried Thyme
- 1 ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- ¾ tsp Black Pepper
- ¾ lb Peeled and Deveined Large Shrimp
- 5 oz Smoked Andouille Sausage (cut into ½ inch slices)
- 12 oz Chicken Breast (cut into 1 inch cubes)
- 1 Red Bell Pepper (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- 1 Green Bell Pepper (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- ½ Medium Onion (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- 4 tbsp Olive Oil
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)
- 2 tbsp Chopped Parsley
- ½ tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 Garlic Clove (minced)
- Lemon Wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, oregano, thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix until the spices are evenly combined. Scoop out 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture and set it aside to make the butter later on.
- Add the shrimp, sausage, chicken, red and green bell pepper, and onion into a large bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and sprinkle the remaining cajun seasoning on top. Toss everything together until evenly coated.
- If using bamboo skewers, make sure they've been soaking in water before assembling the skewers. Assemble the skewers to your preference. I started with a piece of chicken followed by a piece of red bell pepper, green bell pepper and onion. Then I added on a slice of sausage and finished with a shrimp. I repeated these layers one more time.
- Preheat your grill over medium high heat for at least 5 minutes then grease the grill grates. Add on the skewers and close the lid. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. When the skewers are fully cooked, remove them from the grill.
- Combine the melted butter, 1 teaspoon of reserved cajun seasoning, parsley, lemon juice, and garlic in a bowl. Mix until combined. Brush the butter mixture onto the skewers. Serve with lemon wedges on the side if desired and enjoy!
