🍢 Tender & Tasty Chicken Kabobs for Infants and Toddlers
These chicken kabobs are everything you want in a family meal: flavorful, easy to prep, and soft enough for even the littlest eaters. Inspired by the classic South Asian reshmi kabob, this version leans on a long yogurt marinade to deliver juicy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken without relying on spice or heat. It’s ideal for infants, toddlers, and anyone who prefers gently seasoned food that still tastes like something.
Whether you’re serving it as finger food for a baby-led weaning meal or building a taco plate for older kids and adults, these chicken kabobs flex effortlessly to fit the moment. Make a batch, serve what you need, and repurpose the leftovers into sandwiches, rice bowls, or pasta dishes throughout the week.
🥣 Ingredients Overview
At the heart of these chicken kabobs is a simple marinade that does all the heavy lifting:
- Plain yogurt + cream cheese: tenderizes the chicken and builds a creamy, flavorful base
- Garlic + ginger paste: adds warmth and depth
- Almond Flour: optional, but adds nutty depth
- Lemon juice: for brightness and balance
- Garam masala seasoning: any spice blend that can provide earthiness without heat will do
- Chicken thighs: cut into small pieces, perfect for toddler hands
The ingredients are pantry-friendly, and the spice levels are deliberately mild—so you get big flavor without any risk of overwhelming little palates.
🔥 Quick Steps Overview
- Blend the marinade: yogurt, spices, aromatics, and lemon juice.
- Coat the chicken and let it sit—overnight is best for ultra-tender texture.
- Skewer and roast or air fry: no need for a grill if you’ve got an oven broiler or air fryer.
- Cool, slice, and serve: easy to cut into strips or bites depending on age.
That’s it! These chicken kabobs are no-fuss, fridge-friendly, and easy to double for meal prep.
❓ FAQ: Chicken Kabobs for Infants and Toddlers
Can I serve this to babies under 1?
Yes, just ensure that all ingredients have been previously introduced, and chop or shred the cooked chicken into age-appropriate sizes.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breast?
Absolutely—thighs are often juicier and more forgiving if slightly overcooked.
Is it spicy?
Not at all. The spices used are for flavor, not heat. Feel free to add chili powder or black pepper to adult portions later if desired.
Can I cook these without skewers?
Yes! Simply spread the chicken on a baking sheet or pan and roast until golden and cooked through.
How do I store and reheat leftovers?
Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze in portions. Reheat gently in a pan or microwave with a splash of water to maintain moisture.
Can I use the leftovers in other dishes?
Definitely—these chicken kabobs are great in wraps, rice bowls, quesadillas, or over pasta.
Check out our other great chicken recipes!
Spiced Chicken Kabobs – Great For Infants and Toddlers
Description
Thanks to its yogurt marinade, these chicken kabobs are tender and moist enough for even an infant to eat. And they couldn't be easier to make.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep
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Allow your cream cheese to soften at room temperature. If you do not have almond flour and/or ginger garlic paste, make your own by doing the following: for the almond flour, grind down the almonds in a food processor or blender until the texture of sand; for the ginger garlic paste, process or blend the garlic and ginger until chunky and paste like.
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In a bowl, mix the yogurt, cream cheese, almond flour, ginger garlic paste, garam masala (or other seasoning), and two pinches each of salt and pepper; zest the lemon into the bowl, then juice half of it into the bowl as well, mixing until blended.
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Cut the chicken into similarly sized cubes. Place chicken pieces into yogurt marinade, then toss until pieces are fully coated. Refrigerate for at least two hours and up to 24 hours.
Cook
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If using wood skewers to cook, soak them in water for 20-30 minutes prior to cooking.
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Thread 6-8 similarly sized pieces onto your skewer, leaving a bit of space in between each piece on the skewer. If cooking in an oven, line a baking sheet with foil or parchment, then place skewers on a grilling or broiling rack and place atop the baking sheet.
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Two ways to cook these:
- Oven: Roast the chicken at 400 for six minutes. Turn on your oven’s Broil feature, making sure one of your oven racks is closest to the top of the oven; while the oven heats up, coat skewers with cooking spray. Broil the chicken until browned on its surface, roughly 30 seconds per side.
- Air fryer: coat your skewers with cooking spray, then air fry at 400 for roughly 8 minutes, turning halfway.
Serve
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You’ve got options here: for infants and young toddlers, the chicken is moist enough to be eaten on its own; for older children, it works great over our perfect rice–will remind you of the halal carts of New York–or stuffed into a thin and pliant wrap (i.e., paratha, tortilla, etc) for an easy taco. The chicken benefits from a light and tangy sauce, so feel free to bust out your child’s favorite condiment (i.e., ketchup, barbecue sauce, et al.).
Adapt
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For a meatier version, check out our short rib kebabs. For a bigger, fuller flavor, try basting the chicken pieces with a favorite sauce before you broil (oven) or midway through the cook (air fryer).
Nutrition Facts
Servings 6
Serving Size 4 chicken pieces
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 125kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 5g8%
- Potassium 265mg8%
- Total Carbohydrate 2g1%
- Protein 15g30%
- Vitamin A 40 mcg
- Calcium 39.99 mg
- Iron 0.6 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.4 mg
- Zinc 0.5 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
