Olive Garden Chicken Speidies: A Taste of Summer on a Skewer

There are certain dishes that, for me, are inextricably linked to the warm embrace of summer evenings. For many, it might be a perfectly grilled steak or a vibrant corn on the cob. For me, it’s these Olive Garden Chicken Speidies. I remember the first time I encountered them, not in the restaurant itself, but through a treasured recipe card passed down from a family friend. The scent of the marinade – that tangy, herby blend – wafting from the kitchen was an instant promise of good times. It wasn’t just about the food; it was about the anticipation, the gathering of friends and family, the casual, joyous atmosphere that always accompanied these skewers. Recreating them at home has become a beloved ritual, a way to bottle that essence of outdoor feasting and share it with my own loved ones.

Recipe Overview

• Prep Time: 2 hours (includes marinating time)
• Cook Time: 4 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours 4 minutes
• Servings: 7
• Yield: 28 Speidies
• Dietary Type: Gluten-Free (when served without bread)

Ingredients

For the Chicken Marinade:

• 1⁄4 cup olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 garlic clove, crushed or minced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 1⁄2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

For the Appetizer Sauce:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons dried tarragon
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1⁄2 cup pineapple juice
• 1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped

For Assembly of Speidies:

• 3 large red bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch by 1-inch strips
• 2 large green bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch by 1-inch strips
• 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1/2-inch by 1-inch strips
• 28 bamboo skewers, 8-inch long, soaked in water in the refrigerator overnight

Equipment Needed

To bring these delightful speidies to life, you’ll want to have a few essential tools at the ready. A non-aluminum mixing bowl is crucial for the marinade to prevent any metallic off-flavors. You’ll also need a whisk for thoroughly combining the marinade ingredients, and a cutting board and sharp knife for preparing the chicken and vegetables. For the sauce, a medium bowl and a spoon will suffice. And of course, a grill or a griddle is essential for that perfect char and quick cook. Don’t forget a small bowl for the dipping sauce to serve alongside.

Instructions

Crafting these Olive Garden Chicken Speidies is a straightforward yet rewarding process, broken down into three key stages: marinating the chicken, preparing the vibrant dipping sauce, and assembling and grilling the skewers.

Marinating the Chicken:

1. Begin by preparing the chicken marinade. In a non-aluminum mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, crushed or minced garlic clove, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, dried tarragon, and dried oregano. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved.
2. Next, prepare the chicken breasts. Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts between two sheets of waxed paper. Using a meat mallet or the flat side of a heavy pan, pound the chicken until it is an even thickness of 3/16 inches throughout. This step ensures the chicken cooks quickly and evenly on the skewers.
3. Once pounded, cut the chicken into 1-inch squares. Add these chicken pieces to the prepared marinade, ensuring they are completely coated.
4. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken. Allow it to marinate for 2 hours. It’s important not to marinate for much longer, as the acidity of the vinegar could start to break down the chicken too much.
5. After the marinating period, remove the chicken from the marinade and drain off any excess liquid.

Preparing the Appetizer Sauce:

1. While the chicken marinates, prepare the appetizer sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, dried tarragon, Dijon mustard, pineapple juice, and finely chopped garlic.
2. Mix all ingredients together just until blended.
3. Chill the sauce for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and deepen. This step is crucial for the best taste.
4. Serve the sauce cold.

Assembly and Grilling of Speidies:

1. Prepare your vegetables for assembly. Wash the red bell peppers and green bell peppers, and cut them into 1/2-inch by 1-inch strips, as specified. Wash and cut the yellow onion into similar 1/2-inch by 1-inch strips, and then separate them into individual layers. This consistent size is important for even cooking with the chicken.
2. Begin assembling the speidies. Thread the ingredients onto the soaked bamboo skewers in the following order: a piece of red bell pepper, a strip of onion, then a piece of marinated chicken. For the chicken, fold it into a “C” shape before threading it onto the skewer. This helps it sit securely and cook well.
3. Continue the alternating pattern: green bell pepper, onion, chicken (folded into a “C” shape), red bell pepper, onion, chicken (folded into a “C” shape), and so on. Aim to place a total of four pieces of chicken on each skewer.
4. Finish each skewer with a strip of red bell pepper.
5. Once assembled, gently spread the skewered items out on each skewer. This spacing is vital to ensure they cook quickly and evenly on the grill.
6. Grill the speidies. Place the assembled skewers on a preheated grill or griddle.
7. Cook for approximately 1 minute per side, turning 4 times to ensure each side is cooked. This results in a total cooking time of about 4 minutes.
8. Adjust the cooking time according to your equipment’s heat output. The chicken should be cooked through and slightly charred, and the vegetables should be tender-crisp.
9. Serve immediately with the chilled dipping sauce. Plan for about 1/4 cup of sauce per serving. One serving consists of 4 skewers.

Expert Tips & Tricks

To elevate your Olive Garden Chicken Speidies experience, consider these professional insights. When pounding the chicken, aim for a consistent thickness not just for even cooking, but also for a tender texture. If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, you might need to pound them a bit more aggressively, but be careful not to tear the meat. For the marinade, using fresh garlic will always yield a more robust flavor, but minced garlic from a jar will work in a pinch. When assembling the skewers, make sure your bamboo skewers are fully submerged in water overnight. This prevents them from burning on the grill. If you’re short on time, you can soak them in hot water for at least 30 minutes, but overnight is ideal. Don’t overcrowd the grill; cook in batches if necessary to allow for proper heat circulation and even cooking. A light char on the vegetables adds a wonderful smoky dimension.

Serving & Storage Suggestions

These Chicken Speidies are best enjoyed piping hot, straight off the grill. Serve them immediately after cooking, alongside a generous bowl of the chilled appetizer sauce. They are a fantastic appetizer, a light lunch, or can be part of a larger barbecue spread. If you happen to have leftovers, allow them to cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep well for 2-3 days. To reheat, you can gently warm them in a skillet over low heat or even in a toaster oven. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the chicken tough and the vegetables mushy. The appetizer sauce can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutritional Information

Nutrient	Amount per Serving	% Daily Value
Calories	370.7 kcal	–
Calories from Fat	197 g	–
Total Fat	21.9 g	33%
Saturated Fat	3.3 g	16%
Cholesterol	71 mg	23%
Sodium	548.8 mg	22%
Total Carbohydrate	20.8 g	6%
Dietary Fiber	2.9 g	11%
Sugars	10.1 g	40%
Protein	22.7 g	45%

Note: Nutritional values are approximate and can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.

Variations & Substitutions

While this recipe aims for the classic Olive Garden style, there’s always room for personalization! For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinade or a dash of hot sauce to the dipping sauce. If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, a Greek yogurt-based sauce can be a lighter alternative, though the flavor profile will differ. You could also experiment with different herbs in the marinade, such as rosemary or thyme, though tarragon and oregano are key to the signature taste. For a vegetarian option, firm tofu or large chunks of zucchini and mushrooms can be marinated and skewered in place of chicken, though cooking times may need adjustment.

FAQs

Q: Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts for this recipe?
A: Yes, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used. They are more forgiving and tend to stay moister, but pound them to a similar thickness for even cooking.

Q: How do I prevent the vegetables from burning before the chicken is cooked?
A: Ensure the chicken is pounded to an even, thin thickness. The vegetables should be cut into consistent sizes to cook in roughly the same time as the chicken. Spreading the ingredients out on the skewer is also crucial for even heat distribution.

Q: Is it possible to grill these indoors?
A: Absolutely! A grill pan on the stovetop or even your oven’s broiler can be used. If broiling, keep a very close eye on them as they cook quickly.

Q: Can I make the marinade and sauce ahead of time?
A: Yes, the marinade can be made a day in advance and the chicken can marinate for up to 2 hours. The appetizer sauce can also be made a day ahead, and in fact, benefits from chilling to blend flavors.

Q: What kind of grill temperature should I aim for?
A: A medium-high heat is ideal for grilling these speidies. You want enough heat to get a nice sear and slight char without burning the outside before the inside is cooked.

Final Thoughts

There’s a simple magic to these Olive Garden Chicken Speidies. They embody the spirit of sharing good food and good company, perfect for a casual get-together or a delightful weeknight meal. The balance of the tangy, herbaceous chicken with the fresh, slightly crisp vegetables, all brought together by that creamy, zesty dipping sauce, is a symphony of flavors that just sings of summer. I encourage you to gather your loved ones, fire up the grill, and recreate this taste of sunshine. I’d be delighted to hear about your speidies adventures, any personal twists you add, or what your favorite beverage is to pair with them. Happy cooking!