How many calories are in one chicken shish kebab? Breaking Down the Nutrition

December 8, 2025 •

4 min read

A typical 100g serving of grilled chicken shish kebab contains approximately 120 to 150 calories, but restaurant and takeaway portions are often much larger, with total calorie counts rising significantly based on the preparation, sides, and sauces. This variation means a single kebab can range from a lean, healthy meal to a high-calorie feast depending on how it's made.

Quick Summary

This article explores the varying calorie content of a single chicken shish kebab, explaining how portion size, cooking method, and accompanying ingredients impact the final nutritional count. The guide details how to calculate the calories, provides a comparison of different kebab types, and offers tips for making it a healthy part of your diet.

Key Points

Basic Calorie Count: A plain, 100g portion of grilled chicken shish kebab contains approximately 120-150 calories.
Portion Size Varies: Typical takeaway portions are larger, with full servings ranging from 300 to over 500 calories depending on ingredients.
Add-ons Significantly Increase Calories: Bread and creamy sauces can add hundreds of extra calories, with a single meal potentially exceeding 900-1000 calories with all the extras.
Preparation Matters: Grilling is healthier than frying, and using lean, skinless chicken breast reduces fat and calories.
Control is Key: For a healthier meal, opt for a salad box instead of bread, choose light sauces, and make it at home to control ingredients.

What is a Chicken Shish Kebab?

Before diving into the calorie count, it's important to understand what a chicken shish kebab is. Originating from Middle Eastern and Turkish cuisines, a 'shish' kebab refers to meat cooked on a skewer. The chicken is typically cut into chunks, marinated in a flavorful mix of spices, herbs, and sometimes yogurt or lemon juice, and then grilled. The grilled preparation is a key reason why shish kebabs can be a healthier alternative to other types of kebabs, which may be cooked with more fat. The final calorie count, however, is heavily influenced by what the skewer is served with.

The Calorie Breakdown of a Basic Chicken Shish Kebab

To understand the total calories, let's look at the basic components. The core of the dish is the chicken itself, with skinless chicken breast being the leanest option. A 100g portion of grilled chicken shish kebab contains roughly 120-150 calories. The remaining calories come from the marinade and any oil used during grilling. If a marinade is high in oil or if the meat is fatty, this number can climb quickly. For example, a 1-kebab serving, which is often around 385g, can have as many as 581 calories, demonstrating the impact of serving size.

Chicken Type: Choosing skinless chicken breast over fattier thigh meat significantly reduces the fat and calorie content.
Marinade Ingredients: Marinades based on herbs, spices, and lemon juice add minimal calories, while those with heavy oil or creamy yogurt bases increase the calorie count.
Cooking Method: Grilling is a low-fat cooking method, especially when compared to frying. The type and amount of oil used on the grill also play a role.

Factors That Heavily Influence Total Calories

The most significant changes to a chicken shish kebab's calorie total don't come from the meat itself but from what it's served with. Takeaway versions, in particular, can be loaded with extra calories from high-fat ingredients and oversized portions. The following additions can transform a healthy meal into a less-healthy one:

Bread: Serving the kebab in a large pitta or flatbread can add 200-300 calories or more. Choosing a small, wholemeal pitta is a better option for managing calories.
Sauces: Creamy sauces like garlic mayonnaise or a large dollop of chilli sauce can drastically increase the calorie and fat content. Some sauces can add over 200 calories per serving. Yoghurt-based sauces or a squeeze of lemon are much lighter alternatives.
Sides: A simple side salad is a great, low-calorie choice. However, when paired with chips or high-fat dressings, the overall meal's calorie count can skyrocket, often exceeding 800 calories or more.

A Comparison of Different Kebab Types

To put the chicken shish kebab into perspective, let's compare its typical calorie content with other popular variations. This table illustrates how preparation and ingredients are crucial to the final calorie count.


Kebab Type	Preparation	Typical Calories (per 100g)	Notes
Chicken Shish Kebab	Grilled chicken chunks on a skewer.	120-150 calories	Leanest option, especially with skinless breast and minimal oil.
Chicken Doner Kebab	Processed minced meat from a vertical spit.	250-350+ calories	Higher fat content due to the processing and cooking method; often served with fatty sauces.
Lamb Shish Kebab	Grilled lamb chunks on a skewer.	180-220+ calories	Higher calorie and fat content than chicken, but still a relatively lean choice when grilled.
Chicken Seekh Kebab	Grilled ground or minced chicken on a skewer.	150-200 calories	Calorie count can vary depending on the fat content of the minced chicken and added ingredients.

How to Enjoy a Healthier Chicken Shish Kebab

Making smarter choices is the key to keeping your meal healthy. Whether you're ordering from a takeaway or cooking at home, these tips can help you reduce the calorie and fat content without sacrificing flavor.

Order a salad box: If you are getting a takeaway, ask for your chicken shish kebab in a salad box rather than a large bread wrap. This cuts out hundreds of refined carbohydrate calories.
Choose your sauce wisely: Opt for a plain yogurt sauce, a lemon squeeze, or skip the sauce entirely. Avoid creamy or mayonnaise-based sauces.
Load up on veggies: Ask for extra salad and grilled vegetables like onions and peppers. They add volume, fiber, and nutrients without adding many calories.
Make it at home: This gives you full control over the ingredients. Use skinless chicken breast, a light marinade (lemon juice, garlic, herbs), and grill with minimal oil.
Control your portion size: Be mindful of portion size, especially at restaurants. A single skewer is a good portion, but a large takeaway meal can be substantially bigger.

Conclusion: A Flexible Calorie Count

Ultimately, the calorie count for one chicken shish kebab is not a fixed number but a variable influenced by several factors, including portion size, preparation, and accompaniments. While a basic 100g grilled skewer with lean meat is relatively low in calories (around 120-150 kcal), the total for a typical takeaway serving can exceed 500 calories, especially with bread and creamy sauces. The good news is that with mindful choices, you can easily control the calorie content, making the chicken shish kebab a healthy and delicious meal that fits into a balanced diet. By opting for a salad box, light sauces, and lean meat, you can enjoy all the flavor with fewer calories.

This authoritative source on nutrition provides a more detailed breakdown of meal components: Calories in Chicken Kebab by Type and Serving Size - Complete Nutrition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a chicken shish kebab can be a very healthy meal, particularly when made with lean, skinless chicken breast and grilled with minimal oil. However, its overall healthiness is determined by the portion size and additions like fatty sauces or large bread portions.

To reduce calories, order your kebab in a salad box instead of bread. Ask for extra salad, minimal oil, and opt for a light yogurt-based sauce or a squeeze of lemon instead of creamy dressings like garlic mayo.

A shish kebab, made from whole pieces of grilled meat, is generally lower in calories and fat than a doner kebab, which uses processed, minced meat cooked on a vertical spit. Doner kebabs are often higher in fat and calories.

Yes, the marinade can affect the calorie count. Marinades made with minimal oil, herbs, and spices add very few calories, while oil-heavy or yogurt-based marinades can add more fat and calories to the overall meal.

Portion size has a huge impact. While a 100g portion might be around 120-150 calories, a typical large takeaway kebab could be 250-300g or more, making the meat alone 300-450 calories before adding bread or sauce.

Yes, a chicken shish kebab is an excellent source of lean protein, which is essential for muscle repair and keeping you feeling full and satisfied.

Hidden calories often come from high-fat sauces, oily bread, and a lack of fresh vegetables. Many takeaway establishments use more oil and sauces than homemade versions, so be mindful of what you're getting.