Chicken on a Stick in Spanish | Menu Words That Get You Fed

In Spanish, the cleanest way to say it is “brocheta de pollo,” with “pincho de pollo” as a common menu swap.

You see “chicken on a stick” on menus everywhere: fairs, street stalls, takeout counters, grills, food trucks. In Spanish, the phrase changes a bit based on what the food looks like and how it’s cooked.

This page gives you the menu words that match what you mean, plus ordering lines that sound natural. No guessing at the counter.

What People Mean By Chicken On A Stick

In English, “chicken on a stick” can mean two different foods. Spanish splits them more clearly, so it helps to name what you’re holding.

• Skewered pieces: chunks of chicken threaded on a skewer, grilled or roasted. This is the default match for brocheta and pincho.
• A whole strip or cutlet on a stick: breaded or glazed chicken attached to a stick, closer to a “lollipop” style snack. Spanish menus may still call it a brocheta, but people also describe it with plain words like pollo en palito.

If you can describe the shape, you can order it with confidence.

Chicken on a Stick in Spanish

The most widely understood option is brocheta de pollo. It points to chicken pieces skewered for cooking and serving. You’ll also see pincho de pollo, especially on menus that use “pincho” as their general word for skewers.

If the food is seasoned in a kebab-style way, a menu might say pincho moruno de pollo. If it’s in a pita or served like a kebab plate, you may see kebab de pollo instead.

Brocheta de pollo

Brocheta is the straightforward “skewer” word. It fits grilled chicken chunks, satay-style skewers, and most “on a stick” chicken items that are actually skewered.

On a Spanish menu, “brocheta de pollo” often implies pieces, not a single whole fillet. If you want to be precise, add a quick clarifier like en trozos (in pieces).

Pincho de pollo

Pincho can mean a small skewer item or a skewer-style bite. In Spain, you’ll also see “pinchos” used for bar snacks, so context matters. On a grill menu, “pincho de pollo” is usually what you want.

Pincho moruno de pollo

“Pincho moruno” is a set phrase for skewered, seasoned meat cooked on a grill. It’s often pork, but chicken versions are common too. If you see this label, you’re looking at chicken pieces on a skewer with a spice-forward profile.

Spelling, Gender, And Plurals Without Overthinking It

Spanish makes you pick singular or plural, and it shows gender on adjectives. The good news: these phrases stay simple.

• One skewer:una brocheta de pollo, un pincho de pollo
• More than one:dos brochetas de pollo, tres pinchos de pollo
• With a description:brochetas de pollo a la parrilla (grilled), brochetas de pollo marinadas (marinated)

Menus may drop articles and just list the item name. In speech, adding una or un sounds natural.

Pronunciation That Helps You Get Understood

You don’t need a perfect accent. You just need the sounds that separate words.

• Brocheta: “broh-CHEH-ta” (the “ch” is like “ch” in “chess”).
• Pollo: “POH-yo” (the “ll” often sounds like “y” in many places).
• Pincho: “PEEN-cho”.

If you’re nervous, say the noun first and point: brocheta… de pollo. That small pause still lands well.

Chicken On A Stick Spanish Words For Menus

When you’re reading a menu, the side words tell you which “chicken on a stick” you’re about to get.

• a la parrilla / asado: grilled or roasted pieces on a skewer.
• con verduras: chicken mixed with peppers, onion, zucchini, or mushrooms, classic skewer setup.
• glaseado / con salsa: a sticky coating, still often a brocheta, but sometimes a single strip on a stick at fairs.
• estilo kebab: likely “kebab de pollo,” sometimes served off the skewer.

If a menu shows a photo, match your words to the photo, not the English label.

Common Spanish Terms For Chicken On A Stick

The terms below help you match the food to the words. Dictionary entries also show you how Spanish defines the base nouns: RAE definition of “pollo”, RAE definition of “brocheta”, and RAE entry for “pincho” all anchor the core vocabulary.

Spanish Menu Term	What You’ll Usually Get	When To Use It
Brocheta de pollo	Chicken chunks on a skewer, grilled or roasted	Best default for “chicken on a stick”
Brochetas de pollo	Two or more skewers, often a plate	When ordering multiple skewers
Pollo en brocheta	Chicken served “on a skewer”	When a menu describes the format
Pollo a la brocheta	Chicken prepared skewer-style	Common in menu Spanish, similar meaning
Pincho de pollo	Chicken skewer, sometimes smaller portions	Common in Spain, also used in bars
Pincho moruno de pollo	Seasoned chicken chunks on a skewer	When you want the spiced grill style
Kebab de pollo	Chicken in kebab format, often shaved or cubed	When the menu is clearly kebab-focused
Pollo en palito	Informal “chicken on a little stick,” varies by stall	When it’s fair food or street snacks
Trozos de pollo en brocheta	Explicit chicken pieces on a skewer	When you want to rule out a whole strip

How To Order It Without Getting Stuck

Ordering in Spanish can be short. Pick a base phrase and add one detail. The staff gets your point fast.

Start with a polite ask

• “Quisiera una brocheta de pollo, por favor.”
• “Me pone un pincho de pollo, por favor.” (common in Spain)
• “¿Tiene brochetas de pollo?” (when you’re checking availability)

Add one detail when you need it

• Cooking:a la parrilla, bien hecho
• Sauce:sin salsa, con salsa aparte
• Heat:no picante, poco picante
• Allergies:sin cacahuete, sin sésamo (say it early)

Phrases That Clear Up The Details Fast

Use these lines when the menu is vague or when you want to be sure it’s chicken pieces on a skewer. They’re short, natural, and easy to repeat.

Spanish Phrase	Meaning	Where It Fits
¿Es pollo en trozos o una pieza entera?	Is it chicken pieces or one whole piece?	When “on a stick” is unclear
¿Viene con verduras?	Does it come with vegetables?	When you expect mixed skewers
¿Está hecho a la parrilla?	Is it grilled?	When you want grilled, not fried
¿Lleva salsa o viene aparte?	Does it have sauce or is it on the side?	When you want control over sauce
Sin cebolla, por favor.	No onion, please.	Common quick request
¿Me lo puede poner para llevar?	Can you pack it to go?	Takeout counters
¿Cuánto cuesta la brocheta de pollo?	How much is the chicken skewer?	Street stalls and markets
La cuenta, por favor.	The bill, please.	When you’re ready to pay

When Pincho Means A Snack And Not A Skewer

In parts of Spain, pincho can also point to a small bar bite served on bread with a toothpick. If you ask for un pincho de pollo in a bar full of tapas, the staff might think you mean a bite-sized snack, not a grilled skewer.

If you want the skewer format in that setting, lean on brocheta, or add a clarifier: pincho de pollo en una varilla. The extra words steer the meaning without sounding stiff.

Useful Labels You’ll See On Menus

Menus often list the same chicken skewer under different labels. These add-ons help you decode what’s coming.

• Adobado / marinado: seasoned ahead of time, often juicier.
• Con arroz: served with rice as a plate, not just a handheld snack.
• Con patatas: served with fries or potatoes.
• De pollo y verduras: mixed chicken-and-veg skewers.

If you’re writing your own menu line, keep it short and clear: Brocheta de pollo a la parrilla reads cleanly.

Mini Scripts You Can Say At A Counter

Use one of these scripts as a single breath. You can copy them into your notes app and point if you freeze.

• “Hola. Quisiera una brocheta de pollo a la parrilla, sin salsa, por favor.”
• “Buenas. ¿Tiene pincho moruno de pollo? Uno, bien hecho, por favor.”
• “Perdón, ¿la brocheta de pollo viene con verduras? Si no, una de solo pollo.”

Writing It For A Menu Or A Sign

If you’re translating a menu, a food truck board, or a product label, you’re not just picking a word. You’re setting an expectation.

Use Brocheta de pollo when it’s clearly skewered pieces. Use Pincho moruno de pollo when the spice profile matches that category. Use Pollo en palito for playful street-style signage when the format is a handheld snack and the stall is casual.

If the item is breaded, fried, and served like a fair snack, add one extra word that keeps it honest: pollo empanado en palito or pollo frito en palito. That small detail cuts confusion.

Common Mistakes That Make The Phrase Sound Off

A few easy slips can make your Spanish sound like a direct word swap from English. Fixing them takes seconds.

• Saying “pollo en un palo” in formal writing: it’s understandable, but it reads casual. For menus, brocheta looks cleaner.
• Using “pincho” in the wrong setting: in tapas bars, it can mean a bite on bread. Use brocheta if you mean a skewer.
• Forgetting the “de”:brocheta pollo sounds clipped. brocheta de pollo is the natural pattern.
• Mixing singular and plural: if you want two skewers, say dos brochetas, not dos brocheta.

A Simple Choice Rule When You’re Unsure

If you’re stuck, use this rule of thumb:

• Menu, restaurant, grill plate: say brocheta de pollo.
• Spain, grill skewer, spiced chunks: try pincho moruno de pollo.
• Street stall, fair snack, playful sign:pollo en palito can fit.

And if you want to double-check your base nouns, the RAE also notes usage and related forms in its Diccionario panhispánico de dudas entry on “brocheta”, which is handy when you’re writing.

Wrap-Up Lines You Can Copy

Here are three ready-to-use options, each aimed at a different use case.

• Most menus:Brocheta de pollo
• Spiced grill style:Pincho moruno de pollo
• Casual street sign:Pollo en palito

If you’re translating a product page or printing a sign, pair the name with one cooking cue, like a la parrilla or empanado. That keeps the promise clear.