Have you ever tried the Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe? Souvlaki is a traditional Greek street cuisine that consists of tender chunks of marinated meat skewered (in Greek, “souvla” means skewer) and cooked on a grill. While you may use a variety of meats in this recipe, we used chicken since it’s simple to cook and yields a soft, flavorful main that’s excellent for a quick summer meal or added to a salad for a healthy lunch. Fire up the grills—making souvlaki at home is not only possible but also simple! To ace it, follow our top advice below:
The marinade.
What’s the secret to delicate, delicious chicken souvlaki? Everything is in the marinade. To make it, you only need four ingredients: olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and dried oregano. Coat the chicken in the marinade, then set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If you need dinner quickly, 30 minutes will be enough; however, the longer you leave the chicken to sit, the more flavorful and tender the result.
Variations
We used chicken in this recipe, but lamb, hog, and beef are some typical meats that may be used if you want to change up the protein. We definitely recommend creating our homemade tzatziki–the creamy, herby sauce has a tiny tang that complements our smokey beef perfectly. Is it dairy-free? Instead, use a tahini dressing. Serve as skewers at a BBQ (no picnic tables? no problem!) or stuffed into a pita with veggies for a delicious weekday lunch—this chicken dish is incredibly flexible.
| YIELDS | 4 serving(s) |
| PREP TIME | 15 mins |
| TOTAL TIME | 1 hr 5 mins |
how to cook Greek Chicken Souvlaki
Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe: Ingredients
- For CHICKEN
- Step 5 If wanted, serve in a warmed pita with tzatziki, tomatoes, and romaine.
- Kosher salt is kosher salt.
- ground black pepper, freshly ground
- three tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon juice
- 6 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- FOR TZATZIKI
- 2 cups Greek yogurt, whole fat preferred
- 1/2 lemon juice
- 1/3 cup cucumber, thinly chopped
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped dill
- Kosher salt is kosher salt.
- ground black pepper, freshly ground
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes
- 2 c. Greek yogurt, preferably whole-fat
- FOR SERVING
- Pita bread warmed
- Tomatoes, thinly sliced
- Chopped romaine
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/3 c. finely chopped cucumber
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. freshly chopped dill
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch red pepper flakes
Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe: Directions
Step 1
Season the chicken with salt and pepper in a large mixing dish and toss to coat. Toss in the oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano to coat. Allow to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes, or place in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Step 2
In the meantime, make the tzatziki: in a medium mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon juice, cucumber, garlic, and dill. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Step 3
Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high. Thread the chicken onto the skewers with care.
Step 4
Grill for 6 minutes per side, or until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°.
Step 5
If wanted, serve with tzatziki, tomatoes, and romaine in a warmed pita. REF.
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