Description
Grilled Chicken Souvlaki is a delicious and healthy Greek main course featuring tender, marinated chicken cubes grilled to perfection on skewers. This flavorful recipe combines olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano for a vibrant Mediterranean taste, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or weekend barbecue. Serve with warm pita bread, tzatziki sauce, and fresh vegetables for an authentic and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For Grilling and Serving
- Wooden skewers (soaked if using bamboo)
- Optional: pita bread
- Optional: tzatziki sauce
- Optional: sliced red onion
- Optional: chopped tomatoes
- Optional: cucumber
- Optional: fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined. This mixture forms the flavorful base for your chicken souvlaki.
- Marinate the chicken: Add the cubed chicken pieces to the marinade and toss to coat all pieces evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, allowing the chicken to soak up the flavors. For more intense taste, marinate up to 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the grill: Heat your grill or grill pan over medium-high heat to ensure it reaches the perfect grilling temperature before placing the skewers on it.
- Thread the chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade and thread the pieces onto wooden skewers, leaving a little space between each chunk to promote even cooking and browning.
- Grill the chicken: Place the skewers on the preheated grill and cook for 10 to 12 minutes total, turning occasionally so all sides get a nice golden-brown color and the chicken is cooked through.
- Rest and serve: Remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes to redistribute juices. Serve hot with warm pita bread, a generous dollop of tzatziki, and your choice of fresh vegetables like sliced red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
Notes
- For extra depth of flavor, marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator.
- This recipe is versatile and also works well with pork or shrimp as an alternative protein.
- If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.
- Leftover grilled chicken souvlaki is excellent for salads or wraps the next day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
