Chicken Souvlaki

Chicken souvlaki is a regular in our dinner rotation! We love that it’s quick to make, super easy and incredibly delicious!

Chicken breasts are marinated in a simple garlic and lemon marinade. Thread onto skewers and grill until juicy and tender.

You can serve souvlaki with potatoes or rice, but my personal favorite is making a souvlaki pie wrap with lots of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki. So good!

What is souvlaki?

Souvlaki is meat that has been skewered and grilled. It can be chicken (as in this recipe) or beef, lamb, or pork, to name a few.

The marinade is a very simple mix of herbs, lemon and garlic with a little oil.

Gyro vs Souvlaki: Souvlaki consists of chunks of meat, while chicken gyros generally consist of thinly sliced/shaved meat. Shawarma is similar to a gyros, but has a different preparation and spices.

Chicken souvlaki marinade

A Greek chicken souvlaki recipe uses a marinade to add full flavor. Just a few pantry staples will do: extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano!

The longer the herbs, spices, and garlic soak into the chicken, the more tender the chicken will be. That’s what makes chicken souvlaki such an easy recipe, the magic of prep!

Perfect for planning ahead, chicken souvlaki can be made and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

How to make chicken souvlaki

Marinate: Mix all the ingredients for the marinade and marinate in the fridge.
Pike: Thread the chicken (and onions, if desired) onto the soaked skewers.
Grill: Grill chicken skewers on an oiled rack or bake in the oven according to recipe directions.

This can also be prepared on a grill pan. Serve with a Greek salad, warm pita and a sprinkle of feta cheese.

Soak wooden skewers in water will prevent them from burning when placed on the grill or stove. Always keep this technique in mind when using skewers for grilled vegetables or meat.

What to serve with souvlaki

Delicious and flavorful, souvlaki will transport you to the sunny beaches of Greece. Tender, marinated, bite-sized chicken breasts. We love wrapping souvlaki in warm flatbread and topping with lettuce, tomato, red onion and a generous dollop of tzatziki sauce. Here are our favorite sides to this chicken souvlaki recipe.

More recipes on skewers

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Marinated chicken and onions are skewered and grilled until juicy and tender!

preparation time 15 protocol

cooking time 10 protocol

Marinate 4 hours

total time 4 hours 25 protocol

In a medium bowl or freezer bag, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken (and onion, if using) and mix well until coated.
Store in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and drain excess water. Discard the marinade and thread the chicken (and onion, if used) onto skewers.
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Add the skewers, turning frequently, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until the chicken is tender and reaches 165F.

Optional: Onions can be added to the skewers if desired.
To cook chicken souvlaki in the oven, Prepare skewers according to directions. Place the skewers on a foil-lined pan and set the grill to high. Grill 4-5 inches (10-13 cm) from heat for 5-6 minutes per side or until chicken reaches 165°F.
Nutrition uses 1/3 of the marinade (the rest is discarded). The diet excludes salt.

Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary depending on cooking method and brand of ingredients used.

course Chicken, main course, main course

Kitchen American, Greek

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Can I use thighs instead of chicken breast?

Yes, you can absolutely use either chicken thighs or chicken breasts.

Can I marinate the chicken overnight or longer than 4 hours?

Marinating longer than 4 hours is not recommended as the marinade ingredients are acidic and will break down the chicken too much, leaving it mushy instead of tender.

Can I Freeze Chicken Souvlaki?

Yes, leftover chicken souvlaki can be frozen.

Is Chicken Souvlaki Healthy?

Yes, this is considered a healthy dish depending on what side dishes you serve it with. We like to serve tzatziki, a Greek yoghurt and cucumber dip.

Close-up of chicken souvlaki on a plate with lettering

Close up of chicken souvlaki with a title

cooked chicken souvlaki on a plate with a title

Chicken souvlaki on the grill and covered in writing

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