Description
Chicken Souvlaki is a classic Greek dish featuring tender, marinated chicken pieces grilled on skewers and served with warm pita bread, fresh vegetables, and a creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. This recipe combines vibrant Mediterranean flavors using olive oil, lemon, garlic, and herbs, delivering a flavorful and satisfying meal perfect for casual dinners and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade
- 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4-5 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cucumber, grated and excess liquid squeezed out
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Serve
- Warm pita bread
- Sliced tomatoes
- Sliced red onions
- Fresh lettuce
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, dried thyme, paprika, salt, and black pepper to create a flavorful marinade base.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the bite-sized chicken pieces to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight to let the flavors infuse and tenderize the chicken.
- Prepare the Tzatziki Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated cucumber (with excess liquid squeezed out), minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh chopped dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve to allow the flavors to meld.
- Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat, which is ideal for quickly cooking the chicken pieces while developing nice grill marks.
- Thread the Chicken: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the soaked wooden skewers, distributing them evenly for consistent cooking.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure the chicken cooks through and attains a beautiful charred exterior.
- Warm the Pita Bread: While the chicken is cooking, warm the pita bread on the grill or in the oven to make it soft and pliable.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the grill and serve the souvlaki hot with warm pita bread, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, fresh lettuce, and generous dollops of prepared tzatziki sauce for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers in water before threading the chicken prevents them from burning on the grill.
- Marinate the chicken overnight for deeper flavor and more tender meat.
- Be sure to squeeze out excess liquid from the grated cucumber to avoid watery tzatziki sauce.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the chicken under a broiler or on a grill pan on the stovetop.
- Adjust seasoning in the tzatziki to your taste; some prefer more lemon or garlic.
