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You don’t need a trip to the Greek islands to enjoy Chicken Souvlaki! Tuck grilled, marinated chicken into soft pita bread and top it with tzatziki and fresh herbs for a Mediterranean-inspired meal you can easily whip up at home. For a perfect pairing, grab that homemade flatbread and a refreshing cucumber salad with sour cream. It’s a feast fit for any night of the week!
When you want to change up your usual chicken routine, chicken souvlaki is a great way to add variety to your main dish. It’s quite easy to make, and it always becomes a favorite. First, you’ll marinate chicken breasts in a savory sauce packed with bright, tart lemon, garlic, and spices to infuse them with flavor. Then, you’ll grill them to a charred and juicy perfection.
Why I Love This Chicken Souvlaki Recipe
- Flavorful. The flavor is the number one reason I love this chicken recipe! The marinade is so fresh, featuring lemon juice and zest, olive oil, and plenty of garlic.
- Simple. Greek cooking relies on simple ingredients to deliver bold flavors. You won’t need anything fancy, but I think you’ll find this souvlaki to be satisfying and interesting!
- Authentic. I took my inspiration from the traditional way of preparing souvlaki to create this recipe. Make sure to serve it with fresh, soft pita bread, the tzatziki, the Greek garlic yogurt dip, and lemon wedges to squeeze over the grilled chicken.
What Is Greek Chicken Souvlaki?
Chicken souvlaki is a Greek way to prepare chicken and is found in restaurants all over the mainland as well as the islands. Souvlaki is the name for a method for marinating meat, including beef, chicken, lamb, or pork, that’s then grilled on a skewer. It can be served on the skewer – with “souvla” being the Greek word for skewer and “aki” meaning little – or stuffed into pita bread. I also love it over rice or alongside a Greek salad.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Greek chicken souvlaki recipe. The full ingredient amounts will be in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken – Use boneless and skinless chicken breasts.
- Onions – Yellow onions are best in this recipe.
For the Marinade
- Olive Oil – Olive oil is a staple in Greek cuisine. I like to use extra virgin olive oil.
- Lemon – Use a fresh lemon for its juice and zest for the most flavor.
- Garlic – Another staple of Greek cooking, garlic adds a bit of spice.
- Salt and Pepper – You can use white or black pepper.
- Greek Seasoning – Buy a jar of Greek seasoning or substitute a mix of dried oregano and basil.
- Salt – I use fine sea salt or table salt.
- Fresh Herbs – To garnish the souvlaki.
How To Make Chicken Souvlaki
My main tip for this recipe is to leave enough time to properly marinate the chicken – you won’t regret it! See an overview of how to make this souvlaki recipe below.
- Make the marinade: Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, white pepper, Greek seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Marinate: Place the chicken cubes in the marinade and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
- Prep: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers and heat a grill.
- Grill: Cook the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side.
- Rest: Cool and rest the chicken souvlaki for a few minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips for Success
From simple ingredients comes a savory, tender dish you can use in so many ways. I’m here to help you make it the best it can be – see a few of my easy tips below.
- Marinate! For the best, most intense flavor, leave plenty of time for the chicken to marinate. I prepare the marinade the night before I plan to cook the souvlaki so that the chicken can soak up all the lemon juice and garlic, making it extra flavorful.
- Add fresh herbs. I love a shower of fresh herbs over the top of the skewers for a garnish! You can add fresh mint, oregano, dill, or a combination to finish the chicken souvlaki.
- Soak the skewers. If using wooden skewers, it’s important to soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent them from burning during cooking.
Ways To Serve Chicken Souvlaki
You can enjoy souvlaki as a snack or make it into a whole meal with bread, salad, or rice. Here are a few serving suggestions:
- In soft bread. This is a classic way to serve chicken souvlaki! Make a fresh batch of pita bread and stuff it with savory chicken.
- Over rice. Make a pot of fluffy white rice and drape the chicken over it. You can also pair the souvlaki with a flavorful broccoli rice casserole or my easy garlic butter parmesan rice.
- With salad. Make a Greek salad and serve it with this chicken souvlaki recipe for an authentic side dish. Or, make my avocado tomato salad for a similar flavor. And a juicy side of fruit salad is always welcome.
- Add toppings. The traditional way to serve Greek chicken souvlaki is with tzatziki, a garlicky yogurt dip that’s loaded with cucumber and lemon juice. You can also add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of feta cheese to the chicken, and don’t skip the fresh herbs!
Proper Storage
- Fridge – Place the chicken souvlaki, either on the skewers or off, in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer – Place the cooled chicken in a freezer-safe bag or container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost the chicken thoroughly in the fridge before reheating it.
- To Reheat – You can reheat chicken souvlaki in the microwave in 30-second intervals until hot.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- One Pot Creamed Spinach Chicken
- Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Thighs
- Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
- Chicken Fajitas Casserole
- Crispy Honey Sesame Chicken
Chicken Souvlaki
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 small yellow onions, chopped into 1-inch pieces
For the Marinade:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- 2 teaspoons Greek seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- fresh herbs, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the marinade. In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, white pepper, Greek seasoning, kosher salt and black pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken cubes in a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish with plastic wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to penetrate the chicken.
- Prep the skewers. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent them from burning during cooking.
- Prep the grill. Preheat your grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Prep the chicken. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers, alternating with chopped onion pieces.
- Grill. Place the skewers on the preheated grill or grill pan. Cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked and has grill marks. Rotate the skewers occasionally for even cooking.
- Rest. Once cooked, remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Serve. Serve the chicken souvlaki hot with your favorite sides, such as pita bread, tzatziki sauce, or Greek salad. Garnish with fresh herbs such as fresh mint, fresh oregano, or fresh dill.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
