Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

By The Modern Nonna

on May 21, 2022, Updated May 20, 2023

4.50 from 24 votes
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Come summertime, my Chicken Souvlaki Skewers are on rotation for our weekly meals. I could eat souvlaki every day and never get sick of it. Because my upbringing included time in Greece, this recipe feels like home to me and Greece will forever have my heart. Souvlaki is a popular Greek dish consisting of bite-size pieces of chicken, beef, or lamb (and sometimes vegetables), which are skewered and grilled. The word souvlaki has roots in the Greek word souvla, meaning skewer. This recipe paired with my homemade tzatziki and Greek pita is what Mediterranean summer dreams are made of. You can find my incredible tzatziki recipe on my website. Souvlaki is perfect for meal prep since the meat can be marinated and refrigerated a few days in advance.

Table of Contents

Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

Souvlaki is a popular Greek dish consisting of bite-size pieces of chicken, beef, or lamb (and sometimes vegetables), which are skewered and grilled. This recipe paired with my homemade tzatziki and Greek pita is what Mediterranean summer dreams are made of.
4.50 from 24 votes
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Servings: 5 large skewers
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Equipment

5 Meal Skewers

Ingredients 

  • 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1.5 inch cubes , (chicken thighs are ok too)
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • greek pita & tzatziki, for serving

Instructions 

  • Add the chicken to a bowl along with the olive oil, oregano, garlic, lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Mix well. Let the chicken marinate for at least 1 hour at room temperature or in the fridge.
  • If you leave the meat in the fridge to marinate, be sure to take it out and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Take each chicken cube and add it onto the skewer, stacking them all the way until the end.
  • Preheat the barbeque for medium heat. Cook the skewers for 7 to 8 minutes on each side, rotating them 1 to 2 times so that they cook evenly. I leave the metal skewer handles hanging on the outside of the barbecue so they don’t get too hot and I am able to turn them.
  • After 15 minutes the chicken should be nice and golden and charred. You may use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for doneness: the chicken should be 165F. The cook time will depend on how thickly you cut the chicken cubes.
  • Let the skewers rest for at least 5 minutes and enjoy with salad, potatoes, tzatziki, on pita, or any way you like.

Video

Notes

You can absolutely make this recipe with pork chops, veggies, lamb, or even beef as well.
The longer you let this marinate, the more tender the meat. If you are in a hurry, you do not have to wait an hour before skewering and grilling the chicken, though that marination time is preferred.
You do not need to use a barbecue if you don’t have one as you can easily make these on the grill.
If you are using wooden skewers, please soak them in water for 30 minutes before you add the meat. This will prevent the skewers from burning. 
To prevent food from sticking to the grill, first oil the grill grates. Cook the skewers for 7-8 minutes on each side with the barbecue lid open, as you turn them 1-2 times. Season everything with your heart.
You can use any cut of chicken, such as boneless skinless thighs, but be sure to cut them all more or less the same size.
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Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

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7 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made this recipe tonight for the first time and it surely won’t be the last. It was so easy to make and i already had all the ingredients in my kitchen. It was so flavourful and we all loved it. Way better than any store bought chicken souvlaki.

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    Prepped and marinating for afternoon BBQ; haven’t tasted them yet but coming from MN im sure will be delicious. Making the tzatziki sauce next

    Reply

  3. I absolutely love this recipe, I moved to a rural town with limited food options and I was really missing my Greek food. Well this recipe is easy and delivers what I need to fill that void 🙂 my picky 4yo and my hubby like it too so its a win all around.

    Reply