Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
on May 21, 2022, Updated Mar 25, 2024
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Come summertime, 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.
Why You’ll Love Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
Souvlaki is perfect for meal prep because the meat can be marinated and kept in the refrigerator up to few days in advance of cooking. This recipe uses chicken breast or thighs and thanks to that marinade, the chicken is succulent, juicy and not dry at all. The flavors are on point too: tangy 🍋 lemon and herby oregano are classic flavors that will pair wonderfully with a juicy 🍅 tomato salad, fresh pita bread and tangy tzatziki. It’s summertime barbecue perfection!
How to Prepare Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
🔪 First, using a sharp knife, cube the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
🍋 Add the chicken to a bowl along with the olive oil, oregano, garlic, lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Mix well and marinate for at least 1 hour at room temperature or in the fridge.
🍗 Now, take each chicken cube and add it onto the skewer, stacking them all the way until the end.
🔥 Meanwhile, preheat the barbeque to medium heat.
⏲️ Then, cook the skewers for 7 to 8 minutes on each side, rotating them 1 to 2 times so that they cook evenly. After 15 minutes the chicken should be perfectly golden and charred.
🫓 Finally, let the skewers rest for at least 5 minutes and then enjoy with salad, potatoes, tzatziki, or on a pita.
Nonna’s Tip
The longer you let this marinate, the more tender the meat will be. 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.
Variations and Substitutions for Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
- You can absolutely make this recipe with pork chops, lamb, or even 🥩 beef as well.
- Instead of chicken, go vegetarian and toss big chunks of 🫑 bell pepper, red onion and zucchini with the marinade and then skewer and grill.
- Oregano is THE ultimate Greek herb 🌿, but you can swap with parsley or thyme if you prefer.
- Instead of boneless, skinless chicken breast, you can certainly use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for these Chicken Souvlaki Skewers.
Similar Recipes
Best Served With
- My homemade Tzatziki is a MUST with these Chicken Souvlaki Skewers.
- Serve this with my beautiful 🍅 Greek Salad Feta Board.
- For a crowd, serve these skewers platter-style with a bright and fresh Greek Feta Salad, warm pitas, tzatziki, olives and 🍋 lemon wedges.
Common Questions
For sure! I think that cubed up pork, lamb, or even beef will work well here.
This marinade is perfection and will make your veggies sing! Instead of chicken, toss big chunks of bell pepper, red onion and zucchini with the marinade and then skewer.
Yes, you can certainly adjust this recipe to make these indoors. You do not need to use a barbecue if you don’t have one as you can easily make these on the grill, or even in the oven (broil the last minute or so for a nice char).
Yes! I use these reusable metal skewers, but you can certainly use wooden as well. Be sure to soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before you add the meat. This will prevent the skewers from burning.
I like to first oil the grill grates to prevent food from sticking to the grill. I also keep 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. Let the chciken sit for a few minutes before turning to ensure they get those beautiful grill marks.
Yes, you can absolutely use chicken thighs as well to make these Chicken Souvlaki Skewers. Just makes sure to cut the pieces more or less the same size so everything cooks evenly.
Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
Ingredients
- 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1.5 inch cubes
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 lemons, juiced
- ½ teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, more or less to taste
- Greek pitas & 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So moist and flavorful! Everyone’s favorite dinner request in the summer
Perfect summer bbq dinner! Thanks, V! ❤️
We enjoy making this recipe all summer long!
Perfect warm weather, grill food!
This recipe is FANTASTIC!! The chicken remained flavourful and tender! I added a mix of orange, yellow and red peppers along with red onion. Why did I make these as part of my Christmas Eve meal? For the non fish eaters! I received nothing but compliments and inquiring minds wanted to know how I marinated the chicken. Thank you!
Hi Joanne! SO GLAD 🙂
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.
Thank you for the honest review. Means so much
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
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.
That makes me so happy to hear Sheri
This was amazing!! Everyone loved it!
Thank you Denise, so happy to hear that