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    Home » Mediterranean recipes

    Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

    Published: Feb 11, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    2011 shares
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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Try this easy recipe for homemade Greek chicken souvlaki. Made with a delicious garlic and lemon marinade, this classic street food is packed with amazing Mediterranean flavors and served with creamy tzatziki sauce.

    A delicious recipe for homemade chicken souvlaki made with an easy marinade and all the pita fixings. This Greek street food is packed with amazing flavors and is served with creamy tzatziki sauce. 

    Greek recipes are made with fresh ingredients and, despite their simplicity, are always very tasty. If you like Greek recipes, check out our chicken gyro, spanakorizo, Greek baked chicken and Greek chicken and potatoes. This chicken souvlaki is another classic Greek recipe. You can make these skewers on the grill or in a pan (instructions included for both). They make a delicious lunch or dinner and are perfect for gatherings. This recipe is naturally gluten free, dairy free and low carb.

    Table Of Contents:
    • What is souvlaki?
    • Souvlaki vs Gyro
    • It's all about the marinade
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Notes and tips
    • More Greek recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    What is souvlaki?

    Souvlaki is a popular Greek fast food that's made with grilled cubes of meat on a skewer called kalamaki in the dialect spoken in southern Greece. If we want to get a bit into terminology, the Greek word souvlaki means "meat on skewer" which comes from souvla, meaning "skewer."

    In Greece, the meat used for souvlaki is usually pork but it's common to make souvlaki using chicken as well. It's similar to shish kabobs, since both are made using skewers and use marinated meat.

    Souvlaki vs Gyro

    There are a few differences between these two popular Greek dishes:

    • Souvlaki is a Greek fast food whereas gyro is more of a Greek main dish.
    • While gyro is usually made using a vertical broiler, souvlaki is in a form of a shish kabob and is usually cooked on a skewer.
    • Gyro is in the form of strips of meat however, souvlaki is made with cubes of meat.

    It's all about the marinade

    The most important part of this recipe is the lemon garlic souvlaki marinade. It will give the chicken all those wonderful Mediterranean flavors that you love and crave. Even though it has only four ingredients, this marinade is what makes this dish absolutely delicious.

    Ingredients

    A complete and delicious chicken souvlaki has three main parts: the marinade, the chicken and the fixings to make the wraps.

    To make a classic chicken souvlaki, you need the following ingredients:

    • Extra virgin olive oil: You will use this for the marinade. High quality olive oil means high quality marinade.
    • Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice to add acidity.
    • Oregano: Dried oregano is a must in this recipe.
    • Garlic: A few cloves of garlic add so much flavor to the dish.
    • Chicken: You can use breast or chicken thighs, cut into one inch pieces.
    • Fixings: Store-bought or homemade pita bread, tomatoes, onions, olives and tzatziki sauce.
    To make chicken souvlaki you need chicken lemon olive oil oregano and pitas and tomatoes.

    Instructions

    Marinate the chicken

    Mix minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and oregano in a bowl. Add cubed chicken to the marinade and mix well. Cover tightly with a plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

    cut chicken into bite size pieces and mix it with olive oil lemon juice and spices. Marinade for at least one hour.

    Grill the chicken

    Once you're ready to cook, thread the chicken pieces on skewers and place them on a baking sheet. Grill them on an outdoor grill or in a grill pan over medium high heat until they are golden brown, juicy and fully cooked. 

    cut chicken into bite size pieces and mix it with olive oil lemon juice and spices. Marinade for at least one hour.

    Serve with the fixings

    Place the cooked chicken skewers on a large plate with pita, tomatoes, onions, olives and tzatziki sauce and serve immediately.

    Pro tip: If using an outdoor grill, preheat the grill on medium high and soak the wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to avoid burning (you can also use metal skewers). Thread the chicken on skewers and grill for about six minutes on each side until fully cooked. Serve grilled chicken souvlaki with warm pita and your favorite fixings.

    Serving suggestions

    Greek souvlaki is packed with so much flavor that you only need a few additional ingredients for a delicious wrap. To make souvlaki pita wrap use warm and fluffy homemade pita bread, sliced tomatoes and some olives. I like adding red onion and paring with a homemade tzatziki sauce.

    Making Greek chicken souvlaki for a party or gathering? Consider serving it with a salad of your choosing. I recommend Mediterranean salad, tabbouleh salad or traditional Greek salad. And, if you want to go big, surprise your friends or family with a hearty mezze platter and some melitzanosalata. It's so easy to put together a delicious Mediterranean feast in very little time.

    This Greek dish is served with pita. tomatoes and tzatziki sauce.

    Notes and tips

    • The marinade for chicken souvlaki is perfect for freezing. You can simply place the chicken pieces and marinade in a freezer bag and freeze for up to one month. To cook, thaw the chicken in the fridge and then proceed with the grilling instructions. You can double and triple the recipe and freeze some of the marinated chicken to use later.
    • The longer the chicken marinates, the moister and more flavorful it's going to be so if you can, marinate it overnight.
    • You can use a mixture of chicken breast and chicken thighs for this Greek souvlaki recipe. Just make sure the chicken pieces are the same size for even cooking.
    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days.
    • Make sure the grill (indoor or outdoor) is set on medium-high to get that crispy texture outside and keep all the juice inside.
    Greek chicken kabobs is perfect for lunch or dinner.

    More Greek recipes

    • Tirokafteri (Greek Spicy Feta Dip)
    • Revani Cake (Turkish Semolina Cake)
    • Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup)
    • Fasolakia - Greek Green Beans

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Try this easy recipe for homemade Greek chicken souvlaki. Made with a delicious garlic and lemon marinade, this classic street food is packed with amazing Mediterranean flavors and served with creamy tzatziki sauce.
    4.78 from 22 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    marinade 1 hr
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 341 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ lb chicken breast boneless and skinless
    • ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
    • 2 lemons juice of
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 8 cloves garlic minced

    To serve:

    • Tzatziki sauce
    • tomatoes
    • olives
    • pita bread

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the chicken breast into one inch cubes and set aside. 
    • In a large bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, salt, dried oregano and minced garlic. Add the chicken cubes to the marinade and mix well. 
    • Cover with a plastic wrap and marinate in the fridge for at least one hour or overnight. 
    • Once ready to cook, heat a grill pan over medium high heat. 
    • Thread the chicken pieces on 8-inch wooden skewers. Do not crowd the skewers. 
    • Place the skewers in the pan and grill them for 5 minutes on each side until fully cooked. Make sure not to move the skewers too much. 
    • Once ready, serve chicken souvlaki with fresh and warm pita bread, homemade tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, onions and olives. 

    Video

    Notes

    • The marinade for chicken souvlaki is perfect for freezing. You can simply place the chicken pieces and marinade in a freezer bag and freeze for up to one month. To cook, thaw the chicken in the fridge and then proceed with the grilling instructions. You can double and triple the recipe and freeze some of the marinated chicken to use later.
    • The longer the chicken marinates, the moister and more flavorful it's going to be so if you can, marinate it overnight.
    • You can use a mixture of chicken breast and chicken thighs for this Greek souvlaki recipe. Just make sure the chicken pieces are the same size for even cooking.
    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days.
    • Make sure the grill (indoor or outdoor) is set on medium-high to get that crispy texture outside and keep all the juice inside.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 37gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 781mgPotassium: 741mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 68IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    2011 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Corinne

      August 30, 2022 at 8:41 am

      Can this be made ahead and reheated for a tailgate gathering?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        August 30, 2022 at 1:16 pm

        Yes, however, it might be a bit dry. You can keep it marinated until you're ready to cook.

        Reply
    2. Nicholas Pappas

      March 27, 2022 at 11:08 am

      Add a touch of coriander and cumin. Blend well and you will be surprised.

      Reply
      • Mike

        June 01, 2022 at 8:33 am

        Great touch to a good recipe!

        Reply
    3. Gina

      January 15, 2022 at 6:08 am

      5 stars
      This is my go-to order any time we go out for Greek. I don't know why I haven't made it at home before this - so simple!

      Reply
    4. Lisa

      January 15, 2022 at 4:58 am

      5 stars
      Great flavor and so simple. This recipe is going to be a regular for us!

      Reply
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    2011 shares