Greek Chicken Skewers (Souvlaki)

Souvlaki is a Greek street food that consists of meat grilled on skewers (the name translates to meat on the stick). It can be made with chicken, beef, lamb, or pork and sometimes has veggies on the skewers as well. Souvlaki is usually served with fresh vegetables like onions, peppers, and tomatoes, with a side of fried potatoes, or on warm pita bread with tzatziki or lemon sauce. The marinade for the meat is made with lemon, olive oil, garlic, and herbs, giving it a fresh and summery flavor.

On the Ingredients

Dill is an herb in an herb in the celery family with a very unique taste. It pairs well with fresh, clean flavors like cucumber, mushrooms, potatoes, plain yogurt, fish, and chicken. If you can’t find fresh dill in stock, substitute with dry using 1 tsp of dry for 1 tbsp fresh. Dill is also packed with flavonoids, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke (more on health benefits).
Parsley is often mixed up with cilantro regarding its appearance, but the flavor is quite different and lacks the possibility of a soapy taste. Parsley has a very clean, lightly peppery, and slightly earthy flavor. A natural diuretic, parsley has been shown to help reduce bloating and lower blood pressure. It also contains a lot of vitamin K, supporting bone growth and mineral density (read more on the benefits).
Lemons are high in vitamin C, which helps boost immune function. It’s also high in antioxidants. They may also help with heart health, and help prevent anemia and kidney stones. (Read more on the health benefits.)

Recipe Notes and Substitutions

You can use all dried herbs for the marinade if you need to. Just use half the amount called for for fresh.

Greek Chicken Skewers (Souvlaki)

Servings

4-6

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Resting time

hours

Total time

hours

minutes

Ingredients

Souvlaki Ingredients
2 lb boneless, skinless chicken (thighs or breasts)
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tbsp white vinegar
2 lemons (juice)
6 cloves garlic (minced)
3 tbsp fresh dill (minced)
3 tbsp fresh parsley (minced)
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Tzatziki Ingredients
1 cup greek yogurt (plain)
1/2 English cucumber
1/2 tsp salt
1 clove of garlic (minced)
1/2 lemon (zest and juice)
1 tbsp fresh dill
1/4 tsp black pepper
To Serve
4-6 pita bread (warmed)
2 tomatoes (sliced)
1 cucumber (sliced)
1/2 red onion (sliced)
Equipment
wood or metal skewers (if wood soak in water)

Directions

Marinating Instructions
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the souvlaki ingredients besides the chicken.
Cut the chicken into 1-2" chunks. Add to the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for 2-12 hours.
Tzatziki Instructions
To make the tzatziki, peel the cucumber and slice it in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds (feel free to snack on them). Finely chop the cucumber into small pieces and place them in a bowl. Sprinkle with the salt and stir to distribute evenly.
Let this sit for ten minutes, then use your hands to squeeze out the excess liquid from the cucumber (discard the liquid).
Mix together the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, dill, and black pepper. Cover the bowl and set it in the refrigerator while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
Grilling Instructions
Preheat the grill to medium-high.
Load the skewers with the chicken, about 5-7 pieces on each one.
Grill the skewers for about 20 minutes, turning every five minutes.
Oven Instructions
If you don't have a grill, preheat the oven to 400° F.
Load the skewers with the chicken, about 5-7 pieces on each one.
Use a large baking sheet with a wire rack on it. Place the skewers on the wire rack and bake for 20-30 minutes, turning halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through.
Finishing
Serve with fresh vegetables, warmed pita bread, and tzatziki sauce. Enjoy!