Greek Chicken Souvlaki

Chicken Souvlaki – Sometimes, all you need is a few simple ingredients to create some amazing flavors. These Greek skewers are one of those recipes.

Bite sized chunks of chicken are marinated with lemon juice, oregano and garlic and can be grilled, baked or cooked on the stovetop.

And, all you need is about 20 minutes of hands on time for these delicious Greek flavors!

We love Greek cuisine. In fact, our Fasolada may be our number one go to quick comfort food. And when we want something on the gourmet side, Shrimp Saganaki and Soutzoukakia are some of our favorites.

But this chicken souvlaki takes the gold when we want great Greek food with minimal effort. The secret is in the marinade…

What is Souvlaki?

Souvlaki, pronounced “soov-la-kee”, is a popular Greek street food. Bite sized pieces of meat are marinated, then grilled on a skewer. In fact, the word itself means “meat on skewers”.

They are often eaten right off the skewer, but also commonly find their way into pitas. Souvlaki can be made with different types of meat, but today we’re going with chicken.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Souvlaki

1. Super quick and easy: Just about 20 minutes of hands on time. Easy last minute dinner idea for tonight!
2. Great Mediterranean flavors: You’ll feel like you’re dining in Athens.
3. Versatile: There’s so many ways to serve them.
4. Perfect for meal prep: Make a big batch and munch on them for days.

Ingredients

• Chicken – Chicken tenders or breast are more traditional, but thighs work great too.
• Extra virgin olive oil – Good quality, please.
• Lemon juice – Always freshly squeezed.
• Oregano – We are using dried. If you have fresh, use triple the amount.
• Salt and pepper

How to Make Chicken Souvlaki

Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and place in a ziploc bag. Mix all of the marinade ingredients together and pour it over the chicken.

Squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible, then seal. Combine everything well by agitating the bag with your hands, then marinate in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours (or better yet, overnight).

Skewer the chicken onto metal skewers, or wooden skewers that have been soaked in water for at least 30 minutes. Cook according to your preferred method:

• Grill Method: Preheat over medium high heat and grill skewers 8-10 minutes, turning halfway through.
• Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place the skewers on a baking sheet lined with a wire rack. Bake for 15 minutes, then broil for a couple more minutes.
• Stovetop Method: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook skewers 6-8 minutes per side.

After cooking, transfer to a serving platter and let rest for 3 minutes before serving.

Serving Suggestions

So many options here!

Serve as part of a Mezze Platter along with olives, veggies and dips like Hummus, Melitzanosalata and Tyrokafteri.

They’re great over a fresh Salad for a light, low carb meal.

We love these Greek chicken bites in pitas with fixings like tomatoes, cucumber and Tzatziki.

Make a bowl meal. Put a bed of rice in a bowl and top it with souvlaki and grilled veggies like eggplant, tomatoes, peppers or mushrooms.

Have it alongside our Loaded Layered Hummus Dip and some pita bread.

Storage

Leftover souvlaki can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days. If freezing, keep in a freezer bag with as much air squeezed out as possible and use within one month for best quality.

For a better freezing option, freeze uncooked souvlaki along with the marinade in freezer bags for up to 6 months. When ready to use, just thaw overnight in the fridge, then cook them the next day.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Marination Time: The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavorful it will be. Overnight marination is ideal for maximum flavor infusion.
• Seal the Flavor: When sealing the ziploc bag, try to remove as much air as possible. This helps the marinade to cover the chicken more effectively.
• Skewer Preparation: If using wooden skewers, soaking them in water prevents them from burning, especially on the grill.
• Even Pieces for Even Cooking: Cut the chicken into uniformly sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly, no matter which cooking method you choose.
• Resting is Key: Letting the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring moist and tender meat.

Try these amazing Greek flavors in your own kitchen. You’ll be amazed by how a few humble ingredients can transform your chicken. When you try it, let us know how you like it.

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Chicken Souvlaki, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

Try these other great Mediterranean Dishes!
Mediterranean Fish with Tapenade
Crockpot Greek Chicken
Steak Pizzaiola
Shrimp with Polenta
Chicken Pastina Soup
Ribollita Soup
Pasta e Piselli
Fasolakia