Chicken Souvlaki

These Chicken Souvlaki skewers are simple yet incredibly tasty. Cubes of chicken are marinated in a  simple 6 ingredient marinade and then grilled resulting in incredibly moist and flavorful chicken. These Greek Souvlaki skewers are best grilled on a BBQ but can also be cooked on the stove top or in the oven. 

This Chicken souvlaki recipe is the perfect example of how a few simple ingredients can result in something so flavorful. When it comes to marinating chicken I used to think that the more ingredients you use, the more flavourful the chicken would be, but over time I’ve come to learn that all you need is acidity, to tenderize the meat, oil, salt and something for flavour. I have this easy chicken souvlaki recipe on repeat during grilling season, because it’s so easy, and pairs so well with such a wide variety of different things. 

What Is Souvlaki

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Souvlaki is a popular Greek dish consisting of marinated cubes of meat (chicken, beef, lamb or vegetables) that are cooked on skewers.  The word souvlaki has roots in the Greek word souvla, meaning skewer (souvlaki means small skewer). Souvlaki is a classic greek street food that is also commonly found at any local greek restaurant. The grilled meat is commonly served in pita bread, or enjoyed with rice or potatoes and greek salad. 

Why You Will Love This Chicken Souvlaki

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• The souvlaki marinade requires only a handful of very simple ingredients that are likely pantry staples in your kitchen
• The tender pieces of cubed chicken are incredibly flavorful and moist. 
• These skewers are incredibly versatile and can be served in so many different ways. In warm pita with a yogurt sauce, tomatoes and cucumbers, with greek rice or roasted potatoes and creamy tzatziki sauce, or with a simple salad. It’s one of my go to summer recipes to serve to a crowd because everyone loves them and they are so easy to make. 
• This is an easy recipe to meal prep for the week. The chicken is fantastic to have in your fridge to add to salads or add to other dishes for a quick meal. 
• This greek chicken souvlaki recipe is Paleo, Whole30, Keto and Specific Carbohydrate Diet Legal!

 

Ingredients You Need To Make Chicken Souvlaki

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• Chicken Breasts: Try to ensure that the chicken breasts are cut into similar sized cubes so that they cook evenly. 
• Garlic: Lots of fresh garlic gives this chicken wonderful flavor. Use fresh minced garlic rather than jarred minced garlic which I find has a much weaker flavor. 
• Oregano: feel free to use either fresh or dried oregano, just be sure to adjust the quantities according to which type you use. I usually use Italian Oregano which has a milder flavor while Greek oregano tends to be more savory and earthy.  
• Olive Oil: I recommend using good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. 
• Lemon: Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest add really nice lemon kick of flavor to the chicken
• White Wine Vinegar: vinegar helps to tenderize the chicken during marinating. Feel free to swap the white wine vinegar for red wine vinegar. 
• Parsley: Don’t use dried parsley, only fresh parsley will work. 

 

Can I Use Chicken Thighs Or Breasts?

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Traditionally chicken breasts are used to make chicken souvlaki but feel free to use chicken thighs instead which tend to have a bit more flavor and are less likely to dry out during cooking. 

 

 

 

How To Make Chicken Souvlaki

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1. Start by cutting the chicken into pieces approximately 1 inch in size. Try to make all of the chicken cubes approximately the same size so that they cook evenly. Place chicken in a large bowl or ziploc bag. Add all of the other marinade ingredients to in with the chunks of chicken and leave to marinate in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours.
2. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto wood or metal skewers. Heat an outdoor grill (or grill pan if you are cooking them on your stovetop) to medium-high heat.
3. Place the chicken skewers on the grill and leave them to cook for 8-10 minutes until nice grill marks form and the chicken is cooked through. If you are uncertain whether the chicken is cooked, I recommend using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest piece of chicken, you are looking for an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve with lemon wedges.

You can find detailed step by step instructions in the recipe card below. 

 

How Long Should I Marinate The Chicken 

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Marinating the chicken for just 2 hours will suffice if you are short on time, but overnight (or up to 24 hours) is ideal for maximum flavor and will result in incredibly delicious meat.

 

 

Wooden Skewer Tip

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If you are using wood skewers, be sure to soak them in water for 20-30 minutes to prevent them from burning on the hot grill. I find that the best way to soak wooden skewers is to put them in a tall water bottle and fill it with water, this ensures that all of the skewers are submerged.

 

Can I Cook It In The Oven?

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Absolutely! I prefer to cook the chicken souvlaki on a grill or grill pan to get nice grill marks, but you can cook them in the oven for an equally delicious dish. 

 

 

What To Serve With Chicken Souvlaki

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These Chicken Souvlaki are so incredibly versatile! I like to serve them with homemade tzatziki sauce on the side for dipping, but other dips that pair wonderfully with it include hummus, baba ganoush or tirokafteri. Souvlaki is also often served with greek salad (this couscous greek salad with feta cheese, kalamata olives, red peppers, cucumber and sliced red onions all tossed in a simple red wine vinegar salad dressing is one of my favorites) with warm pita bread on the side.

 

 

What About Leftovers

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Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat the souvlaki I recommend either doing it in the microwave or on the BBQ on medium heat for 3-4 minutes until just warmed through. Be sure not too reheat the chicken for too long on the grill otherwise it will become very dry in texture. 

 

Here are a few more Greek inspired recipes that you might enjoy: 

• Greek “Couscous” Salad
• Greek Lamb Meatballs
• Greek Lamb Burgers
• Dairy Free Tzatziki
• Greek Roast Chicken
• Greek Frittata 
• Greek Chicken Traybake

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If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!