Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

Name: Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
Prep time: 2 h 15 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 2 h 29 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 cup water; 3 cloves garlic, crushed; 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped; 1/3 cup fresh dill; 1 tablespoon honey (or granulated sugar); 1 teaspoon salt; half a lemon, sliced; 3 bay leaves; 2 pounds chicken breast (approximately 5-6 chicken breasts), cut into 1 to 2-inch cubes; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 tablespoon Italiano seasoning (optional); 1 tablespoon olive oil; tzatziki sauce (for serving)

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Bring out the grill because easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers are on the menu tonight! These classic skewers are marinated in a simple mixture of garlic, herbs, and lemon for that classic Mediterranean flavour we all know and love. Serve on its own with a side of Tzatziki Sauce or as part of a complete souvlaki meal with all the sides.

Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers are marinated in garlic, herbs, and lemon for that classic Mediterranean flavour. Grill in under 15 minutes! | aheadofthyme.com

Souvlaki chicken skewers are the best addition to your summer cookout menu or weeknight dinners this season. It may even be the easiest recipe that you make all summer! But plan ahead as you do need to leave some time to allow the chicken to marinate, but then you will spend less than 15 minutes grilling!

Why You'll Love These Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

Quick and easy summer meal. Although the chicken needs to marinate for a few hours, it's ready in just about 15 minutes on the grill - that's faster than takeout! Marinate it the night before for a very low-prep meal any night of the week. Great for entertaining, too!
Don't heat up the kitchen. You know those days when it's just too hot to turn on the stove? Use the grill instead! These chicken souvlaki skewers are cooked on a hot grill and will be the star of the show in Greek salads, alongside your favorite summer salads, in warm pita bread with your favorite veggies and sauces, and more.
Infused with flavor. The marinating process is key as it allows the olive oil, seasonings, lemon juice, and more to work their way deep inside the pieces of chicken. The marinade ingredients may be simple, but they are certainly effective. There's no dry, bland chicken here! This Greek chicken souvlaki recipe is a personal favorite, and I'd gladly enjoy these skewers several times per week!

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Chicken Souvlaki Skewers , you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

chicken breast - cut into 1 to 2-inch cubes for easy threading.
souvlaki marinade - we make this easy marinade from scratch in just minutes using a combination of water, garlic, parsley, dill, honey (or sugar), salt, lemon, and bay leaves.
salt and pepper - used to season the skewers. You can also add some Italiano seasoning, if desired.
olive oil - for grilling.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, skewers, tongs for grilling, and a grill (or an indoor grill pan.

How to Make the Best Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

Prepare the marinade. Add all of the ingredients for the chicken marinade into a small pot. Stir and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool off for 1 hour. It should be cooled down completely.
Marinate the chicken. Cut the chicken breasts into 1 to 2-inch thick cubes (I cut out 10 small cubes from each breast). Add the cubes into the marinade and let them soak in for 1 hour (up to overnight).
Skewer the chicken. Drain the chicken pieces with a colander and remove excess marinade with paper towels. Thread the chicken onto skewers. Season with salt and pepper.
Grill the skewers. Lightly brush olive oil over grill pan. Preheat the grill over medium high heat for about 5 minutes, until sizzling hot. Cook the chicken skewers for 7 minutes on each side or until its internal temperature reaches 165 F (75 C). Serve warm.

Step by Step Recipe Video

Recipe Variations

Change the cut. I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but the higher fat content in chicken thighs makes them extra tender and flavorful. Feel free to use turkey breast or other cuts of poultry if you'd like.
Change the protein. I love Greek souvlaki and use a similar recipe to make Beef Souvlaki, Lamb Souvlaki, and more. The marinade ingredients change slightly depending on the protein, but they're very similar.
Add some heat. Add a dollop of harissa paste to the marinade for a smoky, spicy flavor that pairs beautifully with the coolness of Tzatziki Sauce.
Make a Greek gyro. Wrap these juicy skewers inside a pita and top with Greek Salad and a generous spoonful of homemade Tzatziki Sauce. For more tips, see our easy homemade Greek Chicken Gyros recipe.

How to Serve

Serve these chicken souvlaki skewers with a slather of tzatziki sauce on top. You can make your own homemade sauce in less than 5 minutes using Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper. The sauce needs an hour to refrigerate to let the flavours infuse into the yogurt, so plan this while your chicken is marinating too.

I recommend serving this as a full souvlaki meal with all the classic sides including:

For more recipe ideas, see our 30 Best Greek Recipe

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Marinate the chicken. It is crucial to let the chicken marinate at least for an hour to allow the flavours to infuse and for it to get juicier. If you are able to let it marinate even longer, it will taste that much better. I prefer letting it marinate overnight, if you have the time.
Double up the recipe. This recipe that makes about 10 skewers. You can easily double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd.
How to cook skewers in the oven instead. You can absolutely cook these skewers in the oven as well. This way you can cook them all year round. They just won't have those charred grill marks, but will still taste delicious. To bake, place skewers on a baking tray and roast at 480 F for 12-13 minutes, or when the internal temperature reaches 165 F. You can add some charring by then placing under the broiler on high for 1 minute. Keep a close eye on them, because they can burn quickly.

Storing Instructions

How to Store

Unthread the chicken souvlaki and store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

How to Reheat

Reheat in the microwave until fully warmed through. You can also reheat in a preheated 325F oven for 10 minutes or air fryer for 5 minutes until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Unthread the chicken and place in an airtight container and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before microwaving or popping into the oven to reheat.

FAQ

Can you cook chicken souvlaki in the oven?

If you don't have a grill or it's too cold to grill outside, don't worry! This easy chicken souvlaki recipe is easy to bake in the oven, too. Roast the skewers for 12-13 minutes at 480 F and broil for 1 minute to add a little color. Delicious! If you're baking the chicken to serve over salads, you can skip the wooden skewers and arrange the bite-sized pieces right on the tray. If you're already preheating the oven, make a tray of Mediterranean roasted vegetables as well. The Greek flavors in the chicken taste great with the pesto-coated veggies.

What sauces go well with chicken souvlaki?

The marinated chicken pieces have a slightly sweet, herby, garlicky, and lemony flavor with a little char from the grill. This flavor combination pairs well with a variety of sauces, salad dressings, and dips. I prefer to keep things simple and usually serve them with tzatziki sauce, homemade hummus, or with some fresh lemon wedges to squeeze on top right before serving. They also shine with Caesar dressing, tahini sauce, Greek salad dressing, and more.

How big do you cut the chicken pieces for souvlaki?

Choosing the right size is key for any skewers and kabobs. If you cut the chicken cubes too small, they'll dry out quickly on the grill. If they're too large, they'll take forever to cook and won't be easy to eat on a skewer. Aim for 1 to 2-inch chunks and try to cut as consistently as possible. This will ensure that they all cook at the same time, and they'll be easy to bite right off the skewers.

More Chicken Skewer Recipes

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