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.

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)

Description

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.

Ingredients

For the souvlaki marinade:

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

For the chicken skewers:

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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Instructions

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, and Italiano seasoning (optional)
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. Serve these chicken souvlaki skewers with a side of Greek rice, pita bread, lemon potatoes and Greek salad. Don't forget to slather lots of tzatziki sauce on top.

Notes

How to cook skewers in the oven: 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.

Make a Greek gyro: Wrap these juicy skewers inside a pita and top with Greek salad and a generous spoonful of homemade tzatziki sauce to make easy homemade Greek chicken gyros.

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.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Marinate Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Category: Chicken
Method: Grill
Cuisine: Greek