Description
This Chicken Souvlaki recipe features tender, marinated chicken grilled to perfection and served with fresh pita bread, crisp vegetables, and a creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. This classic Greek street food is simple to prepare, bursting with Mediterranean flavors, and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a summer cookout.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade
- 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4-5 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cucumber, grated and excess liquid squeezed out
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Serve
- Warm pita bread
- Sliced tomatoes
- Sliced red onions
- Fresh lettuce
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, dried thyme, paprika, salt, and black pepper to create a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and toss to coat them evenly. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Prepare the Tzatziki Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber (with excess liquid squeezed out), minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and chopped dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate the tzatziki until ready to serve.
- Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the chicken skewers.
- Thread Chicken onto Skewers: Take the marinated chicken pieces and thread them onto the soaked wooden skewers evenly.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked and has nice grill marks.
- Warm the Pita Bread: While the chicken is grilling, warm the pita bread on the grill or in the oven until soft and pliable.
- Serve: Serve the grilled chicken souvlaki hot with warm pita bread, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, fresh lettuce, and a generous dollop of the tzatziki sauce.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from burning during grilling.
- Marinate the chicken overnight for maximum flavor and tenderness.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pita or serve the souvlaki with a salad instead.
- The grated cucumber should be well drained to avoid watery tzatziki.
- Leftover souvlaki can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated gently.
