Description
Grilled Chicken Souvlaki is a classic Greek dish featuring tender, marinated chicken pieces grilled to perfection on skewers. Served with warm pita, fresh tomatoes, crisp romaine, and creamy homemade tzatziki sauce, this weeknight meal is bursting with Mediterranean flavors and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade
- 1 pound Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1” pieces
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 each Juice of 1 lemon
- 6 cloves Garlic, smashed
- 1 tablespoon Dried oregano
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (whole fat preferred)
- 1/3 cup Finely chopped cucumber
- 1/2 each Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Freshly chopped dill
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 pinch Red pepper flakes (optional)
For Serving
- 4 pieces Pita, warmed
- 1 cup Thinly sliced tomatoes
- 2 cups Chopped romaine lettuce
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, smashed garlic, oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until combined.
- Marinate the chicken: Add the diced chicken pieces to the marinade, tossing to coat evenly. Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes, or refrigerate up to 24 hours for deeper flavor.
- Make the tzatziki sauce: In another bowl, combine Greek yogurt, chopped cucumber, lemon juice, minced garlic, dill, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir well and refrigerate until serving to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare the skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
- Assemble the skewers: Thread the marinated chicken pieces evenly onto the soaked skewers.
- Preheat the grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat to ensure proper cooking.
- Grill the chicken: Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 6 minutes per side, turning once, until the chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve: Warm the pita bread. Serve the grilled chicken souvlaki on the pita with sliced tomatoes, chopped romaine lettuce, and a generous dollop of the prepared tzatziki sauce.
Notes
- Marinating chicken overnight enhances the flavor and tenderness.
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from burning on the grill.
- For a spicier tzatziki, add extra red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper.
- Use whole-fat Greek yogurt for a richer, creamier tzatziki.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
