Description
This Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe features juicy, marinated chicken breast grilled to perfection and served with traditional Tzatziki sauce and fresh Mediterranean veggies. Perfect for a flavorful summer meal or backyard barbecue, the chicken is infused with garlic, oregano, rosemary, paprika, and lemon, capturing the essence of classic Greek cuisine. Serve it wrapped in warm pita bread with complementary sides like Greek salad or roasted garlic hummus for a vibrant and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade and Chicken
- 10 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup Greek extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 1/2 lb organic boneless skinless chicken breast, fat removed, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
To Serve
- Greek pita bread
- Tzatziki sauce (prepared separately)
- Sliced tomato
- Sliced cucumber
- Sliced onions
- Kalamata olives
- Optional: Greek salad, roasted garlic hummus, Mezze platter, watermelon and cucumber salad
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a small food processor, combine garlic, oregano, rosemary, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, olive oil, white wine, and lemon juice. Pulse until the mixture is well blended and forms a smooth marinade. Note: Do not add the bay leaves at this stage.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the cut chicken breast pieces in a large bowl. Add the bay leaves to the bowl. Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken and toss to coat all pieces evenly. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to infuse.
- Prepare Skewers and Fixings: Soak 10 to 12 wooden skewers in water for 30 to 45 minutes to prevent burning during grilling. While soaking, prepare the Tzatziki sauce and any other sides such as Greek salad, roasted garlic hummus, or watermelon cucumber salad.
- Thread the Chicken onto Skewers: Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and thread them evenly onto the soaked wooden skewers, leaving a little space between pieces for even cooking.
- Grill the Chicken: Preheat an outdoor grill or stovetop griddle over medium-high heat. Brush the grill grates with a little oil to prevent sticking. Place the chicken skewers on the grill and cook, turning frequently to brown all sides evenly. Grill until the internal temperature reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 5 minutes total. The chicken will continue to cook to 165°F as it rests. Brush skewers occasionally with remaining marinade, discarding any leftover marinade after use.
- Rest the Chicken and Warm Pitas: Transfer the cooked chicken skewers to a serving platter and let rest for 3 minutes to retain juices. While resting, briefly grill the pita breads on the grill until warm and lightly charred.
- Assemble the Souvlaki: Remove the chicken pieces from the skewers. Spread a generous amount of Tzatziki sauce onto each warm pita. Top with grilled chicken, then add sliced tomato, cucumber, onions, and Kalamata olives as desired.
- Serve with Sides: Optionally, serve the souvlaki with Greek salad, roasted garlic hummus, watermelon and cucumber salad, or a Mezze platter for a complete Mediterranean-inspired meal.
Notes
- For quicker marinating, allow chicken to marinate for at least 2 hours instead of overnight.
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from burning on the grill.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is safely cooked to 165°F.
- You can prepare Tzatziki and other sides ahead of time to streamline meal prep.
- Adjust grilling time depending on the heat of your grill and the size of chicken pieces.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Keywords: Greek Chicken Souvlaki, Chicken Skewers, Greek Grilled Chicken, Tzatziki, Mediterranean Chicken Recipe
