Chicken Souvlaki

Chicken souvlaki is an easy chicken dinner recipe that combines big Mediterranean flavor with tender grilled chicken breast. Serve these skewers with rice, veggies, and tzatziki for a Greek-inspired meal!

There’s grilled chicken skewers, and then there’s chicken souvlaki. This is a recipe that instantly gives grilled chicken a BIG flavor upgrade. Like Grilled Lemon Chicken, lemon juice makes it pop, oregano gives it that signature Greek flair, and garlic (lots of it!) makes it super flavorful. It’s amazing how a few simple ingredients totally transform an everyday dish like grilled chicken!

What Is Chicken Souvlaki?

Chicken souvlaki is a popular Greek recipe for marinated grilled chicken skewers. The marinade  includes olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and Mediterranean herbs like oregano, which infuse the meat with lots of bright and savory flavor. Souvlaki can be served on its own, or you can tuck it into a pita or wrap with tzatziki sauce, serve it over rice, or add it to a salad. It’s hard to go wrong!

Like so many Mediterranean dishes, this is a simple recipe, which means it’s really about using the very best ingredients you can find and perfecting your technique. Luckily, the technique part isn’t much of an issue because chicken souvlaki is super easy! If you can grill chicken kabobs, you’ll be able ot make perfect chicken souvlaki skewers too.

Ingredients for Chicken Souvlaki

Below is a quick rundown of the ingredients you’ll need to make chicken souvlaki. Scroll down to the recipe card for complete instructions.

• Chicken Breast – I use skinless and boneless chicken breasts. Cut it into pieces to thread onto the skewers.
• Garlic – Use a knife to mince this or use a garlic press.
• Dried Oregano – I recommend Greek oregano, not Mexican. If you do want to use Mexican oregano, you may want to cut back on the amount slightly, as it has a stronger flavor.
• Salt and Pepper – Freshly ground black pepper is best! It’s more flavorful than the kind that comes pre-ground in a jar.
• Olive Oil – A cooking olive oil is fine here—it doesn’t need to be a fancy extra-virgin olive oil.
• Lemon Juice – You’ll need the juice from one lemon. Don’t use bottled! Fresh is much more vibrant.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs to Make Chicken Souvlaki?

Yes, you can definitely use chicken thighs to make chicken souvlaki if that’s your preferred cut or you happen to have them on hand. Just be sure to use boneless skinless chicken thighs, and keep in mind that they can take a bit longer to cook, so you’ll need to add some extra time on the grill.

How to Make Chicken Souvlaki

Making chicken souvlaki is a cinch! Here’s an overview of what you’ll need to do.

1. Combine. Add all of the ingredients to a freezer bag or airtight container. Toss to coat.
2. Marinate. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight.
3. Prep. Thread the chicken onto soaked wooden skewers while you preheat the grill.
4. Cook. Grill the chicken souvlaki for about 3 minutes per side. 
5. Finish. Rest for 5 minutes, then serve.

Tips for Making Chicken Souvlaki

These tips will help you make sure your chicken souvlaki turns out PERFECT.

• Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces. This ensures that all pieces cook at the same rate, keeping you from having either overcooked or undercooked chicken (or both).
• Don’t skimp on the marinating time. You really want a full two hours to let the bright, lemony marinade soak in. If you forgot to marinate the chicken for dinner and you’re in a bind, you could do a 30 minute marinating time, but the chicken won’t be as flavorful.
• But don’t marinate too long either. Leaving the chicken in the marinade for too long can result in a mushy texture because the acid in the lemon juice will begin to break down the chicken.
• Soak wooden skewers before grilling. This prevents them from burning on the grill and also helps keep the chicken moist while cooking. Set them in a baking dish or roasting pan and cover them with water; let them soak for an hour or two. (Or you can avoid this by using metal skewers.)
• Keep the leftovers fresh. Store leftover chicken souvlaki in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

What to Serve With Chicken Souvlaki

• Salad – Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe with Feta would be perfect, or toss a bag of mixed greens with my Easy Greek Salad Dressing Recipe. This Greek Pasta Salad would also be excellent!
• Rice and other grains – Orzo would be good too, like this Mediterranean Orzo Salad or Toasted Lemon Parmesan Orzo.
• Pita bread
• Tzatziki sauce
• Grilled vegetables
• Other Mediterranean-inspired favorites – Like Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh Salad, Greek Lemon Potatoes, and Mediterranean Chickpea Salad.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Mongolian Chicken
• Salsa Chicken
• Buffalo Chicken Salad
• Grilled Chicken Pesto Sandwich
• Grilled Caprese Stuffed Chicken
• Grilled Chicken Spiedini

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