Greek Chicken Souvlaki
86 Comments
Updated Jul 25, 2024
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Chicken souvlaki is one of my favorite Greek street food items! Tender chicken soaks in a bright lemon garlic marinade, then it’s threaded on skewers and grilled until perfectly juicy and charred. Just don’t forget the tzatziki sauce for that creamy, refreshing touch!
What is Souvlaki?
Chicken souvlaki is a traditional Greek dish and the epitome of easy and delicious summertime grilling. And if you’re not sure what souvlaki means, it translates to “grilled meat on a skewer.” Pretty straightforward, eh?
Consider this recipe a more simplified version of my Greek chicken kabobs or shish kabobs. Unlike kabobs (which are grilled with vegetables), souvlakis are simply skewers of meat and are meant to be served with fresh-cut veggies or even a Greek salad. But the finishing touch is a mandatory drizzle of tzatziki sauce all over everything!
Chicken Souvlaki Recipe Ingredients
This souvlaki recipe is as simple as can be, which is why it continues to be one of my favorites for summer grilling. But for the tzatziki sauce, I’ve got a few notes below:
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are the best option for skewer grilling.
- Chicken Souvlaki Marinade: The marinade is the star here, which is a combination of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, oregano, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Tzatziki Sauce: I love to make my own tzatziki sauce when I have time. But of course, you can buy your favorite brand as well. And if you’re dairy-free, I highly recommend making this vegan tzatziki. It’s easy to make and just as delicious.
Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below
How To Make Chicken Souvlaki
While I personally think chicken souvlaki is best grilled over an open fire, you can also use an indoor grill pan. So once that’s set up, grab a set of 12-inch skewers. If your skewers are smaller, that’s fine. You’ll just make more skewers than what I have listed in the recipe card below.
Marinate the chicken. Stir the marinade together in a small bowl. Then add the chicken pieces and let them marinate for at least 30 minutes. But no longer than 24 hours.
Thread the skewers. Heat the grill on medium-high heat. Then thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers. About eight to nine pieces should be able to fit on a 12-inch skewer, making six skewers total. 8-inch skewers will fit about four to five pieces of chicken.
Grill. Grill the skewers for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. They should be beautifully charred on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Ways to Serve Chicken Souvlaki
- With fresh veggies. I love to slice up cucumbers and tomatoes for an easy and refreshing side of veggies. Or you can make a quick side salad like this cucumber salad or tomato avocado salad.
- Add a side of Greek fries! Aside from a salad, these Greek potato wedges topped with feta and herbs are a fun addition to a summer meal.
- Wrap it up. This chicken souvlaki is delicious wrapped with pita bread. But if you’re gluten-free like me, you can also use butter lettuce leaves.
Storage Tips
- To store for the week: Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for 3 to 5 days.
- Freeze for later: Let the chicken cool completely before storing it away in the freezer. It will keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw it in the fridge the night before. Then, give it a quick reheat in the microwave! If the chicken is a little dry, spoon a bit of water on top before reheating.
More Mediterranean Recipes
If you love Mediterranean food as much as I do, this list of Mediterranean recipes will give you endless amounts of inspiration to make at home. But here are a few favorites I make often:
- Greek Sheet Pan Chicken (or this Greek Lemon Chicken!)
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Mediterranean Cod en Papillote
- Shrimp Scampi
- Greek Chicken Burgers
- Avgolemono Soup
Get ready to make endless amounts of chicken souvlaki this summer! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment box below.
Greek Chicken Souvlaki
Description
Video
Equipment
- Grill Pan This is the one I'm using in the video.
- Metal Skewers Flat metal skewers are my preferred ones.
Ingredients
Chicken Souvlaki
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 ½-inch cubes
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 recipe tzatziki sauce
Instructions
- Add the chicken, oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, parsley, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Stir together. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat the grill on medium-high heat. Then thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers (about 8 to 9 pieces per skewer makes 6 skewers).
- Cook the skewers on the grill for 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
- Served the grilled chicken souvlaki with the tzatziki sauce.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally published March 2016, but updated to include new photos, video, and information.
Can I use lamb for this recipe
You could use lamb, but you’ll need to double check the proper cooking time!
Delicious. Chicken Souvlaki is one of my favorite Greek meals. I like that it’s this easy to make at home. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Jenn – Now you can make Greek chicken souvlaki at home all the time! Glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Really love these easy and tasty chicken skewers. The touch of lemon is delicious. I will definitely be making these again.
So glad you loved them!
Hello Lisa, Could you freeze the chicken with the marinade prior to grilling? Looking for some recipes that I can prep ahead of time.
Hi Kasia – yes, you could definitely do that!
Can i bake this chicken instead of using grill? if yes then at what temperature and for how much time? Thanks !
This was just outstanding!! The chicken cooked up juicy, tender and delicious. The flavours all came through and the lemon so fresh! We will have this on repeat!
Hi Anne – I’m so glad you’re loving this Greek chicken ssouvlaki!
Fabulous way to make some chicken delicious! I made this with the tzatziki sauce, cucumber salad and the Greek potatoes. What an amazing dinner and combination of flavors!
Hi Lara – I’m so glad you love this chicken souvlaki! Sounds great with cucumber salad and potatoes.
Turned out great! I let the chicken marinate for several hours. Will use this recipe again soon.
Thanks so much. Enjoy!
Loved having skewered and marinated chicken. I made the Tzatziki sauce, corn, and the vinegar coleslaw. I add more vinegar to the slaw, we like the tanginess. We dined outside and it felt like a real 4th of July dinner. I keep coming back for more recipes!
Moist subtle flavor – simple recipe not a lot of expensive ingredients.
I love lemons and always have them in the fridge, preferably organic.
Thank you for kindly sharing your knowledge
I’m happy you loved this recipe, Barbara!
Great recipe – very moist. We cooked them on the bbq. Thank you!
Made Chicken Souvlaki (kebabs) for our group dinner while camping. This marinade is so much better than store bought. The chicken was so tender and flavorful. Everyone raved about it and they all enjoyed Lisa’s tzatziki sauce with it. Will definitely make again soon this summer.
Hi Melanie – Amazing! I’m glad this chicken souvlaki worked out great for a camping dish.
Ok…just back home from Skiathos abd Skopelos greek islands.
Omg
Souvlaki …Best we’ve ever tasted.
I’m so so about tzatziki but my husband loves it. I loved this but my husband says..Best he’s ever tasted. So thanks a lot!!!
Def going to make both again xx
Hi Babby – Oh yay! Happy to hear you got a taste of the Greek islands again with this chicken souvlaki recipe!
Can you use chicken thigh instead of breast?
Hi Emma – Yes, that’s fine!
Terrific recipe – easy and tasty! The sauce is great as well. Served this with a salad and some charred bread. Everyone loved it.
Hi Mary – I’m so glad you love this chicken souvlaki!
I could not find. The recipe for the sauce for on the chicken plan on making this look so good
I don’t usually leave reviews, but I wish I could give this recipe 10 stars. My husband loves Greek food and is super picky about it. After I made this chicken souvlaki dish, he said that he might never go back to his favorite Greek place again. This was also the best Tzatziki sauce we both ever had and he threw out his stash from his favorite Greek place. I made this recipe three times in the last two weeks. I used the broiler for the chicken a couple of times to make it quick and easy to clean up (I hate washing grill pans), but the outdoor grill method really gets the best results. Thank you! : )
Hi Jenny – Thanks so much for leaving a review and happy to hear this chicken souvlaki and tzatziki sauce were a hit!
Love this recipe! Another quick and easy grilled chicken recipe to add to my file (and who doesn’t love quick and easy in the summertime)! And the fresh cucumber salad was a snap to throw together. Thanks for another winner Lisa!
Hi Mary – Thanks for the review and glad you enjoyed this Greek chicken souvlaki!
Had all the ingredients in the fridge, the prep was easy and the taste was excellent!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Greek chicken souvlaki!
I made the souvlaki, quick pickled onions, and tzatziki for dinner tonight. Used fresh herbs and cucumbers from my patio garden. Served with spanakorizo rice. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever made. Enjoyed the paleo pancakes for breakfast. Thank you Lisa for all the excellent recipes.
Hi Melissa – What a wonderful meal you made with this Greek chicken souvlaki recipe!
This was delicious! Going to be a regular go to for my dinners.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
So yummy! Lisa, do you think it would be possible to freeze prior to cooking?
Hi Robyn – yes, that’s fine. It would be similar to my chicken marinade post, and I freeze those. :) Enjoy!
Made it, super easy, super tasty and with the salad an tzatziki sauce, what a feast. Thanks for another easy peasy dinner idea.
So thrilled you loved it, Jean!
Hi Jean – Happy to hear you enjoyed this Greek chicken souvlaki!
Hi Lisa. I caught your video for the souvlaki and tzatziki on YouTube. I tried it out that night and they were both delicious! I’m definitely added these recipes to my collection! Thank you!!
Hi Jody – Wonderful, I’m so happy you watched and enjoyed my video! And even more that you loved the recipe. ;)
Hi Jody – That’s great to hear both the souvlaki and tzatziki were a hit! Hope you enjoy them again in the near future.
This was delicious! We made the Tzaziki Sauce and a Greek salad. The perfect meal.
Love that you made all three recipes – well done! It really is the perfect healthy combo. Glad you enjoyed it, Darlene!
Hi Lisa, the chicken souvlaki recipe is an easy one, could you please give me an approximate idea of the weight (total) for the 4 bnls _sknls chicken breast thanks
Hi Gillian – my chicken breasts are usually around 7-8 ounces each. So 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts. Enjoy the recipe!
Can’t wait to make this. My mouth is watering.
We loved this recipe. I served it with your tzatziki sauce and some raw veggies.
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed it, Vicky!
This was SO good! I made the tzatziki to go along as well and it was all a hit with my family! We have made several of your recipes and each time we love them! Thank you for helping us eat healthier!
Hi Stephanie – Happy to hear you and your family are loving this Greek chicken souvlaki!
Has anyone tried just sauteing the chicken on an iron skillet? Its winter and I do not have an indoor grill.
Hi Jane – You can cook it on a skillet, it just won’t get those charred marks :)
This is always a success in our family. I love how delicious and easy to prepare it is. Thank you!
So happy you and your family love the recipe!
I love this recipeand the tzatziki recipe too! So amazing and easy. I prep it in the afternoon and by dinner everything is perfectly seasoned and the leftovers ( when there is any) are great too! I cant eat any grain and it is so hard to go out to eat and not get cross contaminated food at restaurants. I used to love going to Greek restaurants for this particular dish! Thank you Lisa for showing me how easy it was to get that authentic Greek restaurant flavor!
Now you can make souvlaki right at home! :)
I love love love this recipe! I went to Greece last year and this dish seriously compares and makes me feel like I’m bringing home a piece of Greece. I don’t usually marinade my chicken and so that was new for me but let me tell you, it made SUCH a difference! So much more flavor! I didn’t have a grill, but used a frying pan instead and it turned out really well. Great dish, will be remaking this on rotation for myself and my husband!
Aw, I’m glad this recipe brought back some delicious memories from Greece!
Made the Watermelon Salad
It was so refreshing and went perfectly with my Blasamic honey salmon.
Glad this was the perfect pairing, Clara!
Absolutely fabulous!! We loved it!! Quick grilling and your tzatziki sauce made it!!! You’re right, a must addition!!!
Glad you enjoyed this chicken souvlaki Susan!
excellent!!
This was delicious and my whole family loved it. This is a great start to my whole 30 journey.
Happy to hear the whole family enjoyed these kabobs!
This was e new recipe on the menu tonight and I seriously scored a lot of points ;-). I combined it with the regular tzatziki which I prepared the night before along with the salad dressing for the greek salad. At the end of the day I only had to chop some veggies for the salad and bake the chicken. Easy does it and so delicious. This will be on my rotation in the future!
Glad you enjoyed this recipe Babette! If you like this one, I’d say try my Greek Chicken Kabobs as well.
This recipe was so amazingly delicious and easy to make, I made it twice this week! Love it!! Thank you!
Hi Karen- Wonderful! Happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe :)
Absolute perfection-once again
The flavor of the chicken – oh my!!!
And the sauce
Made it for a Memorial Day gathering and everyone asked for the recipe
Yay! I’m so glad you loved the grilled chicken! It’s such a great recipe for a BBQ! Thank you for the kind comment, Sandra! :)
Absolutely a delicious recipe- very easy and quick to make! Full of flavour! Definitely will be making again
Wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe Gemma!
Made tzatziki sauce to go with our lamb kofta stuffed pitta bread. The last time I made it I chopped the cucumber finely – missing the ‘blend it all’ together! This time I have blitz it all together and it’s cool, refreshing, just perfect accompaniment to today’s weather. Sun, sun glorious sun. Had the coconut chicken curry yesterday because it was dull and cold. Good old Britain – unpredictable weather as always!
Yes, it’s much better all smooth and blitzed together. Glad you were able to enjoy the creamy version this time! Hopefully it provided a cool balance to the sunny day. :)
Had everything on hand bar the cashews and dill. Made the tzatziki with yoghurt and tarragon along with the rest of your ingredients. Very much enjoyed our tea, tasty.
Awesome! And love the substitutions as well. It’s all about making it work for you. :)
I’m definitely going to check out her ebook! I also have Crohn’s Disease, so I selfishly am even more interested in the ebook now.
Oh, you’ll LOVE Kristen! Her story is so inspiring and she’s seriously one of the sweetest people. :) x