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    Urban Bliss Life » Blog » Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

    Published: March 8, 2020 / Updated: May 19, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

    39 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

    Perfect for a warm spring or summer day, this Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe will transport you to the beautiful shores of Greece!

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki

    Food has a magical way of transporting us back. Smell and taste memory are very real, and very powerful.

    This Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe was inspired by a magical moment in the sun during my trip to Greece.

    Greek travel inspiration

    Greece Saria Boat in sea from above

    The best memories I have of Greece are of sunny days, aquamarine seas, friendly people, and plate after plate of some of the most delicious food I've ever eaten.

    It was hot. Sweltering hot, when the wind wasn't whipping my hair into a million different directions. We were traveling by boat to Saria, a rocky, volcanic island just north of Karpathos. For lunch, we were served the plate pictured below: chicken souvlaki skewers with rice, salad, and bread. We enjoyed it with a classic Greek beer: Mythos.

    greek chicken souvlaki with greek beer

    And it was just the most delicious chicken souvlaki I have ever tasted. So moist, tender, flavorful, and cooked evenly.

    Since returning home, I've worked on recreating the dish. This recipe is the closest I have come so far to that plate of yummy souvlaki perfection.

    What is in a traditional Greek souvlaki recipe?

    chicken souvlaki skewers with greek salad

    The traditional Greek Souvlaki is made of small chopped pieces of meat grilled on a skewer. Pork is often used, but you will also find Greeks using lamb, beef, or chicken.

    Souvlaki can be served in a pita, like a gyro. Or, it can be served on skewers. In this way, it's like the Greek version of the Middle Eastern kebab.

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Marinade

    angle of greek souvlaki chicken skewers

    I was told that marinating chicken overnight was the key to juicy, flavorful Greek chicken Souvlaki. But you can even get a lot of flavor by marinating the meat for at least two hours.

    The marinade for authentic Greek souvlaki consists of:

    • lemon juice
    • olive oil
    • garlic
    • oregano
    • salt and pepper

    Pretty simple, but the results are delicious!

    I added dill to my chicken souvlaki marinade to complement the dill in the tzatziki sauce I like to serve this with.

    What to serve with Greek chicken souvlaki

    greek salad close up

    I like to serve this yummy Greek chicken souvlaki food recipe with:

    • Greek salad or my Cucumber Tomato Salad
    • Brown rice
    • Baby Potato Salad with bacon
    • Tzatziki Sauce

    Tips for making the best Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki skewers
    • You can substitute lamb, beef, pork, or even vegetables for the chicken. Just be sure to cut your meat into even-sized cubes. 
    • Soak skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before adding the chicken and grilling. This helps prevent the skewers from burning while grilling.
    • Take care not to crowd your grill and give each skewer some breathing room around it. This helps ensure more even cooking. 
    • Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is cooked thoroughly to 165° degrees Fahrenheit 

    What wine should I serve with greek chicken souvlaki?

    Greek white wine

    Authentic Greek food pairs well with - you guessed it! - Greek wine.

    Greece was one of the world's first producers of wine. Assyrtiko is one of Greece's most popular and most widely produced wines. This light-bodied white wine has high acidity and bright citrus notes of lemon. It's fabulous with chicken souvlaki, or to sip on a smoldering summer day.

    Greek chicken souvlaki
    • Athens street cafe Greece Travel Guide: Athens Food Tour
    • making makarounes pasta in Olympos Karpathos Greece Making Traditional Greek Makarounes in Olympos, Greece
    • Beach near Pigadia on Karpathos Island, Greece Greece Travel Guide: Overview of Karpathos Island
    • fried chicken at Nolan restaurant Athens, Greece Where to Eat in Athens, Greece: Nolan Restaurant
    • Athens city view Where to Stay in Athens, Greece: Hilton Athens

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Feature

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki

    5 from 8 votes
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 10 mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This Greek chicken souvlaki is full of flavors and goes well with Greek salad and rice!
    Servings: 4 people
    PRINT PIN RATE

    Ingredients

    Chicken Souvlaki

    • 1 lb chicken breasts, cut into cubes
    • 1 - ½ cup buttermilk see Notes for how to make dairy-free buttermilk
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 2 tsp lemon juice
    • 1 tsp dried oregano
    • ½ tsp dried dill
    • ½ tsp kosher salt
    • ¼ tsp ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Place all of the Ingredients for the chicken souvlaki Into a large ziplock bag. Shake it up to mix Ingredients a bit. Place In the refrigerator to marinade for at least two hours, and up to overnight.
    • When you are ready to cook the chicken souvlaki, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers.
    • Pre-heat the grill to medium-high. Grill chicken skewers for 6-8 minutes or until fully cooked, turning over halfway through cooking, or as needed to ensure even grilling. Chicken should be at 165°F on a meat thermometer when fully cooked. Serve Immediately.

    Notes

    You can substitute lamb, beef, pork, or even vegetables for the chicken. Just be sure to cut your meat into even-sized cubes. 
    Soak skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before adding the chicken and grilling. This helps prevent the skewers from burning while grilling.
    Take care not to crowd your grill and give each skewer some breathing room around it. This helps ensure more even cooking. 
    Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is cooked thoroughly to 165° degrees Fahrenheit 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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    Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
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    39 shares

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Erika says

        March 09, 2020 at 11:39 am

        5 stars
        These skewers look so good! I love how simple the ingredients are too.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          March 20, 2020 at 12:58 am

          Thank you, Erika!

      2. Toni says

        March 09, 2020 at 11:37 am

        5 stars
        I seriously love how easy this is to make! So good and delish!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          March 20, 2020 at 12:58 am

          Thanks so much, Toni!

      3. Katie says

        March 09, 2020 at 10:49 am

        5 stars
        Made this for the family and it was a hit!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          March 20, 2020 at 12:57 am

          So glad! Thank you, Katie!

      4. Mindy Fewless says

        March 09, 2020 at 10:36 am

        5 stars
        These are so flavorful! Thank you for the recipe!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          March 20, 2020 at 12:57 am

          Glad you liked them! Thanks, Mindy!

      5. Jordin says

        March 09, 2020 at 10:20 am

        5 stars
        These look so delicious and easy to make! I can't wait to make these for my family, I just know they are going to love them so much.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          March 20, 2020 at 12:57 am

          Let me know how you like them! :)

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

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