Chicken Souvlaki

Chicken Souvlaki

A beloved Greek street food staple, chicken souvlaki features tender chunks of marinated chicken threaded onto skewers and grilled to juicy, golden perfection. The marinade — built on olive oil, lemon, garlic, and oregano — is simple but deeply flavorful, and the result is bright, herbaceous, and satisfying. Serve tucked into warm pita with cool tzatziki, fresh tomatoes, and red onion for the full taverna experience.

4 servings · Prep 20 min · Cook 12 min · Total 152 min

Main Course

Marinade

  • 0.33 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice from about 1 large lemon
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp dried oregano preferably Greek oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 0.5 tsp sweet paprika

Main

  • 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1.5-inch chunks

Tzatziki

  • 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 0.5 cup English cucumber grated and squeezed dry
  • 1 cloves garlic minced or grated
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
  • 1 pinch kosher salt

Serving

  • 4 piece pita bread warmed
  • 2 medium tomatoes diced or sliced
  • 0.5 red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 small head romaine lettuce shredded
  • 0.25 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley roughly chopped

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Stovetop
  • Grill
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Plastic Wrap
  • Paper Towel
  • Skewer
  • Kitchen Towel
  • Whisk
  • Plates
  • Knife
  • Metal or Pre-Soaked Wooden Skewers
  • Tongs
  • Cutting Board
  • Instant-Read Thermometer
  • Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
  • Ziploc Bag
  • Meat Thermometer
  • Grater

Instructions

  1. In a large #[Mixing Bowl], whisk together the @[Olive Oil], @[Lemon Juice], @[Lemon Zest], minced @[Garlic], dried @[Oregano], dried @[Thyme], @[Kosher Salt], @[Black Pepper], and @[Paprika] until well combined.
  2. Add the @[Chicken Thighs] chunks to the marinade and toss thoroughly to coat every piece. Transfer to a #[Ziploc Bag] or cover the bowl tightly with #[Plastic Wrap]. Refrigerate for at least ~[2 hours], or up to ~[8 hours] for maximum flavor.
  3. While the @[Chicken Thighs] marinates, make the tzatziki. Grate the @[English Cucumber] on the large holes of a #[Grater], then wrap it in a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towel and squeeze firmly to remove as much liquid as possible.
  4. In a bowl, stir together the @[Greek Yogurt], squeezed @[English Cucumber], @[Garlic], @[Lemon Juice], @[Olive Oil], and fresh @[Dill]. Season with a pinch of @[Kosher Salt], taste, and adjust as needed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve (the flavor improves as it sits).
  5. When ready to cook, preheat your #[Grill] to ^[medium-high heat] (around ![425–450°F]). If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least ~[30 minutes] beforehand to prevent burning.
  6. Remove the @[Chicken Thighs] from the marinade, letting any excess drip off. Thread the chunks onto skewers, packing them snugly but not too tightly — about 5–6 pieces per skewer.
  7. Oil the grill grates lightly. Place the skewers on the #[Grill] and cook for ~[10–12 minutes] total, turning every ~[3–4 minutes], until the @[Chicken Thighs] is charred at the edges, cooked through, and an instant-read #[Meat Thermometer] reads %[165°F] at the thickest piece.
  8. Transfer the skewers to a plate and let them rest for ~[3–5 minutes] before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and keeps the @[Chicken Thighs] moist.
  9. Warm the @[Pita Bread] on the #[Grill] for about ~[30–60 seconds] per side until soft and lightly toasted. Slide the @[Chicken Thighs] off the skewers and serve in or alongside the warm @[Pita Bread], topped generously with tzatziki, diced @[Tomatoes], sliced @[Red Onion], and any optional garnishes like shredded @[Romaine Lettuce] or fresh @[Flat-Leaf Parsley].