
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
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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].
