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Home / Recipes

Chicken Souvlaki

2 hours 17 minutes
4.57 from 83 votes
16 Comments
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  • 606
by: Joanna Cismaru
06.19.22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Learn how to make your own Chicken Souvlaki from scratch in the comfort of home. With a small list of ingredients and a few basic steps, you’re guaranteed a successful meal no matter your culinary prowess. Featuring lots of garlic, oregano, and fresh lemon juice, the Mediterranean will be calling your name.

side view shot chicken souvlaki skewers with a little tzatziki on a plate
Table of Contents Open
  • 1 Perfect Chicken Souvlaki
  • 2 Why You Should Make This Chicken Souvlaki
  • 3 Ingredients You’ll Need
  • 4 How To Make Chicken Souvlaki
  • 5 How To Make Chicken Souvlaki Without A Grill
    • 5.1 Oven
    • 5.2 Grill Pan Or Skillet
  • 6 How To Serve Chicken Souvlaki
  • 7 What Is The Difference Between Chicken Souvlaki And Chicken Gyros?
  • 8 Storing Leftovers
  • 9 Freezing Souvlaki
  • 10 More Delicious Greek Recipes To Try
  • 11 Chicken Souvlaki
    • 11.1 Ingredients
    • 11.2 Instructions
    • 11.3 Video
    • 11.4 Recipe Notes
    • 11.5 Nutrition Information:

Perfect Chicken Souvlaki

When I go to a Greek restaurant, you know I’m going to be ordering souvlaki of some sort. Chicken, beef, lamb; it’s all so delicious. This recipe truly embodies “less is more“! Of all the different types of souvlaki I’ve tried, my favorites are always the ones made simply to highlight the garlic, oregano, and lemon.

Now once you make your chicken souvlaki, the hardest part will be deciding how to serve it. Will you wrap it up in a pita? Enjoy it on the skewers with a side of Greek salad and some delicious Greek rice? Offer it up as an appetizer dipped in tzatziki? You might just have to try it each way to choose a winner.

Why You Should Make This Chicken Souvlaki

  • Bold Delicious Flavors. This lemony chicken with garlic and oregano is full of mouth-watering flavors.
  • Incredibly Easy To Make. Simply combine all the ingredients in a plastic bag and marinate for a couple hours. Then all you have left to do is grill and enjoy!
  • Crowd Pleaser. I can’t think of an easier but tastier chicken recipe that is bound to please everyone, if the pickiest of eaters.

Ingredients You’ll Need

overhead shot of all the ingredients needed to make chicken souvlaki
  • Chicken breast – Chicken thighs will also work. You’ll want to use skinless and boneless because they’ll need to be sliced up in cubes.
  • Garlic – Use as much or little as you like!
  • Oregano – I used dried. If you use fresh, double the amount called for. I would recommend using a good Mediterranean oregano for best results.
  • Salt & pepper – Season to taste.
  • Olive oil – Grapeseed, avocado, sunflower, or safflower oils will work instead.
  • Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed. You can also substitute the lemon juice with white vinegar.

How To Make Chicken Souvlaki

detailed process shots showing how to make chicken souvlaki skewers on the grill
  1. Marinate: Add all the ingredients to a large sealable freezer bag or airtight container. Mix everything together well to coat each piece of chicken. Marinate for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
  2. Prep skewers: Meanwhile, soak the wooden skewers. Place them in a large baking dish or roasting pan and cover them with water by at least 1/2 inch. Soak for 1-2 hours.
  3. Assemble: Preheat your grill over medium-high. Skewer the pieces of chicken, leaving about 1/2″ on the end of each skewer. I got 6 skewers.
  4. Cook: Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until completely cooked through. Transfer the skewers to a plate and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
overhead shot of chicken souvlaki skewers with a couple skewers on a pita bread

How To Make Chicken Souvlaki Without A Grill

Keep in mind that no matter which method you use, make sure to soak those skewers well.

Oven

  1. Preheat the oven to 450F. Place the skewered chicken on a baking sheet lined with a wire rack.
  2. Bake the chicken for 15 minutes, then turn on the broiler. Let the chicken cook for another 1-3 minutes or until browned to your preference.

Grill Pan Or Skillet

  1. Heat a skillet with 1-2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, place a few skewers into the skillet.
  2. Cook for 3 minutes per side, or until the chicken is browned and cooked through.
overhead shot chicken souvlaki skewers with a little tzatziki on a plate

How To Serve Chicken Souvlaki

My favorite way to enjoy this souvlaki is in a pita bread with some freshly chopped red onion, lettuce, tomato, and a dollop of homemade tzatziki sauce. It’s heaven in every bite!

You can also serve your chicken souvlaki with some of these classic sides:

  • Greek Salad
  • Greek Pasta Salad
  • Best Ever Hummus
  • Perfect Thyme Skillet Potatoes
  • Greek Rice

What Is The Difference Between Chicken Souvlaki And Chicken Gyros?

Sometimes they can be confusing but here are the main differences.

  • Chicken gyros are meats that are usually cooked stacked, like a vertical rotisserie. The meat is then sliced up and served inside a warm pita with tomatoes, onions and lots of tzatziki sauce.
  • Souvlaki is marinated meat and grilled on a skewer. It’s also typically served on a skewer but sometimes you’ll see it served on a salad or a warm pita bread.
chicken souvlaki on a pita bread with tzatziki and some greek salad

Storing Leftovers

Transfer leftovers to an airtight container or large sealable freezer bag. You can keep the chicken on the skewers or take it off. It will last 3-4 days stored in the fridge. Reheat using the microwave, or you can use the oven:

  1. Preheat the oven to 250F. Place the chicken in a baking dish and cover with foil.
  2. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.

I’ll be honest here, you don’t even have to reheat these leftovers! You’ll love it chopped up and tossed in with a salad. Or eaten with your bare hands straight from the fridge. I won’t judge if you don’t!

Freezing Souvlaki

If you want to make these ahead of time, it’s best to freeze them raw. Place the skewers in a large freezer bag and spread them in a single layer with the marinade. You may need more than one bag. Freeze them up to 9 months.

Let the chicken fully thaw overnight in the fridge before continuing with the recipe directions and cooking them. Since we’re working with high heat, we want to make sure the chicken is completely thawed so that the middle will cook through.

closeup overhead shot chicken souvlaki skewers with a little tzatziki on a plate

More Delicious Greek Recipes To Try

  • Greek Meatballs
  • Chicken Gyros
  • Beef Brisket Gyros
  • Greek Lamb Burgers
  • Greek Chicken Thighs
  • Pastitsio
  • Greek Seasoning
  • Karydopita
  • Lamb Souvlaki

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closeup overhead shot chicken souvlaki skewers with a little tzatziki on a plate

Chicken Souvlaki

4.57 from 83 votes
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Marinating time: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 17 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 6
Print Pin Rate
Learn how to make your own Chicken Souvlaki from scratch in the comfort of home. With a small list of ingredients and a few basic steps, you're guaranteed a successful meal no matter your culinary prowess. Featuring lots of garlic, oregano, and fresh lemon juice, the Mediterranean will be calling your name.

Ingredients

  • 1½ pounds chicken breast skinless and boneless, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoon lemon juice from 1 lemon
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Marinate: Add all the ingredients to a large sealable freezer bag or airtight container. Mix everything together well to coat each piece of chicken. Marinate for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
  • Prep skewers: Meanwhile, soak the wooden skewers. Place them in a large baking dish or roasting pan and cover them with water by at least 1/2 inch. Soak for 1-2 hours.
  • Assemble: Preheat your grill over medium-high. Skewer the pieces of chicken, leaving about 1/2" on the end of each skewer. I got 6 skewers.
  • Cook: Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until completely cooked through. Transfer the skewers to a plate and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. Transfer leftovers to an airtight container or large sealable freezer bag. You can keep the chicken on the skewers or take it off. It will last 3-4 days stored in the fridge.
  2. If you want to make these ahead of time, it’s best to freeze them raw. Place the skewers in a large freezer bag and spread them in a single layer with the marinade. You may need more than one bag. Freeze them up to 9 months.
  3. Let the chicken fully thaw overnight in the fridge before continuing with the recipe directions and cooking them. Since we’re working with high heat, we want to make sure the chicken is completely thawed so that the middle will cook through.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1skewerCalories: 219kcal (11%)Carbohydrates: 3g (1%)Protein: 24g (48%)Fat: 12g (18%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Cholesterol: 73mg (24%)Sodium: 326mg (14%)Potassium: 458mg (13%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 62IU (1%)Vitamin C: 5mg (6%)Calcium: 37mg (4%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
Course:Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine:Greek
Keyword:chicken recipe, chicken souvlaki
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
  • 606

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. Ann Baker says

    April 18, 2022 at 5:08 pm

    5 stars
    Love the simple ingredients and even an hour marinating time gives the chicken incredible flavor. Served with your tzataiki sauce grilled pita and a simple tossed salad. Lovely refreshing Greek inspired dinner!

    Reply
  2. maryanne says

    April 9, 2022 at 5:19 am

    I am planning to try this recipe this weekend, thanks for sharing! It looks awesome. Question though, if marinating chicken in lemon juice, doesn’t that cook it a little, or is that just fish?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      April 9, 2022 at 8:54 am

      The lemon juice helps tenderize the chicken but if you leave it on for too long it will start to break down the proteins resulting in tough or rubbery chicken.

      Reply
  3. JoBeth says

    April 5, 2022 at 8:57 am

    The photo appears to have a sauce served with the chicken.
    Is there a recipe for the sauce as well?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      April 5, 2022 at 9:13 am

      Yep, it’s the tzatziki sauce, you can find the recipe here: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/homemade-tzatziki-sauce/

      Reply
  4. Aicha says

    April 7, 2021 at 11:52 am

    Hi! Can I cook this on the stove instead of the grill? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      April 7, 2021 at 12:11 pm

      Yes! There are instructions how to do it under “how to make chicken souvlaki without a grill”.

      Reply
  5. Marie says

    March 3, 2021 at 11:41 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe. The family loves it, but there are some who do not like breast. Is it possible to use chicken thighs instead and if so, would I cook them longer in the oven?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      March 3, 2021 at 12:25 pm

      Yes you can use thighs! You are exactly correct. Thighs will take longer to cook!

      Reply
  6. jenny vaginshtein says

    November 13, 2020 at 10:56 am

    5 stars
    A new favorite & so easy!

    Reply
  7. elizabeth straub says

    November 5, 2020 at 12:05 pm

    5 stars
    I am excited to try this recipe. I just LOVE visiting your site!
    I always check it out for a breath of sunshine!

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      November 5, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      Thanks, Elizabeth! I appreciate it. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Joy says

    July 6, 2020 at 12:33 pm

    5 stars
    This is great! I did not put cayenne in the sauce as my bro in law is Greek and that would be taboo. Used non fat plain greek yogurt dried dill. BUT fresh lemon. thank you for your great web site!

    Reply
  9. Djukiyu says

    July 2, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    5 stars
    Made it yesterday for the first time and everyone Loved it!!! This recipe is a keeper. Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply
  10. Juan antonio says

    June 30, 2020 at 1:57 am

    muy buena receta la hare en breve

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      June 30, 2020 at 9:52 am

      Disfrutar 🙂

      Reply

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I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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