Authentic Greek Chicken Souvlaki

Authentic Greek Chicken Souvlaki is a beloved road meals from Greece, made with juicy marinated hen grilled on skewers. Infused with the brilliant flavors of lemon, garlic, and oregano, this dish is often served with heat pita bread, creamy tzatziki, and contemporary greens. It’s wholesome, flavorful, and ideal for grilling season or a simple weeknight dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Extremely Flavorful: The marinade of lemon juice, garlic, and oregano brings out daring, zesty Mediterranean flavors.
Wholesome and Lean: Made with lean hen breast or thighs and paired with healthful sides.
Excellent for Grilling: Fast-cooking and splendid for outside barbecues.
Nice for Meal Prep: Simple to organize forward and revel in all through the week.
Versatile: Get pleasure from it in pita wraps, over salad, or alongside rice and roasted greens.

Components

(Tip: You’ll discover the complete checklist of elements and measurements within the recipe card under.)

For the Chicken & Marinade:

Boneless, skinless hen breasts or thighs
Olive oil
Recent lemon juice
Garlic cloves, minced
Dried oregano
Salt
Floor black pepper

For Serving:

Pita bread
Tzatziki sauce
Sliced purple onions
Diced tomatoes
Recent lettuce or arugula
Lemon wedges

Instructions

Make the Marinade: In a big bowl, whisk collectively olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Marinate the Chicken: Reduce the hen into 1.5-inch cubes and add to the marinade. Cowl and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour, or ideally in a single day for greatest taste.
Assemble Skewers: If utilizing picket skewers, soak them in water for half-hour. Thread the marinated hen onto skewers.
Grill the Chicken: Preheat your grill to medium-high warmth. Grill the hen skewers for 10–quarter-hour, turning often, till properly charred and cooked by way of.
Heat the Pita: Whereas grilling, heat your pita bread briefly on the grill or in a dry skillet.
Assemble and Serve: Serve hen souvlaki in heat pita with tzatziki, onion, tomato, greens, and a squeeze of lemon.

Servings and Timing

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: quarter-hour
Marinating Time: 1 hour or in a single day
Prepare dinner Time: quarter-hour
Complete Time: 1 hour half-hour

Variations

Spicy Souvlaki: Add crushed purple pepper or chili flakes to the marinade.
Vegetarian Model: Swap hen for grilled halloumi or marinated tofu cubes.
Herb Increase: Add chopped contemporary rosemary, thyme, or parsley to the marinade for extra natural depth.
Oven Roasted: Roast skewers at 425°F for 20–25 minutes if grilling isn’t an possibility.

Storage/Reheating

Storage: Retailer leftover cooked hen in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium warmth or within the microwave till warmed by way of.
Freezing: Freeze uncooked marinated hen for as much as 2 months. Thaw within the fridge earlier than cooking.

FAQs

Can I take advantage of hen thighs as a substitute of breasts?

Sure, thighs are extra tender and flavorful and work superbly on this recipe.

How lengthy ought to I marinate the hen?

No less than 1 hour, however in a single day is greatest for max taste absorption.

Can I prepare dinner souvlaki within the oven?

Sure. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20–25 minutes, flipping midway by way of.

What’s the easiest way to serve souvlaki?

In a pita wrap, over a Greek salad, or with lemon rice and grilled veggies.

What’s souvlaki historically served with?

Tzatziki, pita, purple onions, tomatoes, and generally fries or a Greek salad.

Is that this recipe gluten-free?

Sure, the hen is gluten-free. Simply use gluten-free pita or serve with out bread.

Can I put together the skewers upfront?

Sure, prep the evening earlier than and grill when able to serve.

What’s the distinction between gyro and souvlaki?

Souvlaki is grilled meat on skewers; gyro is often shaved meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie.

Can I make this with out skewers?

Completely. Grill the hen items immediately or prepare dinner them in a pan.

Is it okay to freeze cooked souvlaki?

Sure, freeze in parts and reheat for fast meals.

Conclusion

Authentic Greek Chicken Souvlaki is a straightforward but flavor-packed dish that brings Mediterranean aptitude to your desk. With minimal elements and straightforward prep, it’s an ideal go-to for weeknight dinners, weekend grilling, or meal prep. Serve it with contemporary sides and a drizzle of tzatziki for a very satisfying and wholesome meal.

Description

Tender, juicy chunks of hen marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs—this Authentic Greek Chicken Souvlaki is filled with daring Mediterranean taste. Threaded onto skewers and grilled to perfection, it’s a scrumptious dish that may be served in pita wraps, over rice, or alongside a traditional Greek salad.

For Serving (non-compulsory):

Marinate the Chicken:
In a big bowl or zip-top bag, mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add hen cubes and toss to coat. Cowl and marinate within the fridge for a minimum of half-hour (or as much as 4 hours for deeper taste).
Prep the Skewers:
If utilizing picket skewers, soak them in water for half-hour to stop burning. Thread marinated hen onto skewers.
Grill the Souvlaki:
Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high warmth. Grill hen skewers for 10–12 minutes, turning each couple of minutes, till cooked by way of and barely charred on the perimeters.
Serve:
Serve sizzling with pita, tzatziki, and your favourite Greek sides, or over a mattress of rice with a squeeze of contemporary lemon.

Notes

Thighs keep further juicy, however breasts work nice too!
You may as well bake these within the oven at 425°F for 20–25 minutes or prepare dinner in a stovetop grill pan.
Add chunks of bell pepper or purple onion to the skewers for further shade and taste.