Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

Prep 6 hrs
Cook 15 mins
Total 6 hrs 15 mins
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This healthy Chicken Souvlaki recipe is classic Greek street food. The marinated chicken is packed with flavor and will bring the taste of Greece right into your kitchen.

Looking for more Greek recipes? Try my homemade greek seasoning or tzatziki sauce.

AN EASY CHICKEN SOUVLAKI RECIPE

Chicken Souvlaki is a Greek classic that takes marinated, grilled meat to the next level. You can also customize it and add in vegetables if you’d like. It is one of the easiest meals you can make, and if it isn’t easy enough, you can even prep it ahead of time. This Chicken Souvlaki recipe is low carb, gluten free, keto and paleo compliant, making this Greek favorite a meal just about anyone will love.

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When I moved to Florida from Texas I was in culture shock. I left behind all my beloved Mexican, Tex-Mex and Texas BBQ restaurants. I was devastated. As I was learning just how different FL is from TX, I discovered some new favorites that happened to be just as amazing. I learned that my community has large Cuban and Greek influences. The Cuban part, I totally get, but Greek surprised me. I really wasn’t expecting to find amazing Greek cuisine in FL, but I’m sure glad I did!

Top view of wood skewers with cooked chicken souvlaki on a wooden tray next to dipping sauce and herbs.

WHAT IS GREEK SOUVLAKI?

Chicken Souvlaki is a Greek street food type dish made with chicken marinated in traditional Mediterranean flavors. The word “souvlaki” simply means “meat on skewers.” The chicken is threaded onto skewers and grilled. Sometimes you’ll see vegetables added onto the skewers and grilled along with the chicken.

Chicken Souvlaki is considered a street food, or fast food and it is usually one part of a meal served along with sides. You can eat souvlaki right off of the skewer, serve it along side other sides, serve it on top of a Greek Salad or just it to make Chicken Gyros.

Wondering what is the difference between a gyro and souvlaki? Like souvlaki, gyros are popular Greek street food. Both are made with meat, but the meat is prepared differently. Souvlaki is made with small pieces of grilled meat, while gyros are made with slices of meat that are shaved off a vertical rotisserie. You can learn more about the difference between these two popular street foods here.

Raw chicken breasts in a glass tupperware

SOUVLAKI RECIPE INGREDIENTS

Simple ingredients come together to make this authentic Chicken Souvlaki. You likely have most of these ingredients already. The acidity from the lemon helps tenderize the chicken, while it marinates, along with the Greek seasoning that gives this dish the flavor it is known for.

Here’s what you’ll need to make chicken souvlaki at home:

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thigh meat), cut into bite size pieces
  • Olive oil
  • White wine vinegar
  • Garlic cloves
  • Greek seasoning
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Salt & Pepper

Top view of a ziploc bag with raw chicken breasts and spices

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN SOUVLAKI

Making Chicken Souvlaki is very simple. The hardest part is waiting for the chicken to marinate! This is an important step, so don’t think you can skip it. When you marinate the chicken, you are getting all the yummy flavors that make this meal unique!

Here’s how to make homemade chicken souvlaki:

  1. Make the souvlaki marinade: Combine all the ingredients, except for the chicken, in a ziplock bag and shake the bag to mix everything well.
  2. Marinade the chicken: Add the chicken and shake to ensure the marinade is covering the chicken. Allow the chicken to marinate in this mixture in the refrigerator overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
  3. Thread the skewers & grill: Remove the chicken from the marinade. Thread the thicken onto the skewers and grill until it is thoroughly cooked. The chicken can be grilled outdoors or on a stove top with a grill pan.

That’s it! You can serve chicken souvlaki with tzatziki sauce for dipping, as a topping for Greek salad, in a pita for gyros, or as is with traditional Greek sides or roasted vegetables.

Stacks of wood skewers with pieces of marinated raw chicken breasts on them.

CAN SOUVLAKI BE MADE AHEAD?

Yes! You can leave the chicken in the marinade for up to 24 hours in the fridge. You can also prepare and cook it fully and reheat it for easy dinners later. I prefer reheating it in a pan on the stove, but it can always be microwaved too. It is best served fresh off the grill, but it’s still delicious reheated.

CAN I FREEZE THIS?

You can prep the chicken ahead of time and place it in a freezer friendly ziplock bag with the marinade and freeze it for easy meal prep later. When you are ready to make the Chicken Souvlaki, pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. By doing this, you are also marinating the chicken as it thaws. All you have to do the next day is cook it!

Stack of wooden skewers with cooked chicken souvlaki next to a bowl of dipping sauce

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SOUVLAKI

Chicken Souvlaki can be served in a number of ways. My personal favorite is to use it in a Gyro with some delicious Tzatziki sauce! I like to warm up some pita bread, top it with the Chicken Souvlaki and add a generous dollop or two of fresh Tzatziki.

If you are looking for something to go with your Chicken Souvlaki and make it more of a meal, consider serving it with a traditional Greek salad. No matter how you serve this Chicken Souvlaki, everyone will love it!

HOW TO STORE & REHEAT LEFTOVERS

If you happen to have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container, refrigerated for up to five days. I prefer to remove the chicken from the skewers because it’s easier to store that way. You’ll also want to keep the chicken separate from any toppings or tzatziki sauce.

When you are ready to enjoy your Chicken Souvlaki again, warm the chicken on the stove top or in the microwave and then add on your favorite toppings!

Chicken souvlaki with tomatoes, lettuce and tzatziki sauce on a stack of warm pita bread

I have been making this souvlaki recipe for almost 15 years. It’s been tested time and time again and is simply perfect as it is. You really can’t beat the fresh Greek flavors all melding together with the chicken to create one of my favorite healthy chicken recipes!

Give this recipe a try and leave a rating or comment below to let me know what you think!

Yield: 4

Chicken Souvlaki

Stack of wooden skewers with cooked chicken souvlaki next to a bowl of dipping sauce

This simple and healthy Chicken Souvlaki is classic Greek street food. The marinated chicken is packed with flavor and will bring the taste of Greece right to your kitchen.

Prep Time 6 hours
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, in bite size pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons Greek Seasoning
  • 1 large lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a ziplock bag and shake well to mix.
  2. Add chicken and shake to ensure the marinade is covering chicken. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
  3. Remove chicken from marinade, and toss leftover marinade. Thread chicken onto skewers and grill until cooked thoroughly on an outdoor grill or on the stove top with grill pan. Serve warm!
  4. Serve with Tzatziki sauce for dipping, as a topping for Greek salad, in pita for chicken gyros or wiht Greek sides or roasted vegetables.

Notes

To Freeze: Prep the chicken in marinade and place it in a freezer friendly ziplock bag (with the marinade) and freeze it for easy meal prep later. When you are ready to make the Chicken Souvlaki, pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. By doing this, you are also marinating the chicken as it thaws. Cook according to above directions once thawed.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 261Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 3768mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 36g

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Comments

56 Responses
  1. Lorraine

    Followed the recipe exactly but grilled the chicken breasts and sliced them. Tossed a salad and the dinner was complete and so delicious!!!!!

  2. Nick Ryder

    Thank you so much, this marinade is amazing. Very rich and full of the flavors I love. I’m going to make it in batches in the future and use it weekly. Definitely a new family favorite.

  3. Dana

    So amazing. I didn’t have fresh lemon so I did use lemon juice. I also doubled the recipe since I had 2 pounds of chicken breasts. The chicken came out tender, juicy and so flavorful. Everyone in my family loved it. Will most certainly make again and again.

  4. Cynthia Sanchez

    I’m looking for it I am so looking forward to making this recipe and I also wanted to bake some or make bread do you happen to have that recipe also I want to go all out and have a dinner party with some really nice Greek food could you tell me a good wine to have with it also

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      Hi Cynthia, what kind of bread recipe are you looking for? Happy to help if I can!

      As for a wine, that is super personal, but we love Malagousia! It’s a great Greek white wine that would go well with Chicken Souvlaki!

        1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
          Jessica

          Hi Carmen! Since the chicken is cut in bite size pieces, it can bake in the oven at 400°F for about 18 to 20 minutes, until cooked through and an internal temp reaches 165°F. If you want it blackened a little, like on the grill, you can also turn on the broiler at the end for a few minutes. Hope this helps!

  5. Steve Arbuckle

    This recipe is awesome! It’s better than most of the chicken souvlaki you get from the restaurants. I didn’t have the white wine vinegar, so I use rice vinegar instead and it turned out fantastic. The chicken marinaded for only 2-3 hours because I started the preparation late but it still turned out great. Thank you for the best recipe ever.

  6. Maggie Nikitas

    Oh my goodness! I’ve been making chicken shish kebab forever as I am Greek! I was having a very hard time making sure that the meat is tender, moist and flavorful and this recipe is not 10 out of 10 it’s 100 out of 100!!! Delicious, easy and accurate with all the details! I have found and will keep this recipe in my repertoire for chicken shish kebab.

  7. Carol

    Your body needs salt but use a good pink Himalyan salt instead of the processed table salt. It’s sugar that is your body’s enemy.

  8. Marge

    We felt that the chicken was much too salty but otherwise good. Made the sauce also and it was good. (I only used 1 & 1/2 Tbs seasoning in the marinade and feel like that was too much)

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      The nutrition calculations are done automatically by a calculator, so honestly, no, I also think it’s very high. I recommend calculating your nutrition yourself with the ingredients you use so it’s much more accurate. I have the nutrition on just to give you a general idea.

  9. Erin D.

    I’m a firefighter and I’m always looking for easy recipes that I can prep ahead of time, without feeding the guys the firehouse go to of spaghetti. This recipe IS AMAZING. No one left a scrap on their plate. Thanks so much for sharing!

  10. Terri

    So this confused me. The Greek seasoning recipe says 1 Tbl per pound of meet but the recipe calls for 3. Is this right.?

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      Hi Terri! Yes, the general rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon per pound of meat. However, for this particular recipe, I do use 3 tablespoons!

  11. JoAnne

    This was a huge hit! Considering we just got a big snowstorm, I cooked it on a pan inside and it turned out great! I also used the recipes for Greek seasoning and Tzatziki sauce! Everyone loved every bite!

  12. Victoria

    This is a great recipe thanks, I made my own dip, seasoning and Greek salad. Will be in the dinner rotation. Thank you

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      Yes! Place the threaded chicken skewers in the air fryer basket, and cook for 8 minutes on 375°F, until chicken is cooked through and an internal temp of 165°F is reached! Hope this helps!

  13. Brianne

    This is one of my family’s new favorite dishes. We make it weekly and I share it with anyone looking for a great dish. I don’t bother with kabobs but just grill the chicken beasts. It’s great for leftovers as well!

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Welcome!

Jessica
I'm a trial & error, self taught, sugar addict who thankfully learned how to survive in the kitchen! I am also a wife, mama of 3.
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