Description
This authentic Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe offers tender, marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection and served with a refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce. Perfect for a flavorful dinner or casual gathering, the recipe includes easy steps for marinating, grilling, and preparing traditional pita bread alongside crisp vegetables and optional fried potatoes for a complete meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 4 boneless chicken breasts (approx. 1 kg/35 ounces)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 500 grams strained yogurt (18 ounces)
- 1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Pinch of salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Serving and Assembly
- 8 pita breads
- Olive oil for brushing
- 1-2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1 red onion, sliced
- Fried potatoes (optional)
- Romaine (cos) lettuce (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 8-9 wooden skewers
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: Cut the chicken breasts into 2-3 cm pieces and place them in a large bowl. Add olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Mix well using your hands to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
- Make the Tzatziki Sauce: Grate the peeled and seeded cucumber into a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then let it sit for 10 minutes. Wrap the grated cucumber in a clean towel and squeeze to remove excess water. In a blender, combine the olive oil and minced garlic and blend until smooth. In a bowl, mix the cucumber, blended garlic and olive oil, strained yogurt, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Blend until well combined. Refrigerate the tzatziki sauce and serve it cold.
- Prepare the Skewers: Cut the wooden skewers to fit your grill or griddle pan and soak them in water for at least 10 minutes to prevent burning. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers comfortably but without crowding.
- Cook the Chicken Souvlaki: Preheat a grill or griddle pan over high heat. Cook the skewers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is nicely browned on all sides and cooked through.
- Warm the Pita Breads: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Celsius. Brush both sides of the pita breads with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and dried oregano. Place a large oven tray upside down at the bottom of the oven and lay the pita breads on top. Bake for 2 minutes until warm. Alternatively, warm them on a griddle pan or grill.
- Serve: Arrange sliced red onions on a platter, place the cooked chicken souvlaki skewers on top, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve warm with pita breads and tzatziki sauce. For wraps, spread tzatziki on the pita breads, add chicken souvlaki, sliced onions, tomato slices, fried potatoes, and lettuce if desired. Wrap and enjoy.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers in water before grilling prevents them from burning.
- Peeled and seeded cucumbers reduce excess water in tzatziki for a thicker sauce.
- Marinating chicken for at least 30 minutes ensures tender and flavorful meat.
- Use a hot grill or griddle pan for optimal searing and cooking time.
- Warm pita breads briefly in a hot oven or on a griddle for best texture.
- Optional additions like fried potatoes and romaine lettuce add texture and flavor to wraps.
- Store leftover tzatziki in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 191 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 8.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5.6 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 23.3 g
- Cholesterol: 72 mg
