Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe
This homemade Greek chicken souvlaki recipe reminds me so much of the dish I had in Greece. Cubed chicken thighs marinated and grilled to juicy perfection, then served with warm pita, olives, and a simple salad. It’s hard to explain, but Greek food is so fresh and simple.
Servings: 4 skewers
Calories: 265kcal
Equipment
- 4-8 skewers metal or wood
- 1 mixing bowl with cover or lid
- 1 poultry sheers
- 2 trays for food transfer
- 1 grill
- 1 metal tongs
Ingredients
Greek Chicken Souvlaki
- 1 - 1.5 lbs chicken thighs Smart Chicken, cubed 1-cubic inch pieces
- avocado oil for lubricating the grill grates
Marinade
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 5 cloves garlic lightly pressed or smashed
- 1 bay leaf left intact, do not break
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Garnish
- parsley chopped small
- lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
How to Make Greek Chicken Souvlaki
Cube the Chicken Thighs
- Cube your chicken thighs into 1-cubic inch sized pieces. This will allow for quick, even cooking.
Marinate the Chicken
- Place the cubed chicken into a nonreactive bowl. Add the olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, lightly pressed whole garlic cloves, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Toss the chicken until it is well coated in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes up to 2 hours.
Prepare the Skewers
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before assembling. This will help prevent them from burning on the gas grill. If using metal skewers you can skip this step.
Skewer the Chicken / Heat the Grill
- Preheat the grill to 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit.Pull the chicken from the refrigerator and let it rest for 10-15 minutes at room temperature before threading the marinated chicken onto the skewers.
Grill the Chicken
- Prepare the grill according to the steps above. Brush the grill grates with avocado oil before adding the skewered chicken. This will prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill.
- Grill for 8-10 minutes total, turning once or twice so the chicken cooks on all sides. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure doneness.
- Transfer the grilled chicken to a platter top with freshly chopped parsley and serve alongside your favorite fixings. Warm pita, mixed olives, tzatziki, or simple salad all work well!
Notes
How to Store
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat chicken in the microwave until warmed through.
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat chicken in the microwave until warmed through.
Nutrition
Serving: 1skewer or about one chicken thigh | Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 318mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 51IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg