• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peter's Food Adventures
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Travel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • recipes
  • about
  • travel
  • Follow and Share!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • recipes
    • about
    • travel
  • Follow and Share!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Grilled

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki

    Author: Peter Kolesnichenko · Published: Mar 29, 2022

    Jump to Recipe

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki is tender and juicy, easy to make and full of flavor. These marinated chicken kabobs are seasoned with Greek Oregano, garlic and lemon juice. So simple, everyone will be asking for more meat skewers! Instructions for charcoal bbq or indoor griddle/gas grill with bbq video tutorial.

    chicken souvlaki skewers on pita bread
    ingredients chicken souvlaki
    uncooked chicken skewers

    What is Souvlaki?

    Souvlaki is marinated cubes of meat, (and sometimes vegetables) skewered and then grilled. It's like an easy fast food, eaten hot and usually right off the skewer. Originating in Greece, around Athens they are known as Kalamaki. Meat kabob skewers are popular in many cultures, from Lamb Shashlik, Japanese Yakitori to Mediterranean Pork Kabobs. It seems like every culture loves grilled meats!

    What types of Meats are Used in Souvlaki?

    This is a Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe, but the meats can be interchangeable. Use your favorite meats like;

    • Pork
    • Beef
    • Lamb
    • Chicken

    Chicken Souvlaki Seasoning

    The secret to delicious tasting Souvlaki seasoning is using Greek Oregano. That is all. You don't need fancy Greek seasonings which aren't really Greek at all, but just clever marketing. Greek Oregano is savory and earthy, and isn't as mild as Italian Oregano. To keep this recipe authentic, find real Greek Oregano, seasoned with salt and pepper. Too easy!

    Souvlaki Marinade

    You only need a few ingredients to make your tasty Souvlaki marinade. Most of these items, you already probably have in your pantry.

    • ⅓ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 4 large cloves minced garlic
    • 2 tablespoons Greek Oregano
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • Ziploc Bag

    How long do you marinate Chicken Souvlaki?

    For best flavor, marinate the Chicken Souvlaki overnight in the fridge. Place the cubed chicken and souvlaki marinade in a Ziploc, shake to coat and that's it! If you are in a hurry, marinate the chicken pieces for 4-5 hours before skewering.

    chicken souvlaki marinating in ziploc bag
    grilling chicken skewers

    Metal or Wooden Skewers?

    I think it's always best to use metal skewers when grilling meat kebobs. Metal skewers don't burn, are easy to wash and are re-usable and must be used for Charcoal grilling. Wooden skewers tend to burn, because the are made from wood, but are used with grilling indoors or on the gas bbq. Here are some tips if using wooden skewers.

    • Use bamboo skewers instead of wood, the thicker the better
    • Soak skewers submerged in water overnight before using
    • Cover as much of the skewer with meat, so tips don't burn

    How to Grill Souvlaki

    The best tasting Souvlaki is cooked over hot charcoals, just like Shashlik. However, it's common to grill Souvlaki on a bbq or an indoor griddle.

    Hot Charcoal Method

    1. Prepare your charcoal fire in a chimney starter. PRO TIP: Don't tip into the base of your bbq until all the charcoals are white. This will take around 15-20 minutes.
    2. Don't evenly spread the charcoals over the base of your bbq. The chicken Souvlaki needs space to cook over Direct Heat and then Indirect Heat so they don't burn.
    3. Place the METAL skewers over the direct heat, and flip them over as they cook. Depending on the heat of the charcoal, it can take a few minutes per side. Keep an eye so it doesn't burn, it happens very fast!
    4. Chicken breast is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 160°F/70°C

    Gas Bbq or Indoor Griddle Method

    1. Heat the bbq or griddle on medium-high heat. Using cooking spray, apply on the griddle or bbq grill.
    2. Place the chicken skewers on the grill and cook until browned, flip and repeat. This will take about 2-3 minutes per side.
    3. Chicken breast is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 160°F/70°C

    Sauce for Greek Souvlaki

    Nobody like eating dry Souvlaki, and I am obsessed with sauces. It's so easy to make homemade sauces for Greek Chicken Souvlaki, you don't need to buy them. My 2 favorite sauces that I eat with all Greek food is Tzatziki Sauce and Yogurt Garlic Sauce that tastes amazing with kebabs.

    chicken skewers on pita bread with lemon

    What to Serve with Greek Souvlaki?

    This Souvlaki recipe makes around 10 metal skewers or 12 bamboo skewers (because they are shorter). Usually Souvlaki is served with Pita Bread wit sliced tomatoes, onion and sauce. Like a quick easy street food, but that's not the only way to enjoy Souvlaki.

    We eat this as part of a Greek Meze feast. Meze means 'small dishes' like appetizers enjoyed across the Mediterranean and the Balkans. We make many Greek and Mediterranean Meze dishes to enjoy, including grilled souvlaki.

    • Tzatziki Sauce
    • Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
    • Fried Saganaki
    • Grilled Octopus
    • Taramasalata
    • Greek Eggplant Dip
    • Spanakopita (Spinach Triangles)
    • Yogurt Garlic Sauce
    • Kalamata Olives
    • Ouzo
    • Honey Roasted Figs for dessert

    Follow along the video to make Greek Chicken Souvlaki, perfect for your Greek Meze feast! A tasty summer summer Mediterranean bbq recipe that will WOW your guests! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

    chicken souvlaki on pita bread

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki is tender and juicy, easy to make and full of flavor. These marinated chicken kabobs are seasoned with Greek Oregano, garlic and lemon juice. So simple, everyone will be asking for more meat skewers! Instructions for charcoal bbq or indoor griddle/gas grill with video tutorial.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Marinade Time: 12 hours
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
    Keyword: chicken kabobs, chicken skewers, Greek Chicken Souvlaki
    Servings: 4 people

    Equipment

    • 12 Skewers wooden or metal

    Ingredients

    Chicken

    • 2 lbs /1 kg chicken breast boneless and skinless

    Souvlaki Marinade

    • ½ cup oil
    • ¼ cup lemon juice juice of 2 lemons
    • 5 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 tablespoons Greek oregano
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper

    Instructions

    Chicken

    • Cut the chicken into cubes into 1-½ inch cubes.

    Souvlaki Marinade

    • Place the chicken into a Ziploc bag, add the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Greek oregano, salt and pepper and shake until coated. Refrigerate overnight.

    Grilling Chicken Souvlaki

    • If using wooden skewers, submerge them in water and soak overnight. If in a hurry, soak for a minimum of 1 hour.
    • Thread the marinated chicken pieces through the skewers.
    • Prepare the outdoor charcoal grilll, griddle or bbq on medium high heat. Spray the bbq/griddle with oil. Place skewers on grill, cook and flip until the internal temperature is at 160°F/71°C (using an instant-read thermometer).
    • Remove from grill and serve with Pita bread and Meze appetizer sides.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @petersfoodadventures or tag #petersfoodadventures!

    ©PetersFoodAdventures.com

    chicken souvlaki pinterest pin
    grilled souvlaki on pita bread

    More Grilled

    • Pork Kabobs
    • grilled snapper with mango on a plate with palm trees in the background
      Grilled Red Snapper
    • Truffle recipes don't have to be scary! Truffle Grilled Cheese sandwiches are delicious and perfectly paired with black truffles. A nutty, earthy flavor melted through the cheese. A fancy way to enjoy lunch after a truffle hunt!
      Truffle Grilled Cheese - Truffle Hunt
    • Grilled King Prawns generously slathered in garlic butter, grilled to perfection! Butterflied Shrimp on the half shell is the perfect summer bbq feast!
      Grilled King Prawns

    Primary Sidebar

    Peter's Food Adventures - where you'll find Russian recipes, Slavic and International favorites with some fun travel and cooking videos. A Russian Food Blogger.

    Hi, I'm Peter!

    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to create tasty meals for your family!

    Food is the ingredient that brings people together. I love authentic foods, and have a very multicultural food background. I am genuinely happy to share the recipes of foods that make me and my family happy. And hopefully yours too. 

    Learn more about me →

    As Featured On

    As Featured On various magazine brands

    Popular Recipes

    • A Hungarian classic summer dish - paprika peppers with with ground beef, rice and paprika spice. Cooked in a delicious tomato passata sauce. Summer comfort food - Hungarian Stuffed Peppers (töltött paprika)
      Hungarian Stuffed Peppers (töltött paprika)
    • Greek Meze Plates
    • pineapple fried rice served inside pineapples
      Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
    • black caviar on a plate served with blinis
      How to Eat Caviar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Intellectual Property

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Peter's Food Adventures

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    110 shares
    • 8