Description
Grilled Chicken Souvlaki is a quick, easy, and flavorful Mediterranean dish featuring juicy, tender marinated chicken grilled on skewers with herbs, garlic, and citrus zest. Perfect for casual cookouts or weeknight dinners, it offers a healthy, protein-packed meal that is versatile and appealing to all ages.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1 lb skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Tools
- Wooden skewers (soaked for 30 minutes) or metal skewers
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to create a flavorful marinade that will infuse the chicken with Mediterranean zest.
- Marinate the Chicken: Toss the chicken cubes in the marinade, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for enhanced tenderness and deeper flavor.
- Skewer the Chicken: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto soaked wooden or metal skewers, leaving slight spacing between pieces for even cooking.
- Preheat and Oil the Grill: Heat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking and achieve perfect grill marks.
- Cook the Chicken: Grill the skewers for about 10-12 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes to ensure even cooking and caramelization until the chicken is cooked through and nicely charred.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the grilled chicken to rest for a few minutes to lock in the juices before serving with your favorite sides or wrapped in pita bread.
Notes
- Cut chicken into uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Marinate longer (up to 24 hours) for deeper flavor but avoid over-marinating to prevent mushiness.
- Soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for safety and juiciness.
- Turn skewers frequently to promote even grilling and caramelization.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer (approx. 4 pieces)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg