All-star chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens. Best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor/outdoor grilling & what to serve along.
Recipe by Suzy Karadsheh on June 11, 2018
Prep time: PT20M
Cook time: PT5M
Total time: PT25M
Rating
5 stars ( reviews)
Keywords
Chicken Souvlaki Recipe
Ingredients
10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp each Kosher salt and black pepper
1/4 cup Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine
Juice of 1 lemon
2 bay leaves
2 1/2 lb organic boneless skinless chicken breast, fat removed, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
Greek pita bread
Tzatziki Sauce (make according to this recipe)
Sliced tomato, cucumber, onions, and Kalamata olives
Greek salad recipe
Roasted Garlic Hummus
Mezze Platter
Watermelon and Cucumber Salad
Categories
Entree
Cuisine
Greek
Steps
Prepare the marinade. In the bowl of a small food processor, add garlic, oregano, rosemary, paprika, salt, pepper, olive oil, white wine, and lemon juice (do NOT add the dried bay leaves yet). Pulse until well combined.
Place chicken in a large bowl and add bay leaves. Top with marinade. Toss to combine, making sure chicken is well-coated with marinade. cover tightly and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight (see note for quicker marinating option.)
Soak 10 to 12 wooden skewers in water for 30 to 45 minutes or so. Prepare Tzatziki sauce and other fixings, and if you’re adding Greek salad or other sides, prepare those as well. (some sides like roasted garlic hummus may take longer, you can prepare those in advance).
When ready, thread marinated chicken pieces through the prepared skewers.
Prepare outdoor grill (or griddle). Brush grates with a little oil and heat over medium-high heat. t. Place chicken skewers on grill (or cook in batches on griddle) until well browned and internal temperature registers 160°F on instant read thermometer (it will continue cooking to 165°F as it rests). Be sure to turn skewers evenly to cook on all sides, about 5 minutes total. (Adjust temperature of grill if necessary). While grilling, brush lightly with the marinade (then discard any left marinade).
Transfer chicken to serving platter and let rest for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, briefly grill pitas and keep warm.
Assemble grilled chicken souvlaki pitas. First, spread Tzatziki sauce on pita, add chicken pieces (take them off skewers first, of course) then add veggies and olives.
Optional: if you want more items to add to your buffet, consider Greek salad, watermelon salad, roasted garlic hummus, or a big Mezze platter.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 skewer
Calories: 168 calories
Carbohydrates: 1.8 g
Protein: 22 g
Fat: 7.7 g
Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 70.5 mg
Sodium: 273.5 mg
Sugar: 0.2 g
Reviews
Amy on 2025-08-01 (5 stars): This is the best souvlaki recipe I have made. My best friend is Greek and they own several restaurants. The flavor compares to her aunt Toula's secret recipe that she will take to her grave...so thank you for that. I am so glad I didn't have to beg her one day on her death bed for that souvlaki recipe!
Catherine on 2025-08-20 (5 stars): I love this recipe and have used it frequently. It always comes out perfect with the right spices and olive oil for a great dish. Marinate overnight for the best flavor and follow the recipe exactly. It is definitely a winner..
SusanL on 2025-08-31 (5 stars): Absolutely delicious!!! I had to do them in the oven. I can only imagine how good they'll be when I can grill them! Do you think these could be made and frozen at the point they've been put on the skewers?
David Gropper on 2025-09-15 (5 stars): This recipe is fantastic. I like citrus so I doubled the amount of lemon in the recipe. The chicken is so tender and tasty. Can I make a large batch of this marinade and freeze some of it?
Lindsey on 2025-12-29 (5 stars): I've been making this recipe for years and recently started adding in plain whole fat Greek yogurt to the marinade. It's phenomenal and super versatile - even my children eat it and they are very picky.
Sarah on 2026-06-19 (5 stars): This recipe is so delicious! I like putting the chicken in the marinade in the morning so it can marinate until dinnertime. Definitely make the tzatziki if you have time--it goes great with the souvlaki! :)
Lynn Dalakas Midis on 2025-09-25 (5 stars): This is absolutely delicious!
Can it be made with B/S chicken thighs? Thank you.
Kate on 2026-02-20 (5 stars): Chicken souvlaki is one of the first recipes I made from The Mediterranean Dish, and it's been in my regular rotation ever since. Restaurant worthy, for sure!
Dianne on 2026-03-09 (5 stars): Made this recipe exactly as shown. Marinated overnight in refrigerator. Baked in the oven at 400 Convection for 15 minutes until the chicken was past 165 degrees (measured with a thermometer).
Outstanding recipe! Served with pita, your recipe for tzatkiki, purple onion, Kalamata olives and sliced Japanese tomatoes.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Will definitely put this on the monthly rotation!
Amy on 2026-03-21 (5 stars): I’m actually interrupting my DELICIOUS meal to leave this review. The chicken came out absolutely PERFECT! I never want to eat chicken any other way AGAIN! Bookmarked! Shred! Amazing!
Have you tried this with steak? I think I might! Thank you!
Alex D on 2026-04-20 (5 stars): I love this recipe! I have made it for family and dinner parties and it’s always a hit!
