Chicken Souvlaki with fresh Greek Salad. Talk about incredible Mediterranean flavors and textures. This is one of my favorite go-to recipes and there has not been a time that no one has not thoroughly enjoyed these skewers of moist tender super flavored chicken. Add in that wonderful char and these are a hit!
Song of the day: "Can't Get Better Than This" by Parachute Youth.
[This post was first published on April 10, 2015]
Chicken Souvlaki with fresh Greek Salad. A skewer worth its weight in gold
There is one thing about kebabs or skewers, whichever way you want to call them, that have people wanting them. I know when they are on the grill at our house neighbors for blocks are reveling in the aroma of that lovely marinated chicken. The oregano, garlic, and many other spices offer a symphony to the taste buds however when you bite in have a napkin ready because the juices will run!
My first big fat Greek experience
One of the things about Greek food is its fresh, tasteful and subtle spices. I love the whole Greek experience. The first time I ever stepped foot into a Greek restaurant was when I was in my teens and I was playing in a band, I was the drummer, still a huge passion of mine. We had a gig at a local restaurant called Cosmo's.
The food smelled amazing, atmosphere electric as belly dancers moved about. Then plates started flying and people smashing them to the floor.
My thoughts were this place is crazy and the owner is going to be mad because people were getting out of hand, however, the owner came to me and gave me a few plates and said OPA!!! "smash it" so I did, and we danced arm in arm around the restaurant. Truly an experience to remember and one that I cherish to this day! Consequently, there is something cathartic about breaking those plates and you know what they say "when in Greece, do as the Greeks do"!
This brings us to the inspiration for this Chicken Souvlaki with fresh Greek Salad
Totally inspired by the culture, Nicoletta, and my trip to Greece and the love of cultural food, I am ready to cook some good eats with you. Let's get started.
Time to gather all the ingredients
- Skinless, boneless chicken thighs
- garlic
- olive oil
- lemon
- balsamic vinegar
- white wine
- dried oregano and rosemary
- goat feta
- salt, pepper
Bonus recipes: Tzatziki and Greek salad
- sour cream
- lemons
- garlic
- fresh dill
- purple onion
- salt
- mixed grape tomatoes
- cucumbers
- green peppers
- dried oregano
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- goat feta cheese
It's all in the prep
Dishes like these are so much easier when the prep is done ahead of time. With that said:
- Firstly we mix up the seasonings for the chicken. Get it all mixed in and then into the fridge to build some crazy flavor.
- Secondly, dice up veggies for the salad mix and do not dress until just before serving.
- Thirdly, have to make up the sauce, so, finely chopped peeled cucumbers go into some organic Greek yogurt along with the minced purple onion and garlic.
- Furthermore, add a squirting of lemon juice, fresh dill, salt, and pepper.
After our prep is done, now time to skewer up this chicken. I soak the skewers in warm water for about an hour or two. This prevents them from burning. I put 6 pieces of chicken per skewer and if I have leftover, some skewers get blessed with more for those hearty eaters in your family.
Let's recap what we have done so far
To summarize: marinated the chicken, chopped up veggies for the salad, mixed up Tzaziki, skewered the chicken. Now time for the finishing touches.
Time to grill the skewers
Onto the barbecue, the chicken goes. Afterward, while that is cooking and in between turning them, we dress the salad with oregano, feta, olive oil, balsamic, salt, and pepper. The Tzaziki gets another stir and taste for seasoning and the chicken is almost done. Wow, I can smell the aroma of those seasoned kebabs charring on the grill. I am so hungry!
One final thing to do
Subsequently, to finish the chicken souvlaki, a drizzle of e.v.o oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon just. Then end result: fresh, full-bodied, moist, tender flavor of texture that will have your taste buds buzzing!
Rustic and family-style is the way to go
How to plate this dish was easy. I had this beautiful slate in mind and to place everything on that so anyone could get a pita and fill it up right at the table. What do you think, beautiful?
What does Souvlaki really mean
Souvlaki means on a stick. There are many kinds of Souvlaki like beef, pork, lamb, shrimp, but the one I love, chicken. Why did I use chicken thighs, well, because they stay moister and are very juicy if cooked right, however, if you want to use chicken breast, that is fine too. Just watch the temperature in the middle, 165° F is where you want to be!
Final thoughts on this Chicken Souvlaki with fresh Greek Salad
The chicken is marinated overnight in a range of spices and feta. As a result, you will love the richness of the olive oil and fresh garlic, infused with dried oregano.
A slight backdrop of lemon and drizzle of balsamic vinegar and white wine give this dish that little acidic bite, accompanied by the creamy goodness of the melted feta, and sprinkled with the peppery flavor of parsley. Moreover, when you barbecue these kebabs, the juices of the chicken caramelize with the herbs and acidity making for little morsels of crispy charred goodness, and of course, the smell of that grill melding all those flavors, unbelievable.
In conclusion, I serve this dish with a Greek salad and tzatziki. This is a classic dish great for the BBQ season, party, or for a fun family Greek night. I made them for a party I catered and well, there was not a skewer to be found, all gobbled up. Likewise, I am sure that is what will happen in your experience!
Enjoy!
PrintChicken Souvlaki with fresh Greek Salad
Chicken Souvlaki with fresh Greek Salad. There is one thing about kebabs or skewers, whichever way you want to call them, that have people wanting them. I know when they are on the grill at our house neighbors for blocks are reveling in the aroma of that lovely marinated chicken. The oregano, garlic, and many other spices offer a symphony to the tastebuds, however, when you bite in, have a napkin ready because the juices will run!
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 people 1x
Ingredients
The chicken:
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (you can use the breast too, but I like the juiciness of the thighs)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano (try to go to either a European store or if you have a Greek market get it there, it's more aromatic)
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2-3 sprigs parsley, chopped
- ½ cup crumbled goat feta cheese
- 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
- ⅛ cup white wine
- pinch of red chili flakes
- salt
- pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For the Greek Salad:
- 1 cup mixed grape tomatoes, halved
- 3 small cucumbers, peeled and diced
- ¼ red onion diced
- ½ green pepper diced
- 3 tablespoons goat feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- salt
- pepper
Tzatziki:
- 3 tablespoons Greek plain yogurt
- 2 small cucumbers, peeled and minced
- ⅛ red onion, minced
- ½ clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped dill
- ½ lemon, juiced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Souvlaki
- Cut chicken into cubes roughly 1-inch square or 2.54 centimeters square. Place into a large bowl.
- Drizzle olive oil, white wine, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice on to the chicken.
- Sprinkle minced garlic, dried oregano, rosemary, chili flakes, salt, pepper, paprika, fresh parsley.
- Crumble feta cheese into the mixture.
- Massage all the ingredients together mixing well.
- Cover and place into the fridge (best to marinate the night before, this allows the flavors to build).
- Take wood skewers and soak in warm water at least an hour before cooking.
Cooking:
- Take Souvlaki out of the fridge.
- Drain skewers.
- Place chicken on skewers, usually 6-8 pieces per skewer.
- Put skewers on a baking dish.
- Drizzle remaining marinade over chicken.
- Preheat BBQ to about 400° F (200° C).
- Clean grill and oil with some olive oil using a brush or even paper towel.
- Place chicken on the grill and turn the grill down a bit.
- Grill till chicken is cooked, around 165 °F, 15 minutes turning frequently.
- Take off grill and let sit for a few minutes.
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil.
For the Greek Salad:
- Dice tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and green pepper. Place into a salad bowl.
- Drizzle olive oil, balsamic vinegar.
- Toss in dried oregano, crumble Feta, salt and pepper.
- Remember, when salting and peppering use a little and taste, then you can add more. Easier than it being too salty, very hard to compensate.
- Mix well with your hands or you can use a utensil (I prefer my hands just using that love to mix the salad).
- Cover and put in the fridge just for the duration of the Souvlaki cooking time.
Tzatziki:
- In a bowl blend yogurt, cucumber, garlic, purple onion, lemon juice, fresh dill, salt, and pepper. Whisk and taste. Season some more if necessary.
Plating:
- Get a wood chopping board or if you have a slate like I have used, that's fantastic. Place skewers, salad, and Tzatziki on board or slate and serve with warm small pitas.
- Ready to serve!
Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don't want the acidity and bad breath from the garlic, remove the central stem.
- You can use whatever protein you want, even shrimp works too.
- When grilling, use indirect heat on the BBq. As a result, they won't burn and will cook beautifully!
- You can marinate the meat overnight. This will give you maximum flavor and tenderness.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main, Meat
- Method: grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Keywords: Souvlaki, chicken thighs, oregano, Greek food, lemon, tomatoes, cucumber, tzatziki, olive oil, chili flakes
When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.
Ben says
That is the best chicken recipe I've seen in a while. I love trying new recipes, and I think this is going to be first on my list.
★★★★★
Thank you so much Ben. The flavors are amazing. You are really going to enjoy this. Let me know how you make out and don't hesitate to ask a question if need be!
Happy cooking!
Cheers!
Loreto
Chef Dennis says
My wife will totally enjoy having this Chicken Souvlaki with fresh Greek Salad. This looks definitely delicious and perfect for a family gathering.
★★★★★
I am grateful that this souvlaki is making an impression. It is a go to for our family and always disappears so quickly! I can't wait to hear how your wife reacts to this recipe. Most of all enjoy cooking!
Cheers!
Loreto
Danielle says
I can't wait for the grilling season. I have already saved so many recipes I want to try as soon as I get my grill out, and this souvlaki recipe is one of them. It looks too good to miss it and pair so well with a fresh salad!
★★★★★
Thank you Danielle, Winter seems so long and when we start to see the signs of spring we get that feeling and memory of cooking out doors, sunshine, and the aroma of that grill nice and hot with these souvlaki cooking to perfection. Can't wait for you to try these and that salad along side the Tzatziki. I am so craving this again!
Happy grilling!
Denise says
This chicken souvlaki is mouthwatering just looking at the photos! I can't wait to try it when grilling season starts! Saving this recipe.
★★★★★
Thank you! I am feeling really good. This Greek meal has been a real success! I think once the weather warms, there will be a lot of grilling going on!
Happy cooking!
Kelly Anthony says
I also love the smell of someone grilling out especially when it has a yummy marinade like this. I can smell these chicken souvlaki cooking now and I'm excited to fire up the grill.
★★★★★
That a girl Kelly! it is almost spring and why not start a little early. These skewers are definitely worth it! The flavors and textures are amazing!
Cheers!
Julia Osgood says
I love the combinations of ingredients in this recipe and, with your pictures, I can almost smell the chicken on the grill. I’ll definitely try this recipe.
★★★★★
Thank you Julia! I can't wait for you to get this on the grill. You may have a few neighbors peeking over the fence!
Happy Grilling!
Cheers!
Tammy says
Love souvlaki! Such a delicious meal and that fresh salad is a perfect!
★★★★★
Thanks Tammy. I love that the souvlaki are so easy to eat and even better when you launch those moist tender all flavored up chicken morsels into a warm pita with the salad and Tzatziki!
Thanks for checking these out!
Happy cooking!
Veronika says
This recipe looks so delicious and healthy, my mouth is watering now! Want to try to make it next week, saving the recipe!
★★★★★
Thank you Veronika, so happy you are going to try this recipe. I t will be a hit because of the incredible flavors and tastiness of the dish. Let me know how you made out or if you have any questions. Would me more than happy to answer them!
Happy Souvlaki making!
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
Oh wow this just SCREAMS 'Hello Spring!"! Your chicken looks so juicy and tender - just begging to be devoured! I can't wait to make this!
★★★★★
Thank you Lori, me too I love how this makes you feel like spring is already in the back yard. After biting in there is nothing but sunshine in your tummy!
Here's to those grill firing up and the aroma of this souvlaki filling our back yards!
Cheers!
Jo says
I'm so excited about grilling season. That chicken souvlaki itself looks so yum, with fresh greek salad it's an amazing meal that I could eat all day long, all days of the week. Delicious!
★★★★★
Thank you Jo, I love you enthusiasm for this dish. I too can eat souvlaki all day and night long! This has so much flavor and the tenderness of those thighs done this way is absolutely crazy!
Happy grilling!