This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Be sure to see the video tutorial below.

This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Recipe from themediterraneandish.com #greekfood #souvlaki #kebab #kabob #chickensouvlaki #chickenkabob #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipe #grilledchicken

You simply cannot go to Greece without experiencing souvlaki. It's a major Greek street food, and happens to be one of my favorites.

What is Greek Souvlaki?

Like Kabobs, the word Souvlaki simply means “meat on skewers.” But Greeks also use it to describe the actual meal—warm pita, loaded with perfectly marinated grilled meat and topped with Tzatziki sauce. Other fixings are typically included, and even a handful of fries are tucked into the pita.

This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Recipe from themediterraneandish.com #greekfood #souvlaki #kebab #kabob #chickensouvlaki #chickenkabob #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipe #grilledchicken

During my last visit to Greece, I had a lot of good souvlaki, particularly in Athens. And I've been in love ever since!

The closest thing I experienced to Athen’s Greek chicken souvlaki, though, was here at a smallish Greek festival in Cumming, Georgia. The annual festival is put on by a local Greek Orthdox Church, and non other than all-knowing Greek Yiayias are in charge of the food. A feast including: spanakopita, keftedes, and grilled souvlaki!

This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Recipe from themediterraneandish.com #greekfood #souvlaki #kebab #kabob #chickensouvlaki #chickenkabob #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipe #grilledchicken

Why this Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe works?

After a bit of research and trial and error, I’ve developed my own Greek chicken souvlaki recipe. It is not a complicated recipe, but it was important for me to get it right.

What goes into this souvlaki recipe?  Three simple things: an awesome Greek souvlaki marinade, quality chicken, and the pita fixings.

  • Greek Souvlaki Marinade. It’s a simple marinade with the perfect balance of flavors—lots of raw garlic along with spices like oregano, rosemary, and sweet paprika. The liquid in this souvlaki marinade is a combination of excellent extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and dry white wine. If you have the time, let the chicken marinate for a couple of hours or overnight (refrigerated). But if not, even 30 minutes is enough to infuse the chicken with great flavor.

This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Recipe from themediterraneandish.com #greekfood #souvlaki #kebab #kabob #chickensouvlaki #chickenkabob #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipe #grilledchicken

  • Pita fixings. To assemble a mean grilled souvlaki, you need some warm Greek pita and a few fixings. I usually grill my pita just before servings.  Greek Tzatziki sauce is a MUST!  And I typically add sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and Kalamata olives.

This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Recipe from themediterraneandish.com #greekfood #souvlaki #kebab #kabob #chickensouvlaki #chickenkabob #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipe #grilledchicken

What to serve with Greek souvlaki?

This chicken souvlaki recipe will make between 10 and 12 skewers. And if you’re looking to turn it into a Mediterranean-style BBQ party, then consider adding a few salads and sides to go along.

Greek salad or this orzo salad are a natural addition, but Balela, Fattoush, Grilled Zucchini Salad and this cooling Watermelon Salad would work as well. Make a large Mezze platter like this one, or a plate of creamy Roasted Garlic Hummus.

Finish this Greek affair with my favorite dessert: Baklava!

You really can’t go wrong with Greek souvlaki any night of the week! This chicken souvlaki recipe includes outdoor grill or grill pan instructions.

Watch how to Make Greek Chicken Souvlaki

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This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Recipe from themediterraneandish.com #greekfood #souvlaki #kebab #kabob #chickensouvlaki #chickenkabob #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipe #grilledchicken

Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe with Tzatziki


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4.9 from 101 reviews

  • Author: Suzy Karadsheh
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 10 to 12 skewers 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

All-star chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens. Best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor/outdoor grilling & what to serve along.


Ingredients

Scale

For Souvlaki Marinade

  • 10 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp each Kosher salt and black pepper
  • ¼ cup Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 bay leaves

For Chicken

  • 2 ½ lb organic boneless skinless chicken breast, fat removed, cut into 1 ½ inch pieces

Pita Fixings

  • Greek pita bread
  • Tzatziki Sauce (make according to this recipe)
  • Sliced tomato, cucumber, onions, and Kalamata olives

Ideas for Sides to Serve Along (optional) 


Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.)
  3. 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).
  4. When ready, thread marinated chicken pieces through the prepared skewers.
  5. 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).
  6. Transfer chicken to serving platter and let rest for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, briefly grill pitas and keep warm.
  7. 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.
  8. Optional: if you want more items to add to your buffet, consider Greek salad, watermelon salad, roasted garlic hummus, or a big Mezze platter.

Notes

  • Recipe notes: 1) If you do not have the time, you can simply marinate the chicken for 30 minutes before cooking. Just cover and leave at room temperature. 2) Grilled Souvlaki will keep well in the fridge for 3 days or so. Be sure to un-thread the chicken from skewers, and place in a tightly-closed container before refrigerating.
  • For more serving ideas: see "what to serve with Greek souvlaki" up in the post.
  • Recommended for this Recipe: Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil (from organically grown and processed koroneiki olives). SAVE!  Try our Greek extra virgin olive oil bundle!
  • Recommended for this recipe: Sweet Spanish Paprika and dried Rosemary. SAVE! Try or Ultimate Mediterranean Spice Bundle; Our Essentials Bundle; or Create your own 6-pack from our all-natural or organic spice collections!
  • Prep Time: 20 Minutes
  • Marinating time:
  • Cook Time: 5 Minutes
  • Category: Entree
  • Method: Grilling
  • Cuisine: Greek

More Recipes to Try

Saucy Lebanese Cinnamon Meatballs

Skillet Shrimp with Chorizo and Squash 

One-Pot Middle Eastern Chicken and Rice

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Veggies

Burrata Arugula Berry Salad

This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Recipe from themediterraneandish.com #greekfood #souvlaki #kebab #kabob #chickensouvlaki #chickenkabob #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipe #grilledchicken

This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Recipe from themediterraneandish.com #greekfood #souvlaki #kebab #kabob #chickensouvlaki #chickenkabob #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipe #grilledchicken

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I'm Suzy; born and bred right on the shores of the Mediterranean. I'm all about easy, healthy recipes with big Mediterranean flavors. Three values guide my cooking: eat with the seasons; use whole foods; and above all, share! So happy you're here...
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Comments

  1. Amber says:

    I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs and marinated overnight. Grilled whole, without skewers... Fantastic! I just love the light, fresh flavors. Thank you for sharing this recipe!






    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Wonderful, Amber! Thanks for sharing.

  2. C says:

    We make this recipe all the time. It's sooo good! The kids love it, too!






    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      So glad to hear it! Thank you!

    2. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      So so glad!

  3. Cynthia Zarbo says:

    This was the best marinade I ever had. I’m Greek and have eaten Greek food my life and I can say “bravo”!!!






    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Cynthia, thank you so much! Means a lot coming from someone so familiar with Greek flavors. Thank you.

  4. Barbara says:

    We made this for dinner last night, and it is fantastic. The marinade is so good. I think I’ll save some before I marinate the chicken to have for dipping. We have not been happy with the flavor of chicken lately, but this changed our minds. Yummy, yummy, yummy! Thank you for the recipe.






  5. Terri says:

    We made this tonight, no wine on hand, and I used already minced garlic, and marinated for only one hour. Also, I only chopped the chicken breasts in half instead of cutting into kabobs. This marinade was fantastic! Thank you, we will be making this one often!






    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Terri, you're so right, the marinade will work with chicken breast even if you don't make them into kabobs. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

  6. Luke J Christie says:

    Hey! Going to cook this for my girlfriend tomorrow in the garden after trying this at a local Greek pub. Absolutely love it in hot weather with a Greek salad!

    I have access to a vac pack machine, would it benefit to make the marinade and then vac pack over night? I will try it anyway and hope for the best, and i'll post my results to you when im done!

    Thanks
    luke

    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Hey, Luke! Thanks so much for your question. I'm sorry, I am not always able to get to the questions on the same day. But yes, it would work to do that.

  7. Jas says:

    Can you omit the white wine, or is there a good substitute for it? Although I do, my family doesn't like white wine in cooking, but I'm excited to try this recipe soon!

    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Hi Jas, you can omit the white wine, adding more of the other citrus

  8. Mandy Doherty says:

    I love this recipe - it's very tasty! I usually bake it in the oven rather than grill and it works beautifully.






    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Thanks Mandy for the feedback and glad you liked it!

    2. Priscilla says:

      How long do you bake in the oven? Do you put the chicken skewers on a baking sheet?

      1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

        Ovens do vary a bit, start checking for doneness after 25 minutes and keep going if needed until internal temperature of chicken is at 165 degrees F. Yes, you can use the skewers, if they've been well soaked in water for at least one hour before cooking, or, for a safer option, do not use skewers if you are more comfortable with that.

  9. Tracey says:

    Made this today. Marinated the chicken for about three hours and then grilled on my BBQ. Delicious! Teenager friendly as well! I will definitely use this recipe again. Thanks!






    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      That's great! It's a bonus when the kids like it too 🙂

  10. David C Templeton says:

    Suzy,I just located your website and made the chicken souvlaki and tzatziki served on grilled pitas...whole family, including two teenagers, loved it. We chopped Kalamata olives, cucumber diced and grape tomatoes on top of the tzatziki and then added feta. We are all headed to the Pelopenese this summer, getting prepared!
    Thanks
    I shared your website with friends. We plan to have a huge Greek style gathering soon with everyone preparing from your recipes.
    Dave

    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Dave, I am so glad you joined us here at The Mediterranean Dish! Thank you for checking these recipes out and trying them with friends. That makes my day! Have a great vacation!

  11. Gina says:

    This was so good! Thank for the great recipe!

    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Thank you, Gina! I'm so glad you liked it

  12. Robin says:

    This is such a flavorful dish! I marinated chicken parts and then baked them rather than using breasts and cutting them up. They were absolutely delicious! I hated to run out of leftovers. So far, I have loved every one of your recipes; they all have a ton of flavor and are not hard to make.






  13. Merr says:

    Made this tonight with 10lbs of chicken for my sistersl’s birthday and there are no leftovers. This recipe is a winner!!

    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Wow! That's awesome, Merr. Thanks for sharing!

  14. Cora says:

    OMG !!!! . . . Absolutely divine . You haven’t failed me yet . So easy to prepare , TOO. Made it tonight and my family ❤️ LOVED IT . Thank you for all your great recipes . I was able to make it without the food processor too. . . Just chopped everything very finely and mixed it really well.






  15. sandra samaniego says:

    What is the best store bought pita I can buy? Have tried a few but, they either tear, food spilling out or tastes terrible.

    1. Kathy says:

      Kronos or Kontos are best. Buy pocketless; The ones with pockets tend to be drier and fall apart.

  16. sheila says:

    I love this recipe and it’s wonderful to make. I enjoy reading and making the sides you recommend . Everything I’d easy to make and the fresh tastes are fantastic.






    1. Suzy Karadsheh says:

      Great, Sheila! So glad to hear it!