Chicken Souvlaki

A classic Greek street food, souvlaki consists of tender pieces of marinated meat that have been skewered (in Greece “souvla” means skewer) and cooked on a grill. While you can use a variety of meats, we used chicken in this recipe—it’s easy to prepare, and results in a tender, flavorful main that’s perfect to be served alongside veggies for the easiest summer dinner or added to a salad for a healthy lunch. Fire up those grills—souvlaki at home is not only possible, but easy to make! Follow our top tips down below to ace it:

The marinade.
The secret to tender, extra-flavorful chicken souvlaki? It’s all in the marinade. All you need are four ingredients to create it: olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and dried oregano. Coat your chicken in the marinade, then leave to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes, or covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If you need dinner fast, then 30 minutes will work, but the longer you let your chicken sit, the more flavorful and tender the result. 

Variations.
We used chicken here, but lamb, pork, and beef are common meats you can also use too if you’re looking to switch up the protein. We highly recommend not skipping making our homemade tzatziki–the creamy, herby sauce carries a slight tang that pairs perfectly with our smoky meat. Dairy free? Swap in a tahini dressing instead. Serve these up as skewers at a BBQ (no picnic tables? no problem!), or tucked into a pita with veggies for a yummy weekday lunch—this chicken dish is extremely versatile. 

Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.