I am sharing with you today my traditional Greek chicken souvlaki recipe, a recipe that my whole family loves and one that we make all the time for our backyard cookouts at summer time!
This is a “deconstructed” version of the traditional Greek chicken souvlaki which is typically wrapped in pita bread with all the fixings stuffed inside. Instead, in this easy recipe, well marinated and grilled to perfection chicken kebabs are piled on a platter, along with tzatziki, chopped red onions, Feta cheese and sweet grape tomatoes. Pita bread is also lightly grilled, cut into wedges and served alongside the kebabs.
As is often the case with any grilled meat a key to success is the marinade. I use this delicious and very flavorful marinade for pork kebabs (using pork tenderloin), and also, lamb kebabs, it is so good! When I make the marinate, I often double it and set it aside to use with another kind of protein and enjoy it for a second meal in the week to come!
Grilled Lemon-Garlic Chicken Kebabs with Warm Pita Bread Wedges
- 1 TBSP. lemon zest
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 3 med. garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tsp. dried Greek oregano
- 1 tsp. dried spearmint
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 sm. red onion
- 1½ lbs. chicken thigh meat (or breast meat), boneless and skinless
- --- --- salt and pepper
- 6 --- metal skewers (or wooden skewers soaked in water for 2 hours)
- 4-6 pieces Mediterranean pita bread (pocket-less type)
- Over a medium bowl, zest the lemon, making sure you do not grate any of the pith (white part of the peel). Add the juice of the lemons.
- Mince the garlic and add it to the bowl. Next, add the olive oil, oregano, spearmint, salt and pepper. Mix well. Reserve one third of your marinade to brush on your kebabs before serving.
- Cut the red onion into quarters, separate each one into 3 or 4 sections and then set aside.
- Cut the chicken in 1½-inch cubes and add to the bowl with the lemon, oil and herbs. Mix well to coat the chicken with the marinade, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-6 hours (another trick is to mix them all in a large, zip-lock-style bag, tossing regularly).
- Prepare a grill or set a grill pan over two burners and heat over medium-high heat. Loosely thread the pieces of chicken onto the skewers, alternating the chicken with sections of onion. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken kebabs with salt and pepper. Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, turning a couple of times, until the chicken has nice grill marks and is cooked through. Brush some of the reserved marinade on the hot kebabs and remove to a serving plate. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
- Place the pita on the hot grill until just heated through.
- To serve, cut the pita into wedges and arrange on the plater, alongside some tzatziki sauce (made with Fage yogurt), chopped red onions, cubes of Greek Feta cheese, grape tomatoes cut in half. Generously sprinkle with some dried oregano. Add the warm kebabs on the platter and serve right away. Enjoy a real Greek feast!
If you want to make your own pita bread, here is the recipe I use:
I would love to make the Greek Chicken Souvlaki, but am unable to find dried spearmint. Can you advise me on where to find that? Also, is Greek oregano different from regular oregano? If so, I would love to know where to find that, as well! THANKS!
Hi Sara, spearmint (or dyosmos) grows in Greece like a weed, any dried mint you can find here, is a good substitute. Greek oregano is quite different from Mexican oregano. If you can’t find Greek or Italian oregano, Mediterranean oregano shouldn’t be hard to find. Penzey’s Spices in Falls Church and Whole Foods should carry it. Make the Chicken souvlaki anyway, with whatever herbs you have, I know your family will enjoy it!
Hi Marlena,
I am catering one of my first events this Friday. I like your recipe and think it will work. Would you recommend thighs or breast meat and when you have made this for a crowd would you allow 2-3 skewers p/p? I am feeding 45.
Thanks ever so much!!
I am also doing greek potatoes and going to test out your one pan Greek couscous tonight!! Any help is appreciated!!
Thanks,
First time caterer… Mary -Ellen
Hi, I would definitely recommend chicken thighs for the chicken souvlaki. They stay nice and juicy and they will be very flavorful. Three skewers would be too much, I would calculate by the weight of the meat and not the number of skewers. It also depends what else you are serving…. I hope you have somebody to help you because 45 is a big number to serve on your own. Couscous is easy to make for a crowd, just add the citrus and toasted almonds the last minute. Good luck with your first catering and I hope you have good weather for the grilling (depending of where you are of course!)