Chicken souvlaki is a delightful Greek dish that brings together the flavors of the Mediterranean. The succulent chicken cubes are marinated in a blend of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano, then grilled to perfection. Served with warm pita bread and tzatziki sauce, this dish is perfect for a summer barbecue or a cozy family dinner.
Most of the ingredients for chicken souvlaki are common pantry items, but you might need to pick up a few things at the supermarket. Fresh chicken breast is essential for this recipe. Make sure to get high-quality olive oil and fresh lemon juice. If you don't already have dried oregano, it's worth getting a good brand for the best flavor.
Ingredients For Chicken Souvlaki Recipe
Chicken breast: The main protein, cut into cubes for even cooking.
Olive oil: Adds richness and helps to marinate the chicken.
Lemon juice: Provides a tangy flavor that tenderizes the chicken.
Garlic: Adds a robust, aromatic flavor to the marinade.
Dried oregano: A key herb in Greek cuisine, adding earthy notes.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Black pepper: Adds a mild heat and depth to the marinade.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When marinating the chicken, ensure that each piece is evenly coated with the marinade. This can be achieved by using a ziplock bag instead of a bowl, which allows you to massage the marinade into the chicken more effectively. Additionally, for a more intense flavor, consider marinating the chicken for a few hours or even overnight in the refrigerator.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
Chicken breast - Substitute with turkey breast: Turkey breast has a similar texture and flavor profile, making it a suitable alternative for chicken in souvlaki.
Chicken breast - Substitute with pork tenderloin: Pork tenderloin is tender and can be marinated similarly to chicken, providing a different but delicious flavor.
Olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point and a mild flavor, making it a good alternative for olive oil in marinades.
Olive oil - Substitute with grapeseed oil: Grapeseed oil is neutral in flavor and works well in marinades, similar to olive oil.
Lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice offers a similar acidity and citrus flavor, making it a good substitute for lemon juice.
Lemon juice - Substitute with white wine vinegar: White wine vinegar provides the necessary acidity and a slight tang, similar to lemon juice.
Garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots offer a milder, slightly sweet flavor that can replace garlic in the marinade.
Garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: Garlic powder can be used if fresh garlic is unavailable, though it will have a slightly different texture and intensity.
Dried oregano - Substitute with dried thyme: Dried thyme has a similar earthy flavor and can be used as a substitute for oregano.
Dried oregano - Substitute with dried basil: Dried basil offers a different but complementary flavor profile that can replace oregano.
Salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds saltiness along with a depth of umami flavor, making it a good alternative to salt.
Salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can be used in place of regular salt, offering a slightly different mineral content and flavor.
Black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat and flavor profile, making it a suitable substitute for black pepper.
Black pepper - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds heat and a different flavor, making it a spicier alternative to black pepper.
Other Alternative Recipes
How To Store / Freeze This Dish
- Allow the chicken souvlaki to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can lead to sogginess and spoilage.
- Store the chicken skewers in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This helps maintain their flavor and moisture.
- Place the container or wrapped skewers in the refrigerator if you plan to consume them within 3-4 days. This keeps the chicken fresh and safe to eat.
- For longer storage, freeze the chicken souvlaki. Lay the skewers on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until solid. This prevents them from sticking together.
- Once frozen, transfer the chicken skewers to a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of their freshness.
- When ready to eat, thaw the chicken souvlaki in the refrigerator overnight. This ensures even thawing and maintains the texture.
- Reheat the chicken skewers on a grill or in an oven preheated to 350°F (175°C) until they are heated through. This revives their delicious grilled flavor.
- Serve the reheated chicken souvlaki with fresh pita bread and tzatziki sauce for a meal that tastes just as good as the first time.
How To Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the chicken souvlaki on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
- Cover the chicken with another piece of foil to prevent it from drying out.
- Heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed through.
- Serve hot with pita bread and tzatziki sauce.
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a small amount of olive oil to the pan.
- Place the chicken souvlaki in the skillet and cover with a lid.
- Cook for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is heated through.
- Serve immediately with pita bread and tzatziki sauce.
Microwave Method:
- Place the chicken souvlaki on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover the chicken with a damp paper towel to keep it moist.
- Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking and stirring halfway through.
- Continue heating in 30-second intervals until the chicken is hot.
- Enjoy with pita bread and tzatziki sauce.
Grill Method:
- Preheat your grill to medium heat.
- Place the chicken souvlaki on the grill.
- Grill for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is heated through.
- Serve hot with pita bread and tzatziki sauce.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Mixing bowl: Use this to combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper for the marinade.
Whisk: This will help you mix the marinade ingredients thoroughly.
Cutting board: Essential for safely cutting the chicken breast into cubes.
Chef's knife: A sharp knife is necessary for cutting the chicken into even cubes.
Measuring spoons: Use these to measure out the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper accurately.
Garlic press: This tool will make mincing the garlic cloves quick and easy.
Skewers: These are used to thread the marinated chicken cubes for grilling.
Grill: Preheat this to medium-high heat for cooking the chicken skewers.
Tongs: Use these to turn the chicken skewers on the grill to ensure even cooking.
Serving platter: Once cooked, place the chicken skewers on this to serve.
Pita bread: Serve the grilled chicken with this for a complete meal.
Tzatziki sauce: This is a traditional sauce to accompany the chicken souvlaki.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prepare the marinade in advance: Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper the night before to save time.
Use pre-cut chicken: Purchase chicken breast that is already cut into cubes to skip the cutting step.
Quick marination: If you're short on time, marinate the chicken in a resealable bag for 15 minutes instead of 30.
Preheat the grill: Start preheating the grill while the chicken is marinating to save time.
Serve with ready-made sides: Use store-bought pita bread and tzatziki sauce to cut down on preparation time.
Chicken Souvlaki Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 500 g Chicken breast, cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- 1. In a bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- 2. Add chicken cubes to the marinade and mix well. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- 3. Thread the marinated chicken onto skewers.
- 4. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- 5. Grill the chicken skewers for about 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until fully cooked.
- 6. Serve hot with pita bread and tzatziki sauce.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts
More Amazing Recipes to Try 🙂
- creamy mushroom sauce Recipe30 Minutes
- Cinnamon Roll Casserole Recipe40 Minutes
- Breakfast Casserole Recipe1 Hours
- Roast Pork Loin with Mincemeat Stuffing Recipe1 Hours 50 Minutes
- Pumpkin Spice Pork Tenderloin Recipe45 Minutes
- Pork Tenderloin Blueberry Reduction Recipe45 Minutes
- Grilled Herb-Crusted Chicken Recipe35 Minutes
- Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Recipe45 Minutes
Leave a Reply