I love my Chicken Souvlaki recipe with lots of lemon and a touch of thyme in the marinade, and this delicious Greek chicken is easy to make. 

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Souvlaki is a Greek dish that’s so classic it’s part of Wikipedia, which defines it as small pieces of meat grilled on a skewer. If I were writing the definition, I’d add that the Greek cooking trinity of lemon, garlic, and oregano would have to be included in any Souvlaki recipe, and for this tasty Chicken Souvlaki I also added a touch of thyme to the marinade.

And for a light summer meal I don’t think you can beat the combination of Chicken Souvlaki, served with homemade Tzatziki Sauce, and one of my Low-Carb Salads with Feta Cheese. And if you’re familiar with my blog at all, you know how much I love all those flavors; hope you enjoy!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

Is Chicken Souvlaki a traditional Greek Dish?

I’m guessing that Lamb Souvlaki and Pork Souvlaki are more common in Greece than the version made with chicken, and some people might even consider Chicken Souvlaki to be a Greek-American dish. But I love the version with chicken just as much as the ones with meat, and this is so tasty and easy for low-carb dinner!

How long should you marinate the chicken for Chicken Souvlaki?

Marinating all day is fairly important here because that’s what infuses the chicken with Greek flavors, so this is a perfect dish to marinate in the fridge all day while you’re at work and then cook when you get home. You can even marinate overnight and all the next day and then cook that night for dinner.

Want more variations for Greek Souvlaki?

If you love the idea of grilled pieces of meat with Greek flavors, you might also enjoy my recipes for Greek Lamb Souvlaki or Kalyn’s Pork Souvlaki.

What if you don’t have an outdoor grill?

If you don’t have an outdoor grill or it’s not grilling weather, you can cook these chicken skewers on a stove-top grill pan with ridges or it would be great cooked on a George Foreman Grill as well. (affiliate links) Remember the George Foreman Grill cooks both sides at once, so adjust the grilling time.

Steps for making Chicken Souvlaki:

(This is just a summary of the steps in the photos. Scroll down to see the actual recipe including nutritional information.)

1. Mix lemon, garlic, oregano, and thyme, plus a healthy dose of olive oil to make the marinade for the chicken.
2. Cut the chicken breasts into pieces. (Next time I might make them slightly smaller, just over 1″ square.)
3. Put chicken into a Zip-loc bag, add marinade, and let chicken marinate in the refrigerator all day while you’re at work, or 8-10 hours
4. When you’re ready to cook, drain chicken into a colander placed in the sink and let it come to room temperature while you preheat grill to medium-high. (Spray the grill with non-stick grill spray or brush with oil before you preheat.)
5. I love to use my blade type skewers (affiliate link) or double skewers (affiliate link) which really keep the meat from spinning on the grill, but if you don’t have skewers like this try to fold over each piece of chicken when you put it on the skewer.
6. Cook the chicken on the first side until you start to see grill marks.
7. Turn over and continue to cook, until you have grill marks on the second side.
8. Turn and cook several more times, until the meat is just starting to feel firm and nicely browned. I cooked these about 15 minutes total cooking time on a medium-high grill.
9. Serve hot and enjoy!

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

Chicken Souvlaki is great with Tzatziki Sauce and I think one of my Cucumber Salads or Salads with Feta Cheese would be perfect on the side!

More Grilled Food with Greek Flavors:

Very Greek Grilled Chicken

Easy Grilled Greek Zucchini

Greek Pork Chops

Try This Next Za’atar Chicken

Grilled Zucchini Greek Salad

Grilled Lamb Chops with Garlic, Rosemary, and Thyme

Ingredients

• 4 very large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tsp. red wine vinegar
• 2 tsp. finely minced garlic (or garlic puree from a jar or garlic powder will work)
• 2 tsp. dried oregano (use Greek or Turkish oregano)
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme

Instructions

1. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, and thyme and stir together with a whisk or spoon.
2. Trim all visible fat and tendons from chicken breasts, then cut each piece into 6-8 cubes.
3. Put chicken strips into large Ziploc bag or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.
4. Pour marinade into Ziploc bag or plastic container, seal, and squeeze bag or turn container over and shake gently so all pieces of meat are well-coated with marinade.
5. Put into refrigerator and marinate 8-10 hours.
6. To get ready to grill, remove chicken from refrigerator, drain into a colander, and let it come to room temperature;
7. Spray grill with non-stick spray or mist with olive oil, then preheat gas or charcoal barbecue grill to medium high. (You can only hold your hand there for a few seconds at that heat.)
8. Thread marinated chicken cubes onto skewers. (I love to use my blade type skewers or double skewers (affiliate links) to keep the meat from spinning on the grill; if you don’t have skewers like that fold over each piece of chicken when you put it on the skewer.)
9. Grill skewers, turning the first time as soon as you see nice grill marks.
10. Continue to grill, turning every few minutes, until chicken is nicely browned and firm to the touch. Total cooking time is about 15 minutes, but I would use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer and make sure chicken has reached 165F.

Notes

This recipe created by Kalyn.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 218Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 60mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 25g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Chicken Souvlaki like this is a perfect main dish for a low-carb meal as well as for any phase of the original South Beach Diet.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Grilling Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2008. It was updated with greatly improved photos in 2019 and was last updated with more information in 2022.

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Za’atar Chicken

Seasoned with a traditional Middle Eastern Za’atar spice blend and grilled, this Za’atar chicken is juicy and packed with unique flavors. In just 20 minutes you’ll have a flavorful and filling dinner that no one will forget!

If you have never heard of Za’atar seasoning, you are not alone! I just heard of it recently, and now I’m hooked! It’s a great savory blend of warm and earthy seasonings that will really wow your taste buds. You can also make the spice at home! If you like homemade spices, you’ll have to try this Homemade Fajita Seasoning, this better than store bought Italian Seasoning, and this Taco Seasoning too!

Grilled Za’atar Chicken

So at this point you may be wondering what is Za’atar seasoning? It is a blend of savory, nutty, and earthy spices that usually includes oregano, thyme, marjoram, and sumac. There are different blends of Za’atar seasoning based on where you are eating it. Kind of like curry the ingredients can change based on the area it’s made in. I have a link to the Za’atar seasoning blend in the recipe box below too if you want to make it, or you can pick it up from the store.

Grilled Za’atar Chicken is quickly marinated in the Za’atar seasoning and olive oil and grilled to perfection. I really think you are going to love this dish! It’s an easy 20 minute dinner that would go great with some pita bread and hummus. I also love with baba ganoush which goes great with this Za’atar seasoning. You can actually sprinkle some on top and the flavor is incredible. I think this will be a new family favorite!

Ingredients

These simple ingredients combine to make the most delicious and moist chicken. This Za’atar chicken is so unique, and amazingly flavorful! If you are looking for a great easy dinner, then this is the recipe for you! See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: If you get a breast that is really thick, then you’ll want to flatten it out a bit so that it will all cook evenly on the grill.
• Olive Oil: Olive oil is a must for this recipe. It’s a great quality oil that helps the flavors in the seasonings really pop.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is just what this recipe needs to bring out all of these gorgeous flavors!
• Za’atar Seasoning: I love making this blend at home! It is really herby and nutty, and perfect on meat. I add sesame seeds, coriander, and salt to my blend and I think it’s fantastic!
• Garlic: Minced garlic is one of my favorite things to eat on chicken. It’s so full of flavor and makes every bite the perfect one!

Za’atar Chicken Recipe

This recipe is so easy! I love how quickly it comes together and it really is so delicious. I ate it with some tomatoes and pita bread and it was perfection. Some of my kids added salt and pepper, but I thought it was perfect the way it was. You can make it however you like, and I know you are going to love it!

Popular Recipe Grilled Fish with Lemon and Capers

1. Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, za’atar seasoning, and garlic.
2. Put in Bag: Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag then pour the mixture over the chicken.
3. Refrigerate: Seal the bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
4. Grill: Grill chicken breasts on medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 165° Fahrenheit.
5. Enjoy: Let the chicken rest before slicing and enjoying!

Tips for Grilling Chicken

Here are a few simple ways to make yourself the master of the grill! Once your friends and family get a bite of your grilled Za’atar chicken, they’ll be hooked. It’s hard not to be when they’re so juicy and flavorful.

• Use a Thermometer: This step is super important so that your chicken doesn’t dry out on the grill. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your chicken. You can take them off the grill when the temperature inside reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you cook them any more than that, they may dry out.
• Let Rest: The key to juicy grilled Za’atar chicken is letting it rest for a minute or two after you pull it off the grill. This allows all of the tasty juices to reabsorb, giving you chicken breast that will melt in your mouth! If you cut into them too soon after grilling, those juices may be released instead of absorbing back into the meat.
• Dripping: If you have seasoning and oil dripping off of your chicken, it will make the flames touch the meat and that’s where the black burned part comes from. If you don’t want crispy crunchy parts on your chicken, make sure that your seasoning is all over your chicken, but not dripping off.

Storing Leftovers

Who doesn’t wan’t grilled Za’atar chicken for leftovers? This recipe makes enough to serve eight people, so if you need to save your leftovers here is how.

In the Refrigerator: Store your cooled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

More Chicken Recipes

I love a simple chicken dinner! But sometimes chicken can taste boring when you are always making it the same way. Here are some recipes that will give you great ideas to keep your chicken tasting unique and juicy!

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