🍲Greek Lemon Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki

Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 30 minutes marinating) | Cook Time: 12 minutes | Servings: 4

Juicy, herby, and zesty—this Greek Lemon Chicken Souvlaki is a street food classic turned easy weeknight dinner. Originating from Greece, souvlaki traditionally refers to small skewers of marinated meat grilled over open flames. This version features lean chicken breast marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano, then grilled until golden and served with a cool, creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. It’s light, protein-packed, and tastes like summer on a stick!

Ingredients

For the Chicken Marinade:

1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1½-inch chunks
3 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Tzatziki:

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
½ cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
1 garlic clove, finely grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (or mint)
Salt to taste

To Serve:

Skewers to serve or…
Pita bread or flatbread
Sliced red onion, cucumber, cherry tomatoes
Extra lemon wedges

Instructions

Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours in the fridge).
Make the tzatziki: Mix all tzatziki ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate while chicken cooks.
Grill the chicken: Thread marinated chicken onto skewers. Grill over medium-high heat for 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through and lightly charred.
Serve: Layer chicken in warm pita with tzatziki, veggies, and a squeeze of lemon.

Flavor & Sensory Experience

The chicken is tender, smoky, and infused with lemony-garlic herbiness. The cool tzatziki adds a creamy contrast with pops of fresh dill and cucumber. It smells like a seaside Greek taverna and tastes even better.