Description
Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers marinated with vibrant herbs and spices, grilled to perfection and served with a refreshing homemade Tzatziki sauce made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, and fresh dill. This dish is a perfect balance of tangy, savory, and creamy flavors ideal for a light and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup shredded English cucumber (or diced)
- 1½ cups plain Greek yogurt (non-fat, 2%, or whole)
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- ½ teaspoon grated garlic (or 1 teaspoon for extra garlicky flavor)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Make the marinade: In a bowl, combine fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, grated garlic, dried oregano, dried parsley, ground cumin, ground coriander, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Whisk together to form a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate the chicken: Add the cubed chicken breasts into the marinade and toss well to ensure every piece is coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, to allow the chicken to soak up the flavors.
- Prepare for grilling: Preheat your grill or oven broiler to a medium-high heat. Thread the marinated chicken cubes onto skewers, spacing them evenly to ensure even cooking.
- Cook the chicken skewers: Grill or broil the skewers for about 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and has a slight char on the edges for that authentic grilled flavor.
- Prepare the cucumber: Place the shredded cucumber into a fine mesh strainer or wrap it in a clean towel, then squeeze out any excess liquid to prevent the tzatziki from becoming watery.
- Make the tzatziki sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine the plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice from half a lemon, chopped fresh dill, grated garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir thoroughly to blend all ingredients.
- Combine cucumber and yogurt mixture: Stir in the drained shredded cucumber until well incorporated. Refrigerate the tzatziki sauce until ready to serve with the grilled chicken skewers.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken overnight for deeper taste penetration.
- Use metal or soaked wooden skewers to prevent burning during grilling.
- If you don’t have access to a grill or broiler, you can also cook the chicken skewers on a stovetop grill pan.
- Adjust garlic quantity in the tzatziki sauce according to your taste preference.
- Serve with warm pita bread and a fresh Greek salad for a complete meal.
