Description
Sizzling Greek lemon chicken skewers bring Mediterranean flavors dancing onto your plate with zesty marinades and fresh herbs. Crisp tzatziki sauce provides cool contrast, inviting you to savor Greece’s delightful culinary tradition in every juicy, herb-infused bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lb (680 g) chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- ½ large cucumber, shredded
- 1.5 cups plain Greek yogurt (non-fat, 2%, or whole)
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.5 tsp grated garlic (increase to 1 tsp for stronger flavor)
- 2 tsps dried oregano
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 0.5 tsp dried parsley
- 0.5 tsp ground cumin
- 0.5 tsp ground coriander
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Marination Prep: Whisk together lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried parsley, ground cumin, ground coriander, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Immerse chicken cubes completely, ensuring thorough coating. Seal and refrigerate for 1-3 hours to infuse robust Mediterranean flavors.
- Tzatziki Creation: Extract maximum moisture from shredded cucumber using a kitchen towel. Blend drained cucumber with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, chopped dill, grated garlic, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Chill sauce to enhance taste and consistency.
- Skewer Assembly and Grilling: Saturate wooden skewers in water to prevent charring. Thread marinated chicken pieces onto skewers uniformly. Heat grill to medium-high, lightly oil grates to prevent adhesion. Grill skewers 3-4 minutes per side, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165F (74C) and chicken appears fully cooked with no pink centers.
- Presentation: Allow grilled skewers to rest briefly, allowing juices to redistribute. Plate chicken skewers alongside chilled tzatziki sauce, creating a vibrant and appetizing Greek-inspired meal.
Notes
- Massage the marinade into chicken cubes thoroughly to ensure deep, even flavor penetration. Letting the chicken marinate longer intensifies the Greek-inspired taste profile.
- Keep a close eye on grilling time and temperature. Overcooking leads to tough, dry meat – aim for golden exterior and juicy interior by maintaining medium-high heat and turning skewers regularly.
- Removing excess liquid from cucumber is crucial for thick, creamy tzatziki. Press cucumber between towels with firm pressure to extract maximum water, creating a rich, authentic sauce texture.
- Ensure chicken pieces are similar size for uniform cooking. Leave small gaps between meat chunks on skewers to allow heat circulation, promoting even grilling and preventing raw center spots.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg