Description
These Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers are a vibrant and flavorful dish, marinated in a zesty blend of lemon, herbs, and spices, then grilled to perfection. Served with a refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce, this recipe offers a delightful balance of tangy, savory, and fresh flavors, perfect for a light yet satisfying 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
- Prepare 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. Stir until well mixed to create the marinade.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the cubed chicken breasts into the marinade, tossing well to ensure all pieces are thoroughly coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour; marinating overnight is best for enhanced flavor absorption.
- Preheat the Grill or Broiler: Get your grill or oven broiler ready by heating it to medium-high heat to achieve a nice char on the chicken skewers.
- Skewer and Cook the Chicken: Thread the marinated chicken cubes onto skewers evenly. Grill or broil the skewers for about 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally to cook the chicken through and develop a slightly charred exterior.
- Prepare the Cucumber: Place the shredded English cucumber in a fine mesh strainer or a clean kitchen towel, then squeeze out the excess moisture to keep the tzatziki sauce creamy and not watery.
- Make the Tzatziki Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, chopped fresh dill, grated garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix well until smooth and flavorful.
- Combine Cucumber with Sauce: Fold the drained cucumber into the yogurt mixture until well incorporated. Chill the tzatziki sauce in the refrigerator until ready to serve alongside the chicken skewers.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour, but overnight marinating enhances the flavors significantly.
- To prevent skewers from burning on the grill, soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before using.
- Adjust the garlic quantity in the tzatziki sauce according to your taste preference.
- Serve the skewers with warm pita bread or a fresh Greek salad for a complete meal.
- Ensure the cucumber is well-drained to avoid watery tzatziki sauce.
