Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce offer a vibrant and refreshing Mediterranean dish featuring tender marinated chicken grilled to perfection, paired with a cool, creamy cucumber-yogurt tzatziki sauce. Perfect as a main course for outdoor grilling or a flavorful dinner gathering.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 39 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Skewers:
- 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced (or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (plus more for grilling)
- 2 lemons, thinly sliced
For the Tzatziki Sauce:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cucumber, peeled and grated
Instructions
- Soak Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, combine salt, plain yogurt, minced garlic, oregano, ground black pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil to create the marinade. Add the chicken breasts and coat them well with the mixture. Refrigerate and marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare Tzatziki Sauce: Squeeze the excess water from the grated cucumber using a clean cloth or paper towel. In another bowl, mix the cucumber with plain yogurt, minced garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Chill the tzatziki sauce until ready to serve to enhance the flavors.
- Preheat Grill: Heat the grill to a medium-high temperature. Brush the grill grates lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Assemble Skewers: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers, alternating each piece with thin lemon slices for added flavor and moisture.
- Grill Chicken: Place the prepared skewers on the grill and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is cooked through. Turn carefully to char evenly without burning.
- Serve: Serve the hot grilled chicken skewers immediately alongside the chilled tzatziki sauce for dipping.
Notes
- You can marinate the chicken for up to 4 hours for deeper flavor infusion.
- Serve the skewers with pita bread, fresh salad, or rice to complete the meal.
- The tzatziki sauce can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator to develop better flavor.
Keywords: Greek chicken skewers, lemon chicken, tzatziki sauce, grilled chicken, Mediterranean recipe, healthy chicken skewers
