Description
Juicy, tangy, and herbaceous grilled chicken skewers marinated in lemon, garlic, and olive oil, served with a cool, creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. A simple yet restaurant-quality summer dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 0.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3–4 lemons)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 medium cucumber, grated
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Optional: 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Optional: 1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves
Instructions
- Grate the cucumber and squeeze out as much liquid as possible using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.
- In a bowl, mix the squeezed cucumber, Greek yogurt, minced garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and refrigerate to chill.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, 6 cloves minced garlic, dried oregano, chopped dill, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until emulsified.
- Cut chicken thighs and breasts into 1.5-inch cubes. Add to the marinade and toss to coat. Let sit for at least 15 minutes (or up to 4 hours in the fridge).
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes. Thread chicken onto skewers, leaving space between pieces.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400°F / 200°C) and oil the grates.
- Grill skewers for 4-5 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F and char marks appear.
- Remove from grill and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving with chilled tzatziki.
Notes
Ensure you squeeze the cucumber thoroughly to prevent watery tzatziki. Chicken thighs are preferred for juiciness, but breasts work if cut into larger chunks and not overcooked. The tzatziki tastes better after sitting in the fridge for an hour.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer with side o
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: grilled chicken, chicken skewers, tzatziki, mediterranean recipe, summer dinner, lemon herb chicken, easy grilling