Description
Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce is a vibrant and flavorful Mediterranean dish featuring tender, juicy chicken marinated in zesty lemon and aromatic herbs, grilled to perfection, and served with a refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, and garlic. This recipe offers a perfect balance of tangy, savory, and herbaceous notes, ideal for a healthy and 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. Mix well to create a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken breast cubes to the marinade and toss thoroughly to coat all pieces. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight to allow the flavors to deeply infuse.
- Preheat the Grill or Broiler: Preheat your grill or oven broiler to medium-high heat to ensure even cooking and a nice char on the chicken skewers.
- Thread Chicken onto Skewers: Carefully thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers, making sure the pieces are evenly spaced to cook thoroughly.
- Cook the Chicken: Grill or broil the chicken skewers for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally to cook evenly and develop a slight char on the edges, ensuring the chicken is cooked through.
- Prepare the Cucumber: Place shredded cucumber in a fine mesh strainer or wrap it in a clean towel and squeeze firmly to remove excess liquid. This prevents watery tzatziki sauce.
- Make the Tzatziki Sauce: In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, chopped dill, grated garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in the drained cucumber until fully incorporated. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve with the chicken skewers.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken overnight enhances the flavor and tenderness.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.
- Adjust garlic quantity in tzatziki for preferred taste intensity.
- Serve with warm pita bread or a Greek salad for a complete meal.
- This recipe is adaptable for oven broiling if a grill is not available.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
