Description
Juicy chicken skewers marinated in a zesty lemon, garlic, and oregano blend, grilled to perfection and served with a refreshing cucumber-yogurt tzatziki sauce. A delightful Mediterranean dish that’s both flavorful and healthy.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Skewers:
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1¼ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of excess fat
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1 teaspoon salt
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2 tablespoons plain yogurt
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2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
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1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano (or 1½ teaspoons dried oregano)
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⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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1 teaspoon lemon juice
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1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for the grill
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2 lemons, thinly sliced
For the Tzatziki Sauce:
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1 cup plain yogurt
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2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
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½ teaspoon kosher salt
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⅛ teaspoon black pepper
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1 tablespoon lemon juice
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1 cucumber, peeled
Instructions
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Soak the Skewers: If using bamboo or wooden skewers, place them in water to soak while you prepare the recipe. You’ll need either 4 flat skewers or 8 regular round skewers.
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Marinate the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into 1½ to 2-inch chunks. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Add the yogurt, minced garlic, oregano, pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil to the bowl with the chicken, stir to combine. Marinate for 30 minutes to an hour.
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Prepare the Tzatziki Sauce: While the chicken is marinating, make the tzatziki. In a medium bowl, stir to combine the yogurt, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Grate the cucumber with the large holes of a box grater. Place in a strainer and press with your hands to squeeze out excess moisture. Add the grated cucumber to the yogurt mixture.
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Assemble the Skewers: Prepare your grill for direct high heat. While the grill is heating, prepare the skewers. Use either flat bamboo or metal skewers or double up regular bamboo skewers so that the chicken is easier to turn on the grill. Thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers with a lemon slice folded over like a taco between each piece of chicken.
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Grill the Skewers: When the grill is ready, brush the grill grates with a little olive oil (use a paper towel folded over several times and dipped in olive oil, hold with tongs). Brush some olive oil over the chicken skewers as well. Place the chicken skewers directly over the hottest part of the grill and cover the grill. Allow to sear on one side (about 2 to 3 minutes), then turn the chicken skewers over to the other side, cover and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until the chicken is browned and just cooked through. Remove from grill and serve immediately with tzatziki sauce
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding vegetables like bell peppers or onions to the skewers.
If using wooden skewers, ensure they are soaked in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.
Serve the skewers with warm pita bread or over a bed of rice for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Keywords: Chicken Skewers, Tzatziki Sauce, Greek Cuisine, Grilled Chicken