Greek Lemon Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki
Restaurant-quality Greek chicken souvlaki with creamy tzatziki in under 45 minutes. High-protein, lo
Tender marinated chicken thighs grilled until charred and juicy, served with a cool, garlicky cucumber yogurt sauce. The marinade uses lemon zest, oregano, and garlic for bright Mediterranean flavor without excess oil.
Ingredients
Serves 4
- 500g boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 60ml extra virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced (divided)
- 2 lemons, zest and juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 300g 0% fat Greek yogurt
- 1 English cucumber
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 red onion, quartered into wedges
- 2 bell peppers (red/yellow), chunked
- 200g cherry tomatoes
Method
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Step 1: Cut chicken thighs into 3cm cubes. Pat dry with paper towels for better browning. Place in a large bowl.
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Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic, lemon zest, juice of both lemons, 2 tbsp olive oil, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Massage marinade into chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor).
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Step 3: While chicken marinates, make the tzatziki. Grate cucumber coarsely onto a clean kitchen towel. Squeeze out excess moisture thoroughly— this prevents a watery sauce. Mix cucumber with Greek yogurt, remaining 3 minced garlic, dill, red wine vinegar, pinch of salt, and pepper. Refrigerate until serving.
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Step 4: Thread marinated chicken onto metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternating with onion wedges and bell pepper chunks. Brush with remaining olive oil from the marinade bowl.
-
Step 5: Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat (about 200°C/400°F). Grill skewers for 3-4 minutes per side, turning until internal temperature reaches 75°C/167°F and exterior shows charred grill marks.
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Step 6: During final 2 minutes, add cherry tomatoes to the grill. They should be blistered and soft but still hold shape.
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Step 7: Rest skewers for 2 minutes. Serve immediately with tzatziki sauce, extra lemon wedges, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 485 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 38 g |
| Carbohydrates | 22 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
Tags & Keywords
- healthy greek recipes
- low calorie greek dinner
- greek
- greek-recipes
- chicken-breast
- 40-minute weeknight dinner
- low-calorie
- low-calorie-recipes
- high-protein
- high-protein-recipes
- quick-dinner
- weeknight-dinner
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