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Chicken Souvlaki (Broil or Grill)

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Brining Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 52 minutes
Yield 5 servings
Category Main Dish
Cuisine Greek/Mediterranean

Description

A Greek Souvlaki recipe featuring tender bites of chicken coated in a herby sauce. The key to making really good grilled chicken breast is a quick brine in salt water. Might seem fussy, but trust us, it’s a game changer.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • Morton kosher salt
  • cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 small red onion, halved root to stem, each half cut into quarters
  • Tzatziki sauce and pita bread for serving

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, dissolve 2 tablespoons kosher salt into 4 cups cold water. Add chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 1½ hours or up to 8 hours.
    raw chunks of chicken breast in a large glass bowl filled with water
  • Combine oil, dill, oregano, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, honey, ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.
  • Slice zested lemon into thin rounds.
  • Measure out ¼ cup oil mixture and set aside. Drain chicken then arrange in an even layer on a baking sheet and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer chicken to bowl with remaining oil mixture; toss to coat and season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
    Wipe baking sheet dry with paper towels.
  • Thread 2 chunks of onion onto a 12-inch metal or wood skewer. Thread 4 chunks of chicken onto skewer followed by a lemon slice and another 4 chunks of chicken, another lemon slice and 4 more pieces of chicken. Thread 2 more chunks of onion onto end of skewer; place on baking sheet.
    raw chicken threaded onto wooden skewers with lemon slices and red onion wedges
  • Repeat threading until all chicken is used; 4–5 skewers total.

To Broil:

  • Heat oven to broil with rack set 6 inches from element. Broil skewers until an instant read thermometer inserted in the center registers 160ºF, about 12–15 mins.
  • Spritz pita with water then broil just until warmed through, 1 minute.

To Broil:

  • Prepare a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill to medium. Grill chicken over direct heat, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer registers 160ºF, about 10 minutes.
  • Spritz pita with water then grill just until warmed through, 1 minute.

To serve:

  • Brush some reserved oil mix over skewers.
  • Serve skewers on a platter with warmed pita bread, remaining oil mixture and homemade tzatziki.

Notes

Every broiler is different, keep an eye on the skewers and check their internal temperature regularly. You want to pull them when they register between 160ºF and 162ºF

Nutrition

Serving: 1/5 recipeCalories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 2.5gProtein: 31.5gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 556mgSugar: 1.5g
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