Description
Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce offer a vibrant and healthy Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring tender marinated chicken grilled to perfection and served alongside a refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce made with Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and fresh dill.
Ingredients
Scale
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
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 lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, oregano, parsley, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper, thoroughly mixing the ingredients to create a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate the chicken: Add the chicken cubes to the marinade and toss well to coat each piece. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, allowing the chicken to absorb the flavors. For enhanced taste, marinate up to overnight.
- Preheat grill or broiler: When ready to cook, preheat your grill or oven broiler to a medium-high heat suitable for grilling the chicken skewers.
- Assemble and cook skewers: Thread the marinated chicken cubes onto skewers evenly. Grill or broil the skewers for approximately 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking and to achieve a slight char on the edges. Confirm the chicken is cooked through before removing.
- Prepare the cucumber: Place shredded cucumber into a fine mesh strainer or clean towel and squeeze firmly to remove excess moisture to prevent the tzatziki from becoming watery.
- Make the tzatziki sauce: In a bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, chopped fresh dill, grated garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth. Fold in the drained cucumber, blending well to combine all flavors. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve.
- Serve: Plate the grilled chicken skewers alongside a generous serving of chilled tzatziki sauce for dipping or drizzling. Enjoy this fresh and aromatic Mediterranean meal.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for at least an hour for best flavor; overnight marination intensifies the taste.
- Use skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes if using wooden skewers to prevent burning during grilling.
- Adjust garlic quantity in tzatziki sauce according to preference for a milder or stronger flavor.
- Serve with warm pita bread or a side Greek salad to complement the meal.
- For a low-fat option, use non-fat Greek yogurt in the tzatziki sauce.
