The cuisine of Greece is celebrated for its vibrant flavors, fresh ingredients, and timeless recipes that have been enjoyed for generations1.
This Greek Grilled Chicken Skewers recipe embodies the essence of Greek cooking, showcasing the country’s love for simple yet flavorful dishes.
Tender, succulent chicken thighs are marinated in a zesty blend of lemon, Greek yogurt, and olive oil before being skewered and grilled to juicy perfection, creating a delightful char that locks in the flavors.
Cool It Down with Yogurt Sauce
While the marinade helps build big, bold flavors, the yogurt mint sauce cools everything down. Yogurt is a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, prized for its rich tang and creamy texture. Here, we make a simple sauce by stirring bright mint, zingy lemon juice, and a touch of garlic into plain Greek yogurt.
The herbal notes of the mint, citrusy lemon, and pungent garlic cut right through the spices’ warmth. Each cool, refreshing bite is the perfect way to balance and heighten the marinade’s earthy, robust spice flavors.
The creamy yogurt sauce also adds a luscious, velvety element to contrast the chicken’s charred exterior.
Spice Up Your Grill Game
This recipe lends itself beautifully to the grill, making these skewers an ideal dish for backyard barbecues and cookouts.
There are a few reasons why threading the chicken onto skewers is perfect for grilling:
- It maximizes surface area and allows the marinade and spices to create an incredible seared, charred exterior on the chicken.
- The skewers make it easy to turn and rotate the chicken for even cooking on all sides.
- They cook very quickly over the grill’s high heat – no more than 10 minutes for these small chicken pieces.
- Skewers make portion control easy, creating built-in servings that are perfect for a fun, handheld main or appetizer.
While a hot grill is optimal, you can also finish these skewers off in a 400°F oven if needed after getting a nice char on the grill.
Greek Grilled Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Mint Sauce
Ingredients
Chicken Skewers:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Yogurt Mint Sauce:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, olive oil, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss to coat the chicken evenly. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread the marinated chicken onto skewers, leaving a small space between each piece.
- Grill the chicken skewers for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through and lightly charred.
- Meanwhile, make the yogurt mint sauce by combining the yogurt, mint, lemon juice, garlic and salt in a small bowl. Stir to mix well.
- Serve the grilled chicken skewers warm, with the yogurt mint sauce on the side for dipping. Garnish with extra chopped mint if desired.
Nutrition
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.