Turn everyday ingredients into a one-of-a-kind feast! These Greek Chicken Kabobs with Lemon Garlic Marinade are tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Perfect for a summer BBQ or a weeknight dinner, they will for sure add some ‘wow’ to the table.
With summer on the horizon, we’re going to need a long list of delicious meals to add to our repertoires. These Greek Chicken Kabobs with Lemon Garlic Marinade are a perfect summer staple, and are sure to impress at your next barbecue. Even for your usual weeknight dinner, mix it up with this fun and flavorful step away from the usual routine.
How to Make Greek Chicken Kabobs
This Greek Chicken Kabobs with Lemon Garlic Marinade recipe is made entirely out of ingredients you most likely already have in your house. We’ll start using either chicken tenders or two fresh chicken breasts. The breasts will need to be butterflied, which is done by simply cutting each piece in half horizontally. Afterwards, slice each half into strips.
Marinating the meat for at least 30 minutes (but no more than 3 hours) will allow the flavors to soak in and meld together, resulting in a tender, tangy bite. While the marinade is performing its magic, soak bamboo or wood skewers in water for the same amount of time. This will prevent the wood or bamboo from burning while on the grill. Alternatively, use metal skewers and forget about soaking.
Thread the prepped and marinated Greek Chicken Kabobs onto your skewers. Pack them tightly as each piece will shrink as it cooks. For even more flavor, add slices of veggies like red onion, peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes to the kabobs in between the chicken pieces.
How to cook Greek chicken kabobs in the oven
Don’t fret if you don’t own a grill! These Greek Chicken Kabobs can easily be made in the oven. Here’s how to do it:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a large baking sheet with foil.
- Thread the chicken (and veggies if you want) onto the skewers as directed in the recipe.
- Place skewers on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chicken is done when it is no longer pink, or when a meat thermometer reads 165ºF.
The Easiest Marinade Ever
Can you believe that this marinade has only four ingredients? To create this easy masterpiece, throw the ingredients in a bowl and blend together using an immersion blender. The lemon-garlic concoction is a traditional Greek flavor that is not only light and healthy, but adds a wicked zing to each bite. Make sure to allow the chicken to sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 hours for the most delectable flavor.
If you’re in the mood for a creamier result, add a tablespoon or two of plain Greek yogurt. As it grills, the yogurt will tenderize the Greek Chicken Kabobs and be super juicy.
If you’re not in the mood for an entire Greek feast, but are still intrigued by the flavors, try marinating my Everyday Chicken Breast in the same recipe. You’ll still end up with a delicious and keto-friendly chicken dinner, but without the hassle of preparing and plating a variety of garnishes. Serve on a bed of Lemon Risotto for added elegance.
Serving and Plating Options
Picture this: it’s a perfect summer day, and you’ve just finished grilling these beautiful Greek Chicken Kabobs with Lemon Garlic Marinade. How would you want to plate them to turn a simple chicken dinner into an irresistible summer feast?
I began by resting the chicken on a spoonful of my homemade hummus, then added fresh summer vegetables on the side. Ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, crisp greens, and olives gave my plate huge pops of color and elevated flavors. To finish, I topped everything with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of Za’atar. If you can’t find Za’atar, paprika will be a great substitution. So beautiful and colorful, how could anyone resist this setup?
Additionally, serve a plate of fresh-cut vegetables and pita along with the rest of the feast so guests or family can enjoy extra dips of the hummus. If it’s a hot day, don’t forget the ice-cold white wine or beer!
More Summer-Ready Meals
I love offering up epic meals to serve your entire guest list, and with summer around the corner, we need to have as many on hand as possible! For a backyard BBQ to remember, serve any of these yummy options:
- Greek Crispy Chicken Thighs With Potatoes
- Low Carb Mediterranean Burger Salad
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks With Chimichurri Recipe
- Air Fryer Asian Pork Meatballs (Keto & Whole30)
- Rib-Eye Steak Cooked In The Oven
- Baked Gooey S’more Bars
If you try these Greek Chicken Kabobs with Lemon Garlic Marinade, please leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog! I would love to know what you think.
Greek Chicken Kabobs with Lemon Garlic Marinade
EQUIPMENT
- Grill or grill pan
- Skewers, metal or bamboo
- Immersion blender or blender
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb or 2 large chicken breasts or chicken tenders, breast cut in half and then into strips
- 4 large garlic cloves
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 tsp sea salt
- pita bread
- hummus
- cucumbers
- tomatoes
- arugula or any other greens
- olives
- lemon, grilled
- fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, or dill
- za'atar or smoked paprika, optional, to sprinkle on top
- olive oil, optional, to drizzle on top
INSTRUCTIONS
Marinade
- Add all ingredients into blender or a jar. Use an immersion blender and blend until creamy and combined.
- Cut chicken breasts in half so they open like a butterfly. You can also ask your butcher to butterfly the breasts for you, or use chicken tenders instead.
- Add the chicken into a bowl with the marinade and let the flavors combine for 30 minutes to an hour. Do not let sit for more than 3 hours.
Cooking Chicken
- If using bamboo or wood skewers, make sure to soak them for at least 30 minutes in water to ensure they don't burn while grilling. Metal skewers will work as well (and do not require soaking).
- Thread 3 to 4 pieces of chicken onto each skewer. I like to weave the pieces in and out a few times so each can cook evenly.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill for 3-5 minutes a side, depending on how thick your chicken is. Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- While grilling the chicken, cut a lemon in half and add it to the grill until grill marks appear. When serving, add a squeeze of the grilled lemon juice to the cooked chicken. This is optional, but so delicious.
Plating
- Add a few spoonfuls of hummus to a plate, a handful of your favorite greens, olives, a few tomatoes, and cucumbers. Place the chicken skewer on top of the hummus, drizzle with some olive oil, and top with a sprinkle of Za'atar or smoked paprika.
This chicken is soo delicious and so easy to make! We marinated for 30 minutes and put it in the oven. It was perfect in about 18 minutes when cut into smaller pieces. Will be my go to recipe for chicken now😋 thanks Lena!!
This recipe is so simple, fresh and full of popping flavor. Can’t wait to make it again for a perfect backyard get together.