Description
This Greek Grilled Chicken Souvlaki Salad features tender, marinated chicken thighs grilled to perfection and served over a fresh romaine base with a colorful Greek salad and creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. The recipe combines bold Mediterranean flavors including lemon, oregano, garlic, and dill for a vibrant and healthy meal perfect for warm-weather dining or anytime you crave a fresh, satisfying salad with protein.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Souvlaki Marinade
- 1 lb chicken thighs (boneless, skinless, cut into 1 ½” pieces)
- 3 cloves garlic (grated)
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tbsp Greek yogurt (whole milk yogurt or sour cream)
- 2 tbsp oregano (dried or fresh, finely chopped)
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
Tzatziki Sauce
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (whole milk yogurt or sour cream)
- 1 small cucumber (grated and juices squeezed out)
- ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (or more to taste)
- 1 clove garlic (grated)
- 1 tbsp dill (or parsley, finely chopped)
- ½ tsp salt
Greek Salad
- 2 heads romaine (chopped)
- 3 small cucumbers (sliced)
- 8 oz cherry tomatoes (diced)
- ½ small red onion (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill to 450ºF to ensure a hot cooking surface for perfect grilling of the chicken souvlaki.
- Prepare the Chicken Marinade: In a bowl, mix the chicken thigh pieces with yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, grated garlic, oregano, and kosher salt. Stir well to coat all the pieces thoroughly, then let them marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to absorb the flavors.
- Skewer and Grill Chicken: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers. Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook for 4-5 minutes on one side. Flip then cook for another 4-5 minutes until chicken is cooked through and slightly charred.
- Make Tzatziki Sauce: While the chicken grills, combine the drained grated cucumber, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, grated garlic, dill, and salt in a bowl. Mix until smooth and well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Prepare the Greek Salad: In a large salad bowl, add chopped romaine lettuce. Toss the sliced cucumbers and diced cherry tomatoes with white wine vinegar, olive oil, and salt. Add the kalamata olives and thinly sliced red onion, giving everything a gentle toss to combine.
- Assemble the Dish: Divide the salad among serving bowls, top each with a dollop of tzatziki sauce, and place several chicken souvlaki skewers on top. Serve immediately and enjoy your fresh Greek grilled chicken souvlaki salad.
Notes
- Use whole milk Greek yogurt or sour cream for a creamier marinade and tzatziki sauce.
- For juicier chicken, avoid overcooking; internal temperature should reach 165ºF.
- You can substitute fresh oregano with dried oregano if fresh is unavailable.
- To save time, prepare toppings and tzatziki ahead and refrigerate.
- Grated cucumber for tzatziki should be well squeezed to avoid watery sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Keywords: Greek chicken souvlaki, grilled chicken salad, tzatziki sauce recipe, Greek salad, Mediterranean cuisine, healthy chicken salad, grilled chicken skewers
