Description
A quick, budget-friendly weeknight dinner featuring yogurt-marinated chicken and vegetables grilled on skewers, served with a homemade cool tzatziki sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup full-fat or 2% Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 8–10 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (for tzatziki)
- 1 medium English cucumber, grated
- 1 clove garlic, minced (for tzatziki)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for tzatziki)
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (for tzatziki)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (for tzatziki)
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped red onion, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Cut chicken into 1-inch uniform cubes and place in a large ziplock bag or shallow bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Pour marinade over chicken, seal bag, and massage to coat evenly. Marinate in fridge for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours).
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread marinated chicken onto skewers, alternating with vegetables if desired. Do not pack too tightly.
- Cook skewers for 4-5 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and char marks appear.
- While chicken cooks, grate cucumber and squeeze out excess liquid using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix squeezed cucumber, Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, dried dill, olive oil, and salt to make tzatziki.
- Serve skewers immediately with tzatziki sauce on the side, optionally topped with feta cheese and fresh parsley.
Notes
Soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning. Squeeze cucumber liquid thoroughly for thick tzatziki. Chicken thighs are juicier and often cheaper than breasts. This recipe is naturally gluten-free. For dairy-free, substitute coconut yogurt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 skewers per servin
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Mediterranean chicken, chicken skewers, tzatziki sauce, weeknight dinner, budget meals, healthy family dinner, grilled chicken, quick recipes