Grilled Greek Chicken Kabobs

These grilled Greek Chicken Kabobs are one of our favorite summer grilling recipes.

They are made with an easy lemon-based marinade that adds lots of amazing flavor to the chicken. It also makes it juicy and tender.

You can also customize these Greek chicken kabobs by adding your favorite veggies to the skewers. They are the perfect dish for a fun cookout with friends and family!

One of my go-to summer grilling recipes! These Greek chicken kabobs are packed with seriously amazing flavor. They are tender, juicy, and so so delicious!

Made with a very easy marinade, these grilled Greek chicken kabobs are one of my family’s favorites. It only needs to marinate for 2-3 hours.

Why I love making Greek chicken kabobs:

• Flavor-packed thanks to the easy lemon marinade.
• Juicy and tender: The marinade does a great job tenderizing the chicken.
• Customizable: Add your favorite veggies, such as zucchini or bell peppers, to the skewers to make a complete meal/.

We love serving these kabobs with a Tzatziki and a classic Greek Salad on the side. Roasted potatoes also go great with these. Or make a Grilled Vegetable Platter with Chimichurri Sauce!

If you’re a fan of Greek-inspired recipes, check out these Greek Turkey Burgers or Greek-style Pizza!

Jump to:

• Greek Marinade for Chicken Kabobs
• Ingredient Notes
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• How Long to Marinate the Chicken
• Prep Ahead Tips
• Pairing and Serving Ideas
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips for Success
• Grilled Greek Chicken Kabobs

Greek Marinade for Chicken Kabobs

The marinade is what makes these Greek chicken kabobs so incredibly delicious. It’s a simple marinade made with only a few ingredients, such as fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. These are commonly used in Greek cuisine to create bold flavors.

Not only does the marinade add GREAT flavor, it also helps to tenderize the chicken. The acidity of the lemon juice breaks down any tough fibers in the chicken, resulting in tender and juicy grilled chicken kabobs.

However, lemon-based marinades shouldn’t be used for too long. Otherwise, the acidity will actually start making the meat tough and rubbery. Marinate for a maximum of 2 or 3 hours for best results.

Ingredient Notes

The ingredients you need to make these amazing Greek chicken kabobs are very simple. In fact, you may already have everything you need to make them today!

As always, the specific ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card down below, but I wanted to provide a few ingredient notes here:

• Chicken breasts, cut into 1 ¼ inch thick cubes
• Olive oil
• Lemon zest: Remember to zest the lemon before squeezing its juice. I know I often forget!
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice: I’d highly recommend using freshly squeezed for best flavors.
• Dried oregano and dried parsley flakes: Dried herbs provide great flavor.
• Fresh garlic: For flavor.
• Salt and pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making Greek chicken kabobs at home takes only a few easy steps. Active prep time is only 10 minutes or less. The rest is waiting for the marinade to do its magic and then grill!

Step 1 | Marinate chicken

In a large resealable bag, combine olive oil, lemon zest, freshly squeezed lemon juice, dried oregano, dried parsley, freshly minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken into the marinade and seal bag, making sure the chicken is evenly and fully coated. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Tip: Marinating meat in lemon does a great job at tenderizing it, but if left for too long, it can cause it to turn tough and rubbery. 2-3 hours are enough.

Step 2 | Assemble kabobs

Insert the chicken onto skewers. You should have 5 or 6 chicken kabobs. I like to use metal skewers for safety, but feel free to use bamboo skewers (soak bamboo skewers in water for 20 minutes prior to using though).

Step 3 | Grill

Preheat your grill. Add skewers to the hot grill and cook on all sides, turning, until fully cooked. It should take about 12-16 minutes total, depending on the thickness of the chicken.

How Long to Marinate the Chicken

Because the marinade contains lemon juice, it only needs a few hours (2 or 3) to fully marinate. That’s plenty of time for the marinade to do its job. If left for too long, it can result in a rubbery and tough texture due to the acidity of the lemon.

Prep Ahead Tips

If you need to prep several hours or a day in advance, there are other things you can do to get ready.

Make the marinade 1 day in advance, but don’t add the garlic yet (you don’t want the garlic to sit in lemon juice for too long). Instead, mince the garlic separately and store. 2-3 hours prior to cooking, add the chicken and minced garlic into the marinade, and marinate in the fridge.

You can even cut the chicken into cubes 1-2 days early. When ready to cook, simply assemble the kabobs and cook on the grill as directed.

Pairing and Serving Ideas

I love serving these Greek chicken kabobs with tzatziki sauce and grilled vegetables on the side. You could also try roasted potatoes and a good Greek salad!

Recipe FAQs

This recipe was published in 2020 and updated in August 2022 to include new photos and information, plus a few recipe modifications.

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