Lemon Herb Chicken Skewers (Printer View)

Marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection with refreshing tzatziki sauce

# Components:

→ Chicken Skewers

01 - 1.3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 8 wooden or metal skewers

→ Tzatziki Sauce

11 - 1 cup Greek yogurt, 2% or nonfat
12 - 0.5 cucumber, grated with excess liquid squeezed out
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
14 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
16 - Juice of 0.5 lemon
17 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
18 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

→ Serving

19 - Lemon wedges
20 - Fresh parsley or dill, chopped

# Method:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, lemon zest and juice, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Add chicken cubes and toss until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor.
02 - In a separate bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, finely minced garlic, olive oil, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate until ready to serve.
03 - If using wooden skewers, submerge them in water for 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
04 - Thread the marinated chicken pieces evenly onto the prepared skewers, distributing the cubes uniformly along the length.
05 - Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
06 - Place chicken skewers on the preheated grill and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred on the exterior.
07 - Remove skewers from heat and allow them to rest for 2 minutes. Serve immediately with chilled tzatziki sauce, lemon wedges, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The marinade soaks everything with lemon brightness while keeping chicken incredibly tender and juicy.
  • Tzatziki is so creamy and cooling that it feels indulgent even though it's basically yogurt and cucumber.
  • You can prep everything ahead, which means summer hosting becomes actually relaxing instead of chaotic.
  • High protein, low fuss, and genuinely delicious without any weird diet-food aftertaste.
02 -
  • Wooden skewers absolutely must soak or they'll catch fire and taste like burned wood instead of grilled chicken, which I learned the hard way on my first attempt.
  • Don't skip squeezing liquid from the grated cucumber or your tzatziki will separate and taste watery instead of creamy and luxurious.
  • Cube your chicken evenly so nothing sits on the grill while another piece is already overcooked and dry.
03 -
  • Cut your chicken into uniform pieces so everything cooks evenly instead of having some pieces dry while others are still slightly pink.
  • A pinch of red pepper flakes in the marinade adds gentle heat that makes people lean back and reconsider what they're eating in the best way.
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