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Greek Chicken Souvlaki Marinade in 5 Minutes

Greek Chicken Souvlaki Marinade combines lemon, garlic, oregano, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.
Whisk the ingredients together in 5 minutes and coat 1½–2 pounds of chicken.
Marinate for 2–6 hours before grilling for flavorful Mediterranean-style chicken.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Marinade
Cuisine Greek / Mediterranean

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 2 lemons about 6 tablespoons
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt optional
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 1½ –2 pounds chicken

Instructions
 

  • Zest one lemon and juice both lemons. Mince the garlic cloves.
  • Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to a medium bowl.
  • If desired, add the Greek yogurt and crushed red pepper flakes for extra creaminess and a little heat.
  • Whisk everything together until the mixture is well combined and slightly emulsified.
  • Place 1½–2 pounds of chicken in a large resealable bag or covered container.
  • Pour the Greek Chicken Souvlaki Marinade over the chicken and turn or massage the chicken gently to coat it evenly.
  • Seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. For the best flavor, marinate for 4–6 hours.
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook according to your preferred method, such as grilling the chicken on skewers until fully cooked.

Notes

For classic souvlaki, use boneless chicken breast or chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces and thread them onto skewers before grilling.
Serve the chicken with warm pita, tzatziki, cucumber and tomato salad, roasted potatoes, rice, or a simple Greek-style salad.
For a dairy-free version, simply leave out the optional Greek yogurt. If you prefer a milder marinade, skip the red pepper flakes.