Quick and easy weeknight chicken dish full of bright flavors – perfect on rice or served in a pita, salad or dipped with hummus.
Grilling season is one of my favorite times of the year but for those of us who are still looking at snow on the grass, I wanted to share my favorite way of preparing Chicken Souvlaki when the grill is still hibernating for the season. Of course, I know many of you lucky ducks grill year round so be sure to check out my Grilled Chicken Souvlaki recipe.
If you want to save time, make a double batch of this chicken and use it throughout the week. It tastes delicious in my Greek Chicken Pasta Salad or served over a Middle Eastern Fattoush Salad. For a tasty lunch idea, throw it into my Vegetarian Middle Eastern Pita and prepare for a major flavor explosion.
We served this chicken souvlaki over one of our favorite wild and brown rice blends but feel free to use any rice or grain you have on hand. Lemon Scented Bulgur Wheat with Toasted Almonds would be a fabulous side dish for this chicken. Whatever you do, make more than you think you’ll need. You’ll thank me later.
Thank you, as always, for reading, eating and sharing with me.
Your fork is waiting.
Chicken Souvlaki with Wild and Brown Rice
Ingredients
- 24 oz boneless (skinless chicken breasts - cut in cubes)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 tablespoon dried mint
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- Wild & Brown Rice Blend (prepared according to package directions)
- fresh minced parsley (garnish)
Instructions
- Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, mint, oregano, salt and chili flakes. Pour over the chicken and marinate for 30 minutes or overnight.
- To prepare chicken, heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, use tongs to add chicken cubes to the pan. (You'll want to work in batches being careful not to overcrowd the chicken.)
- Cook chicken until browned, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and continue working in batches until all of the chicken is cooked.
- Serve over prepared rice and garnish with fresh parsley.
Chef's Notes:
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Nutrition:
Tiffany
Just a quick question. Does the calorie information include the rice or just the chicken? Thank you :)
Liz DellaCroce
The serving size is 4 ounces of the cooked chicken and doesn’t include the rice. :)
Tiffany
Thank you very much! I’m going to be making this for dinner later and I’m looking forward to it :)
Liz DellaCroce
How did it turn out?!
Megan / Country Cleaver
I’m so excited for grilling season – I’ve never had souvlaki – it clearly is a MUST HAVE!
Liz DellaCroce
You haven’t?? Oh dear get ready for juicy and delicious chicken!!! No deep fryer required. :)
Carlee
I can be somewhat picky about chicken but gave this recipe a go. It was the best chicken I have made in a long time!
Liz DellaCroce
That is music to my ears!!
Hannah
Oh, what a beautiful dish, Liz! I love all the zesty flavors and I can imagine how delicious the chicken is grilled. Today is a sunny, warm day so I think our grilling season will begin soon. Unless it begins to hail and snow again like last week, which is entirely possible! Happy spring to you!
Liz DellaCroce
So jealous!! It’s rainy here – enjoy your beautiful day!
Nutmeg Nanny
Oh goodness, this looks so tasty! I can’t wait to pull out the grill again :)
Liz DellaCroce
I am counting down the days until the grill gets out!!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
Bring on the grill!! Love this recipe, Liz :)
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you Kiran!! :-)
carrian
This looks like heaven and very close to one of my favorite meals my mo made growing up. Can’t wait to try it!! Pinning this!
Liz DellaCroce
Funny you say that – we grew up on a lot of chicken and rice as well. :-)
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction
I can’t wait until the snow is melted and we can grill! This looks so good!
Liz DellaCroce
You and me both!!! I’ve been watching it melt all week!
Tieghan
Yum!! We grill in the middle of snow storms so I will be making this very soon!
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so jealous – we are sadly not year-round grillers but this is even better grilled!
Jeanette
Love how simple and delicious this recipe looks and sounds – things have been hectic this Spring with all the kids’ activities and I’ve been having to simplify my cooking these days – this would be perfect!
Liz DellaCroce
Simple is my motto!! Let me know what you think!
Whitney @ The Newlywed Chefs
What a perfect meal! We loooove to grill! Spring needs to hurry up and get here!
Liz DellaCroce
Tell me about it!! I have Spring fever!
Lauren
Mmmm all of these options sound delicious! Better get some chicken asap!
Liz DellaCroce
You are too kind, thank you Lauren!
Rachael {Simply Fresh Cooking}
Where the heck do you live? I’m coming to live with you! Yikers.
I can’t wait for grilling season!!!
Liz DellaCroce
haha come any time!!
Samantha @FerraroKitchen
These are my flavors!! LOVE this! And super easy…and since I’m doing the weight watcher thing, this looks super healthy! totally pinning lol
Liz DellaCroce
Yes this is totally healthy for weight watchers!!! Tons of protein to keep you full, too.
Sheila
Nom nom nom! Can’t wait to fire up the grill in Florida!
addie | culicurious
I love the way this chicken looks and that pasta salad sounds fantastic. :)
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you Addie!!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
We started grilling again about 2 weeks ago and I cannot tell you how freaking excited I am about it!!!
Liz DellaCroce
I am so jealous!!!!! :-(
Patsy
This looks so delicious! I love the flavors that you pulled together and am thinking the chicken could also be grilled once the weather warms up a bit more.
Liz DellaCroce
Yes we grill it all Summer but I crave it in the Winter too so this is my cold weather version. Just as tasty!
dixya@food, pleasure, and health
I cant wait to smell the grill, charcoal and summer. this looks really good :)
Liz DellaCroce
Tell me about it!! The best smell ever!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist
Dude, ditto what Rachel said. I can’t wait to hug my grill agian. and make this.
Liz DellaCroce
Seriously – the day the grill comes out is always the best day of the season!!!
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
GIRL, this looks so good! I can’t wait to start grilling again outside (instead of smoking up my kitchen with my tiny grill pan inside)! :)
Liz DellaCroce
So funny you say that – my grill pan always smokes up the kitchen too!!!
Cookin Canuck
What a fantastic meal, Liz! This is so easy and healthy, and I know my family would love this recipe.
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you Dara!! My husband usually “Test tastes” several pieces before it lands on the table. ;-)
Dara
Love this – what a great weeknight meal.
Liz DellaCroce
It’s super fast – perfect for weeknights!
Robyn Stone| Add a Pinch
Looks delish, Liz! We always love to grill, even though it has been a little chilly out! Spring certainly must be close!
Liz DellaCroce
I am so desperate for it to come!! There is still snow on our back deck!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
I’m itching for grilling season to be back! We usually will grill year round, but not when the grill is buried!
Liz DellaCroce
So am I!!!! :-( We keep ours in the garage during the Winter – just too much snow to leave it out. I love my grill pan but it doesn’t compare. Spring has to be near, right?? :)