These Lemon and Herb Grilled Chicken Skewers are a delicious taste of summertime. Is there anything better than summertime grilling? It is such a classic, nostalgic way to spend a summer evening, or even a summer day. My dad grilled all the time. I can see him with a cool beverage in hand (classic coors can when I was younger, wine or bourbon in his later years), standing next to his classic Weber grill filled with charcoal briquettes, often with lighter fluid as was the way back then - one tradition of his I have not carried on. Sorry, dad! I always loved watching and learning his process. From lighting the charcoal, to waiting for them to get ashy and gray before he spread them and placed the grate on top. It was all very ceremonious and kind of magical to me when I was young.
I'm a big fan of grilling on both gas and charcoal. I appreciate the convenience and quickness of gas, but I do love the nostalgic process and the flavor of charcoal grilling. These lemon + herb grilled chicken skewers will be perfect on any type of grill and even on a grill pan if you want to stay inside and still enjoy those grill marks. And, of course, they will be fine on a flat top griddle or large skillet as well.
The fresh oregano, dill, and lemon in the marinade really give these chicken skewers strong Greek/Mediterranean vibes. So I like to drive that flavor profile all the way home with a platter full of feta, fresh veggies, hummus, olives, etc. It is such a satisfying, flavor-packed meal and I mean it when I say we eat a variation of this meal all summer long and even in the colder months.
Because of the lemon juice in the marinade and how thinly the chicken is sliced, these do not need a long marination time. I like to make the marinade right in the bowl I'll add the chicken to. Then, I thinly slice the chicken into ribbons and add it straight to the bowl. A quick hand wash and I get the grill going while the chicken marinades for about 20 minutes. (I let it sit out at room temp for this, but if you're concerned feel free to stash it in the fridge for those 20 minutes)
What to serve with these grilled chicken skewers
Here is a list of my favorite accompaniments:
- flat bread, naan, pita
- hummus
- yogurt sauce
- feta
- tomatoes
- cucumber salad
- fresh herbs
- grilled lemons
- grilled veggies/peppers
- olives
And don't forget something cool to sip on. A crisp white or rosé wine is my preference. Of course you can't go wrong with some ice cold beers.
I hope you enjoy this meal! Happy grilling! xo - Anita
Lemon + Herb Grilled Chicken Skewers
Lemon + Herb Grilled Chicken Skewers - thinly sliced chicken breast coated in a flavorful marinade, threaded onto skewers, and grilled to perfection!
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into long, thin strips (about 4-5 half chicken breasts)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 4-5 minced garlic cloves
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons (zest before you juice!)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Feta & Herb Yogurt sauce:
- 2 cups plain, full fat Greek yogurt
- 1 finely minced garlic clove
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill
- zest and juice of one lemon
- pinch of salt and pepper
cucumber salad:
- 1 shallot or ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- juice of one lemon
- 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- about a teaspoon each of chopped fresh parsley and dill
Instructions
- First, make the cucumber salad and yogurt sauce.
- For each, simply combine ingredients in a bowl, mix to combine well, cover and stash in fridge while you move on with the chicken.
For Chicken Skewers:
- Mix all marinade ingredients (everything except the chicken) in a large bowl.
- Add chicken strips to bowl and coat completely with marinade.
- Thread chicken strips onto metal skewers.
- I use 12 inch long metal skewers and I usually get 8 full skewers with this amount.
- Grill over medium-high heat turning occasionally until you get nice grill marks all around and chicken is cooked through. This should take about 20 minutes.
- During the last 5 minutes add lemon halves, cut side down, to grill. Squeeze juice over chicken when serving.
- Serve with any or all of the following. Or simply serve with rice and a big salad.
- flat bread, naan, pita
- hummus
- yogurt sauce
- feta
- tomatoes
- cucumber salad
- fresh herbs
- grilled lemons
- grilled veggies/peppers
- olives
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: dinner, chicken recipes, grilling recipes
- Method: grilling
- Cuisine: American
Pamela says
This dinner was a huge hit with my whole
family (including picky eaters!) the chicken marinade was amazing..the yogurt sauce is still in the fridge (2 days later) as a dipping sauce for veggies.. it was that good! .. this dinner was easy, quick, versatile and delicious! I’ll make it year round on my grill pan. Thanks Anita for another fantastic dish!!
Pamela says
Five stars!!
anita | wild thistle kitchen says
Thank you Pamela!!!
anita | wild thistle kitchen says
Again, thank you! This makes me so happy! My family and friends love this one too. It's just such a fun meal that has a choose-your-own-adventure vibe and I love that! So happy you all loved it! - Anita
L says
Delicious! I’ve made this twice now and it will probably be a staple in my menu planning!
L says
These were fabulous! My family enjoyed the chicken skewers!
anita | wild thistle kitchen says
Oh I'm so glad! Thank you for making them and for leaving such a kind comment and review!