Chicken Souvlaki Pitas consists of chicken marinated in Mediterranean flavors. Threaded through a skewer and grilled until tender and so tasty! With a flavorful Tzatziki Sauce and fresh vegetables. All wrapped up into deliciously soft pita bread.
I am kind of obsessed with this chicken souvlaki pita recipe right now! It is so flavorful and delicious. I love the flavors in the marinade; lemon, thyme, garlic, oregano, and paprika. And the tzatziki is really fresh and refreshing with grated cucumbers, tangy Greek yogurt, lemon, white wine vinegar, dill, and garlic. I like to enjoy it in a pita wrap with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and olives. You can buy store-bought but I definitely recommend making your own. Here is the recipe for Homemade Pita Bread you have to try. It’s so light, fluffy, and soft. This makes for a perfect summer meal!
What is Chicken Souvlaki?
Chicken souvlaki consists of small pieces of grilled meat skewered on a stick. Souvlaki is a popular street food or fast food usually eaten on skewers but can be served on a platter with vegetables, potatoes or fries, pita bread, and tzatziki as well. I wanted this chicken souvlaki wrap recipe to include soft pita bread and creamy tzatziki sauce.
What is the Difference Between Chicken Souvlaki and Chicken Gyros?
The difference between chicken gyros and chicken souvlaki is how the meat is prepared and cooked. Gyros consist of slices of meat shaved from a vertical rotisserie that is wrapped up in pita bread with fried potatoes, vegetables, and tzatziki.
We live in the foothills outside of Denver and aren’t really within walking distance to restaurants or stores. But we are within walking distance of a Greek restaurant called Abe’s. We walk there with our two girls and our dog named Luna. Luna is able to sit outside with us which she loves because she is all about attention. And the owner of Abe’s, who is from Greece, is always so nice. Inside the restaurant is decorated in blue and white which brings me back to Greece. Most of the buildings are white with varying shades of blue doors, windows, patios, and accents. It’s so beautiful. Here are some pictures of Greece to transport you there while you enjoy these delicious Greek souvlaki wraps.
Sadly, Abe’s recently had to close its doors due to Covid-19. So now I will have to enjoy Greek food at home and so can you!
Ingredients in Chicken Souvlaki Pitas
Souvlaki Marinade Ingredients
Made with boneless chicken cut into bite-sized pieces. It’s a really flavorful, easy, and delicious chicken marinade recipe.
How to Make Chicken Souvlaki Pitas
- Place bite-sized chicken chunks in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, combine oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, thyme, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Pour marinade into the chicken and stir to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes up to overnight.
Assemble and Grill Chicken
- Heat grill to medium temperature.
- Thread chicken through bamboo skewers. You can cut the ends off the skewers if desired.
- Grill chicken for 5-8 minutes flip and continue cooking until internal temperature is 165°F and chicken is cooked through with no pink.
Cooking Tips
- Don’t overcook the chicken. You don’t want it to dry out but be tender and juicy.
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow marinade flavors to soak in.
What is Tzatziki Sauce?
The tzatziki sauce is a Greek sauce commonly made from yogurt, garlic, and shredded cucumbers.
Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients
How to Make Tzatziki Sauce
- In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice and zest, oil, vinegar, garlic, dill, salt, pepper, and cayenne.
- Grate the cucumber, you can leave the skin on. Strain the extra moisture out of the cucumber so it doesn’t water down your yogurt.
- Stir in the grated cucumber. Serve immediately or chill until ready to use. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Assemble the Souvlaki Wrap
Serve chicken skewers on top of store-bought pita bread or this delicious Homemade Pita Bread that is so fluffy and soft! Serve with vegetables and tzatziki sauce.
Chicken Tzatziki Wrap Serving Suggestions
- Romaine lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber Slices
- Kalamata Olives
- Onions
- Feta cheese
Can This Chicken Souvlaki Pita Recipe be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, this recipe can definitely be made ahead of time! Prepare the chicken and marinate it ahead of time then grill it when you are ready. The great thing about marinating chicken is that the longer you marinate the more flavorful the chicken becomes. The pita bread and tzatziki sauce can also be made ahead of time.
Need a Quick Chicken Souvlaki Wrap Recipe?
If you are short on time, you can use store-bought tzatziki sauce and pita bread.
How to Make a Dairy-Free Souvlaki Pita?
This recipe can easily be made dairy-free by simply buying dairy-free Greek yogurt.
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Other Recipes to Try
Chicken Souvlaki Pitas with Tzatziki Sauce
Equipment
- large bowl
- small bowl
- medium bowl
- 4-8 bamboo skewers
- grill
Ingredients
For the Marinade
- 2 pounds chicken breasts cut into bite-sized chunks
- 3 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- ¾ tsp fresh thyme chopped
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 small lemon zest and juice
- 1 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh dill chopped, or 1 tsp dried dill
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper plus more if you want spicy
- ½ English cucumber grated
For Serving
- pita bread homemade pita bread recipe link in "notes"
- lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onions, and kalamata olives
Instructions
For the Chicken
- Place bite-sized chicken chunks in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, thyme, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour marinade onto the chicken and stir to coat. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes up to overnight.
- After the chicken has marinated, heat the grill to medium temperature. Thread chicken through bamboo skewers. You can cut the ends off the skewers if desired. Grill chicken 5-8 minutes flip and continue cooking until internal temperature is 165°F and chicken is cooked through with no pink.
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice and zest, oil, vinegar, garlic, dill, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Grate the cucumber, you can leave the skin on. Strain the extra moisture out of the cucumber so it doesn't water down your yogurt. Stir in the grated cucumber. Serve immediately or chill until ready to use. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Assemble
- To assemble, place lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and chicken on pita bread (homemade pita bread recipe link in the notes). Drizzle with tzatziki sauce and serve.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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