These kebabs are the ultimate party food. The vibrant colors from the grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh basil leaves create an instantly appetizing platter that tastes as fresh as it looks.
As fun family dinner twist, you can serve these finger food kebabs. Prep all the ingredients—cubed feta, vegetables, and cooked chicken—and let everyone build their own perfect skewer.
The secret to these kebabs is using my Ultimate Greek Chicken Marinade. It provides the bright, anti-inflammatory foundation that makes the chicken stand out.
To really hack your week, double the recipe. Use the first set of chicken for your party, and use the second set of chicken for a quick Greek sheet pan meal later in the week!
Scroll down for step by step instruction with pictures and FAQ.
If you love Greek chicken, try this sheet pan Greek chicken and potatoes recipe.
Greek Chicken Kebabs Great Party Food and Easy Summer Meal
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Place chicken thighs in a glass bowl or Ziploc bag. See note if your package of chicken thighs is 2 pounds.
- Add the remaining ingredients for the Greek chicken in a bowl, and whisk.
- Pour half of the marinade over the chicken thighs, cover, and place in fridge for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- While the chicken is marinating, prep all of your kebab ingredients so you are ready to build once the chicken is ready.
- Drain and carefully cube the feta cheese. Feta cheese can easily crumble; work slowly and gently, and you can create cubes. Place in the fridge until you are building the kebabs.
- Place the tomatoes and olives in a bowl for easy grabbing and building.
- Cut the lemon into small wedges.
- Choose medium sized basil leaves and pull them from stems.
- After marinating chicken for 20 minutes, uncover and gently blot each thigh on a paper towel, then place on a sheet pan. Make sure there is at least a little air between the chicken thighs. They will shrink as they cook, so just make sure they are in one layer.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before cutting.
- Cube chicken thighs, trying to keep the chicken from falling apart as much as possible.
- Build each kebab with an assortment of ingredients. When spearing feta chunks, go slowly and carefully to avoid crumbling the feta. Thread the basil by poking the end of the leaf and the top of the leaf. End each kebab with a lemon wedge.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
*Please consult your health professional for health and nutritional advice.
Get on the waitlist!
Step-by-Step: Building the Perfect Greek Chicken Kebab
Step 1: Marinate and Prep
Whisk together your marinade ingredients and pour over your chicken thighs. Let them marinate in the fridge for at least 20 minutes while you prep the rest of your ingredients.
Prep your kebab items mise en place, which basically means prep and set everything out so that you can quickly assemble the skewers. If you need skewers, you can get metal ones like mine here (affiliate link), or bamboo ones, which I also love!
Step 2: Bake the Chicken
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Blot the chicken thighs gently on a paper towel and place them in a single layer on a sheet pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
While the chicken cooks, slowly cube your feta cheese into 16 uniform pieces, working gently to avoid crumbling.
Step 3: Cube the Ingredients
Once the chicken has rested for 5 minutes, cube it carefully.
Step 4: Assemble the Skewers
Thread each kebab with an assortment of cubed chicken, feta, grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh basil.
Step 5: Finish with Lemon
Spear a small lemon wedge at the end of each kebab for a final pop of color and a fresh squeeze of juice just before eating.
Greek Chicken Kebab FAQ
How do I keep the feta cheese from falling apart?
Feta can be delicate and prone to crumbling. To keep it intact, work slowly and gently when cubing, and keep the cheese in the refrigerator until the exact moment you are ready to build the kebabs.
Can I use a different type of cheese?
If you find feta too difficult to work with, you can easily substitute it with small mozzarella balls for a similar look and easier assembly.
Where can I find reusable skewers?
I like the longer metal skewers, like these (affiliate link).
What if my package of chicken is larger than 1 pound?
Chicken thighs often come in 2-pound packages. My marinade recipe can easily be doubled to cover the full 2 pounds (or, use the 2-pound amounts in the full Greek chicken marinade recipe here). I recommend cooking more chicken. The extra chicken makes for fantastic leftovers or additions to salads the next day!
How should I thread the basil leaves?
To ensure the basil stays secure on the skewer, thread it by poking the needle through both the top and the bottom of the leaf. This keeps it flat and prevents it from tearing or sliding off.
