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Quick Chicken Souvlaki Rice Pilaf. Think Greek-inspired “street food,” made quickly and easily at home! Grilled, herby chicken skewers with garlic, lemon, and spices, served up bowl-style with charred zucchini and peppers, buttery homemade rice pilaf, feta-topped Tzatziki, and juicy cherry tomatoes. I always add a side of warm naan or pita—because why not? It’s simple, fresh, and so full of flavor. Dinner in under an hour!
With all the travel this past year (and especially this summer), I’ve been pulling inspiration from everywhere. Funny enough, this idea came from a trip to Miami—of all places—before heading to Texas for a Williams-Sonoma event. We found the best little Greek spot and had the yummiest late-night dinner.
That’s my family—we’re still eating around 9 or 10 pm most nights, especially in the summer. Now that I’m older, I don’t mind it. Honestly, it’s kind of fun!
We ordered plates piled high with grilled skewers (chicken and lamb), bowls of orzo, crispy Greek fries, charred veggies, lots of fresh pita, and buckets of tzatziki. Every bite was so good, I knew I had to come home and recreate something similar.
These bowls are my take on that meal—full of bright, herby flavors and all those yummy, colorful textures. Seasoned chicken, a quick rice pilaf, grilled veggies, and of course, that creamy tzatziki with crumbled feta on top. Finished with plenty of basil and thyme from the garden. So fresh, so simple, and just really, really delicious.
Here are the details
Ingredients
- chicken breast
- salted butter
- lemon juice
- garlice
- smoked paprika
- dried oregano/rosemary/thyme
- chili flakes
- bell pepper quarters
- zucchini rounds
- cherry tomatoes
- Tzatziki
- feta cheese
- fresh herbs – basil/thyme/dill/parsley/mint
Ingredients for the Rice
- salted butter basmati rice
- orzo
- pine nuts
Special Tools
For this recipe, you’ll need a grill or a grill pan. If you have neither, no problem, simply roast the chicken and vegetables in the oven.
Steps
Step 1: Make the rice
I always start with the rice so it can cook while everything else comes together.
Melt a few pats of salted butter in a medium pot. Add the basmati rice, orzo, and pine nuts. Let the grains get nice and toasty and the nuts golden—this gives the rice a rich, nutty flavor.
Pour in water, or use bone broth for a boost of protein and flavor. Cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes, until fluffy and tender. Perfect timing to finish up the rest!
Step 2: Make the chicken
Season the chicken with melted butter, lemon juice, garlic, smoked paprika, oregano, rosemary (or thyme—or both!), chili flakes, sea salt, and black pepper.
Thread the chicken onto skewers. Grill until lightly charred and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. No grill? A grill pan or oven at 450°F works just as well. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes until golden and juicy.
Step 3: Grill the vegetables
I use bell peppers and zucchini here, but you can use whatever you’ve got!
Slice the peppers into quarters and the zucchini into rounds. Grill them up alongside the chicken. Let the peppers get a nice char, almost like roasted red peppers. The zucchini just needs a few minutes—grill until tender and marked.
Serving
Fluff the rice with a fork, then layer it into bowls.
Add the skewers and grilled veggies. Scatter over some cherry tomatoes and spoon the Tzatziki generously on top. Crumble over feta and finish with fresh herbs—basil and thyme are my favorites.
Serve with warm pita or homemade naan and enjoy every bite!
Looking for other easy dinners? Here are some favorites:
Easy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes
30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken
Sheet Pan Sticky Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sheet Pan Chicken Gyros with Feta Tzatziki
Lastly, if you make this Quick Chicken Souvlaki Rice Pilaf, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Quick Chicken Souvlaki Rice Pilaf
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, (or thyme)
- sea salt and pepper
- chili flakes
- 2-3 cups bell pepper quarters/zucchini rounds
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Tzatziki, for serving
- mixed herbs - basil, thyme, dill for serving
Rice Pilaf
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 3/4 cup orzo
- 2-3 tablespoons pine nuts , (optional)
Instructions
- 1. To make the rice. Melt the butter with the rice, orzo, and pine nuts in a medium pot over medium heat. Let the butter brown. Add 2 cups water or broth (or bone broth). Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn the heat off. Allow the rice to cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes more. Fluff the rice with a fork.2. To make the chicken. Mix the chicken, butter, lemon juice, garlic, smoked paprika, oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper, and chili flakes in a bowl. If time allows, let it sit for 10 minutes or up to overnight to deepen the flavor.3. Set your grill, grill pan, or skillet to medium-high heat. Thread the chicken onto skewers. Grill the skewers until lightly charred and cooked through, turning them occasionally throughout cooking, about 10 to 12 minutes total. During the same time, grill the peppers and zucchini for 3-4 minutes per side. 4. Serve the chicken with Tzatziki sauce and crumbled feta over bowls of rice pilaf. Arrange the gilled veggies and tomatoes on the side. Top with herbs. I like to add naan or pita bread too!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
I liked this recipe but I am not quite sure of how you brown butter with the rice and orzo in there without getting the orzo and rice brown too. Maybe that is the point..
Hey Rebecca,
Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your feedback! Yes, you want to get the orzo and rice a little toasty while browning the butter. I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can help in any other way!