Mediterranean Chicken and Spinach Skewers

Mediterranean Chicken and Spinach Skewers

Mia

These Mediterranean Chicken and Spinach Skewers bring the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean coast directly to your dinner table. Tender chunks of marinated chicken breast are threaded onto skewers with fresh spinach leaves, creating a beautiful presentation that's as nutritious as it is delicious. The marinade features classic Mediterranean ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and oregano, which infuse the chicken with bright, aromatic flavors while keeping it incredibly moist during cooking.

Inspired by the traditional souvlaki and kebab dishes found throughout Greece, Turkey, and the Levant, these skewers represent the heart of Mediterranean cooking: simple, fresh ingredients prepared with care. The addition of spinach not only adds a pop of color but also provides a boost of iron, vitamins, and antioxidants. When grilled or broiled, the spinach leaves develop a slight char that adds a pleasant smoky note to complement the savory chicken.

What makes this recipe particularly special is its versatility and speed. In just 30 minutes from start to finish, you can have a restaurant-quality meal that fits perfectly within the Mediterranean Diet's emphasis on lean proteins, healthy fats, and abundant vegetables. The skewers can be served alongside a crisp Greek salad, warm whole wheat pita, or a simple quinoa pilaf for a complete and satisfying dinner.

This dish is ideal for busy weeknights when you want something healthy without sacrificing flavor, and it's equally impressive for casual entertaining. The skewers can be prepared on an outdoor grill during warmer months or under the broiler year-round, making it a reliable recipe for any season.

Nutrition

27 minutes
None servings
245 calories
Fat 12.00g
Carbs 3.00g
Protein 32.00g

Ingredients

1.5 lbsboneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
4 cupsfresh spinach leaves, washed and dried, stems removed
3 tbspextra virgin olive oil
2 tbspfresh lemon juice
3 clovesgarlic, minced
1 tspdried oregano
1 tspdried basil
3/4 tspsalt
1/2 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
4 wedgeslemon wedges, for serving (optional)
2 tbspfresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
Baking sheet
Whisk
tongs
large mixing bowl
aluminum foil
chef's knife
meat thermometer
wooden or metal skewers (8 skewers)
grill or broiler

16:8 Diet

These skewers are ideal for the 16:8 eating window, providing substantial lean protein from chicken for satiety, nutrient-dense spinach rich in vitamins and minerals, and healthy fats from olive oil to support sustained energy. The balanced macronutrients help practitioners feel satisfied throughout their fasting period.

80/20 Diet

This recipe fits the 80/20 Diet perfectly with 100% of its ingredients being nutrient-dense whole foods: lean chicken breast, fresh spinach, extra virgin olive oil, and anti-inflammatory herbs. It provides excellent nutrition while being flavorful and satisfying, representing the healthy 80% portion of the diet.

Ancestral Diet

This recipe is fully Ancestral Diet-compliant, featuring grass-fed chicken, fresh spinach, olive oil, and natural herbs—all whole, unprocessed ingredients that would have been available to our ancestors. It completely avoids grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugars, and processed foods while emphasizing nutrient density.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This recipe is excellent for anti-inflammatory eating, featuring extra virgin olive oil rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, fresh spinach loaded with antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory herbs like oregano, basil, and garlic. The lean chicken provides clean protein while avoiding processed foods, refined sugars, and inflammatory fats.

Autoimmune Paleo

This recipe is AIP-compliant, containing only approved ingredients: grass-fed chicken breast, fresh spinach, olive oil, and AIP-friendly herbs (oregano, basil, parsley, garlic). It avoids all grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, nuts, seeds, nightshades, and processed ingredients while providing nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory nutrition.

Cave Man Diet

This recipe is perfect for the Cave Man Diet, using only whole foods that could be hunted or gathered: grass-fed chicken, fresh spinach, olive oil, and natural herbs. It completely excludes grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugars, and processed ingredients, focusing on primal nutrition.

Clean Eating

These skewers exemplify clean eating with only whole, minimally processed ingredients: fresh chicken breast, spinach, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and natural herbs and spices. Every ingredient is recognizable in its whole-food form with no artificial additives, preservatives, or refined ingredients.

DASH Diet

This recipe aligns perfectly with DASH Diet principles by featuring lean chicken breast, abundant vegetables (spinach), minimal sodium (only 3/4 tsp for the entire recipe), and heart-healthy olive oil while using herbs and lemon juice for flavor instead of excessive salt. The emphasis on fresh, whole ingredients and avoidance of processed foods supports cardiovascular health.

Diabetic Diet

This recipe is ideal for diabetic diets with virtually no carbohydrates or sugars, featuring lean protein from chicken breast that won't spike blood sugar, low-glycemic spinach, and healthy fats from olive oil. The emphasis on whole foods and absence of refined carbohydrates supports stable blood glucose levels.

Evolutionary Diet

These skewers align with Evolutionary Diet principles by using only whole foods available to hunter-gatherers: wild-caught or grass-fed chicken, fresh spinach, olive oil, and natural herbs. The recipe excludes all grains, legumes, dairy, and processed ingredients while focusing on nutrient-dense proteins and vegetables.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, containing only whole foods like chicken, spinach, olive oil, and fresh herbs with no wheat, barley, rye, or gluten-containing ingredients. It's a safe, delicious option for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Heart-Healthy Diet

These skewers are heart-healthy, featuring lean skinless chicken breast, extra virgin olive oil rich in monounsaturated fats, and spinach loaded with heart-protective nutrients. The recipe is low in saturated fat, contains no trans fats, uses minimal sodium, and emphasizes fresh herbs for flavor instead of salt.

High-Protein Diet

These skewers are excellent for high-protein diets, with 1.5 lbs of lean chicken breast providing approximately 30-35 grams of protein per serving. The recipe emphasizes quality protein while including nutrient-dense spinach and healthy fats, making it perfect for muscle building and satiety.

Hunter-Gatherer Diet

This recipe follows Hunter-Gatherer Diet principles with grass-fed chicken that could be hunted, foraged spinach, olive oil, and natural herbs—all ingredients theoretically available through hunting and gathering. It contains no grains, legumes, dairy, or processed foods, emphasizing whole, unprocessed nutrition.

Intermittent Fasting

These skewers are ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing high-quality lean protein from chicken breast for satiety, nutrient-dense spinach rich in vitamins and minerals, and healthy fats from olive oil to support stable blood sugar levels and sustained energy throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

This recipe supports Intuitive Eating principles by offering a balanced, satisfying meal with lean protein, vegetables, and healthy fats that honors both nutrition and taste preferences. The flavorful Mediterranean marinade and appealing presentation make eating pleasurable while the whole food ingredients provide gentle nutrition without restriction or guilt.

Low-Carb Diet

This recipe is excellent for low-carb diets, containing minimal net carbohydrates from spinach and herbs while providing substantial protein from chicken breast and healthy fats from olive oil. The absence of grains, starches, and sugary ingredients keeps carb counts very low while delivering satisfying, flavorful nutrition.

Mayo Clinic Diet

This recipe follows Mayo Clinic Diet principles with its emphasis on lean protein (skinless chicken breast), abundant vegetables (spinach), healthy fats from olive oil in appropriate portions, and fresh herbs for flavor. It avoids processed foods, refined grains, and added sugars while providing a nutrient-dense, satisfying meal.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe is a perfect example of Mediterranean cooking, featuring extra virgin olive oil as the primary fat, lean chicken breast as a moderate protein source, abundant fresh spinach for vegetables, and classic Mediterranean herbs like oregano and basil with fresh lemon juice. It avoids processed ingredients and emphasizes simple, fresh preparation methods that are hallmarks of this heart-healthy diet.

MIND Diet

These skewers align with MIND Diet principles by featuring lean poultry (chicken breast), leafy greens (spinach) which are emphasized for brain health, and olive oil as the primary healthy fat. The recipe avoids butter, red meat, and processed ingredients while providing antioxidant-rich herbs that support cognitive function.

Mindful Eating

These skewers are perfect for mindful eating, featuring varied textures (tender chicken, slightly charred spinach), vibrant colors (green spinach, golden chicken), and aromatic Mediterranean flavors that engage multiple senses. The whole food ingredients and simple preparation encourage slow, conscious consumption and sensory appreciation.

Neanderthal Diet

This recipe follows Neanderthal Diet principles with grass-fed chicken, fresh spinach, olive oil, and natural herbs—all whole, unprocessed ingredients. It strictly excludes grains, legumes, dairy, potatoes, and processed foods while emphasizing high-quality proteins and nutrient-dense vegetables.

Paleo Diet

This recipe is fully Paleo-compliant, using only whole, unprocessed ingredients including grass-fed chicken breast, fresh vegetables (spinach), healthy olive oil, and natural herbs and spices. It contains no grains, legumes, dairy, or processed ingredients, focusing on nutrient-dense proteins and vegetables that would have been available to our hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Paleolithic Diet

These skewers are fully Paleolithic-compliant, containing only foods available to pre-agricultural humans: grass-fed chicken breast, foraged spinach, olive oil, and natural herbs. The recipe avoids all grains, legumes, dairy, and processed ingredients while providing nutrient-dense, whole food nutrition.

Pegan Diet

This recipe aligns with Pegan Diet principles by featuring abundant vegetables (spinach), organic chicken as a small protein accompaniment, healthy fats from olive oil, and anti-inflammatory herbs. It's completely free of dairy, gluten, processed ingredients, and refined sugars while emphasizing nutrient-dense whole foods.

Primal Blueprint

These skewers are Primal Blueprint-compliant, featuring high-quality pasture-raised chicken, abundant non-starchy vegetables (spinach), and healthy fats from olive oil. The recipe completely avoids grains, legumes, refined sugars, and processed foods while providing satisfying, nutrient-dense nutrition.

Primal Diet

These skewers follow Primal Diet principles perfectly with pasture-raised chicken breast, fresh vegetables (spinach), healthy fats from olive oil, and natural herbs and spices. The recipe contains no grains, legumes, refined sugars, or processed ingredients, focusing on whole foods that support metabolic health.

South Beach Diet

This recipe fits South Beach Diet guidelines perfectly with its emphasis on lean protein (skinless chicken breast), non-starchy vegetables (spinach), and healthy fats from olive oil. It completely avoids refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and processed ingredients while providing a balanced, satisfying meal suitable for all phases of the diet.

Stone Age Diet

These skewers are Stone Age Diet-compliant, featuring only ingredients available in Paleolithic times: wild-caught or grass-fed chicken, foraged spinach, olive oil, and natural herbs. The recipe strictly avoids all grains, legumes, dairy, and processed foods while emphasizing whole, nutrient-dense ingredients.

Weight Watchers

These skewers are Weight Watchers-friendly, featuring lean skinless chicken breast as a zero-point protein, nutrient-dense spinach, and minimal healthy fats from olive oil. The recipe emphasizes whole, unprocessed ingredients and simple preparation methods that support weight management while remaining satisfying and flavorful.

Whole30

These skewers are fully Whole30-compliant, containing only whole, unprocessed ingredients including chicken breast, fresh spinach, extra virgin olive oil, and compliant herbs and spices. The recipe contains no added sugars, grains, legumes, dairy, or processed ingredients, focusing purely on nutrient-dense whole foods.

Instructions

1

If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 10 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.

1 min
2

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper until well combined.

2 min
3

Add the cubed chicken to the marinade and toss until all pieces are evenly coated. Let marinate for 5-10 minutes while you prepare the spinach.

7 min
4

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F) or position an oven rack 6 inches from the broiler and preheat the broiler on high.

5 min
5

Thread the marinated chicken and spinach leaves onto the skewers, alternating between a piece of chicken and 2-3 folded spinach leaves. Each skewer should have about 4-5 pieces of chicken.

5 min
6

Lightly brush the grill grates with oil or line a baking sheet with foil and lightly oil it if using the broiler. Place the skewers on the grill or baking sheet.

1 min
7
12 min

Cook the skewers for 10-12 minutes total, turning every 3-4 minutes, until the chicken is golden brown on all sides and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The spinach will wilt and char slightly.

8

Remove the skewers from heat and let rest for 2-3 minutes. Serve hot with lemon wedges for squeezing and garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.

3 min

Frequently Asked Questions