Chicken Souvlaki | Future Meals for Me
Series One
This chicken souvlaki is one of the five base recipes in Series One of Future Meals for Me, my freezer-friendly meal prep framework designed for cooking once and eating well all month.
If you’re new to the series, Future Meals for Me isn’t about strict meal plans or eating the same thing on repeat. It’s a system built around a small number of versatile base recipes that you can remix with fresh additions depending on what you feel like that night.
In every round of Future Meals for Me, there is always one raw prep. That means a recipe that’s fully marinated, portioned, and frozen raw, ready to be cooked fresh in minutes.
For Series One, that raw prep is this chicken souvlaki.
If you’d like to understand the full framework and download the shopping list, Sunday prep guide, and remix guide, you can start here:
Future Meals for Me, Series One Framework
Why This Recipe Is a Raw Prep (and Why That Matters)
Freezing food raw isn’t something we talk about enough, but it’s one of the most effective ways to keep meals feeling fresh.
Instead of defrosting and reheating something that’s already been cooked, this chicken souvlaki is:
marinated ahead of time
frozen raw in portions
cooked fresh on the night
That means you still get:
golden, juicy chicken
bright flavours
a meal that feels intentional, not reheated
It’s one of my favourite ways to reduce cooking effort without sacrificing quality.
The Flavours
This chicken souvlaki is built around classic, simple flavours:
garlic
lemon
dried oregano
smoked paprika
Nothing complicated. Nothing overpowering. Just flavours that work beautifully with lots of different sides, which is exactly what you want in a base recipe.
How I Use This During the Week
Once the chicken is marinated and frozen, dinner becomes very easy.
On the night, I’ll:
defrost a portion
cook it quickly in a pan, on the grill, or in the oven
add whatever feels right that day
Some of my favourite ways to serve it:
Wrap – flatbread, yoghurt, tomato, cucumber
Rice Bowl – chicken over rice with herbs and lemon
Salad Bowl – greens, cucumber, olives, yoghurt dressing
Jacket Potato – chicken over a baked potato with yoghurt
Mash & Greens – comforting, simple, deeply satisfying
Same prep. Different dinners.
Where This Fits in the Future Meals for Me System
This chicken souvlaki is one of the five base recipes in Series One.
Each base recipe:
makes around six portions
is designed to be freezer-friendly
is meant to be paired with fresh additions cooked on the night
To get the most out of this recipe, I recommend cooking it as part of the full Series One prep day, using the shopping list and Sunday prep guide.
You can find the full framework here:
Future Meals for Me, Series One Framework
This is meal prep designed for real life.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes. Chicken souvlaki is ideal for freezing raw once it’s been marinated. Freezing it raw helps preserve flavour and texture and allows you to cook it fresh when you’re ready to eat.
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When stored in airtight freezer bags or containers, raw marinated chicken souvlaki will keep well for up to 3 months.
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Defrost the chicken overnight in the fridge, then cook it in a hot pan, on a grill, or in the oven until golden and cooked through. Because it’s already marinated, it cooks quickly and stays juicy.
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No. This is a base recipe. It’s designed to be paired with fresh additions like salad, pita, potatoes, or rice depending on how you want to eat that night.
Chicken Souvlaki
Makes 6 serves
Protein or serve 130g-150g raw beef
Ingredients
900g chicken thighs, cut into chunks
⅓ cup olive oil
Juice of 2 lemons
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tbs paprika
Salt and cracked black pepper
2tbs thyme
Method
Make the marinade
In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.Marinate the chicken
Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes if you have time.Portion & freeze
Divide the chicken into 6 equal portions (about 130–150g per serve). Transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags, label, and freeze.
Recipe Notes
Freezer Instructions
Freeze raw, marinated chicken only
Store for up to 3 months
Defrost before cooking for best results
Defrosting & Reheating
Grill, pan-fry, or roast until golden and cooked through
Finish with lemon juice and olive oil