These air fryer Greek pork souvlaki skewers are a delicious and quick main course idea that will immediately transport you to the islands of Greece. Paired with homemade tzatziki sauce, Greek lemon potatoes in spicy tomato sauce, and a fresh village salad, this traditional pork souvlaki recipe is sure to be your new favorite or a delicious meal.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
No marinating time: These pork souvlaki skewers do not need to marinate for lengthy periods of time, making them a good last-minute meal idea.
Perfect all-year around: The air fryer gives these Greek souvlaki skewers the perfect char without needing a barbecue, making this popular Greek street food easy to make year-round.
4 ingredient simple marinade: This traditional pork souvlaki marinade is big on flavor, without a long list of ingredients. You only need 4 simple pantry staples for this quick souvlaki marinade.
Adaptable: You can swap out different cuts of meat for this recipe, making it super easy to adapt to what you have on hand.
Different serving options: These grilled pork kebabs go great on their own, but you can also use this souvlaki to make a pita sandwich, like my chicken souvlaki pitas.
Ingredient Notes
- Pork tenderloin: Traditionally, pork souvlaki ("souvlakia") is made with a fattier cut of pork like pork butt/shoulder. Pork tenderloin or pork loin are lean cuts of pork, which tend to be easier to manage for smaller batches like this recipe, and still stays juicy while cooking in the air fryer.
- Fresh garlic: Since this marinade has so few ingredients, I highly suggest using fresh garlic for the best, zesty and bright flavor.
- Dried oregano: In this case, dried herbs are the better option than fresh. Fresh oregano can sometimes turn bitter, and will burn while cooking. Dried oregano adds the same slight bitterness, and will evenly distribute throughout the marinade.
A full list of ingredients with measurements is located on the recipe card, below.
Substitutions
- Pork tenderloin: If you are making a larger batch of souvlaki or prefer a slightly fattier cut of meat, you can go the traditional route with pork shoulder/butt. Pork neck is also a commonly used kind of pork, but may be slightly harder to find in a regular grocery store.
- Red wine vinegar: Lemon juice is a perfect substitute for red wine vinegar.
Variations
- Different protein: In Greece, pork is the traditional choice of protein for souvlaki. You can substitute chicken thighs or chicken breast, lamb, or beef if you prefer.
- BBQ grill: Instead of the air fryer, grill these marinated skewers for an extra authentic touch.
- Different herbs: Add extra herbs like rosemary to the marinade mix for an extra layer of flavor.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Prep Work Before Cooking
Collecting all your ingredients: This will make cooking so much easier. Gather all the spices you will need, and keep them nearby.
Cube the pork: Cut the pork tenderloin into even-sized cubes. Aim for approximately ½ inch cubes.
Mince the garlic: Mince the fresh garlic as finely as possible using a sharp knife, or a garlic press.
Mix together the extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, garlic cloves, salt and dried oregano in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
Add the meat cubes to the bowl with the marinade, and toss to coat well. Let the pork sit in the marinade for 15-30 minutes for best results. [photo 1]
Thread pork cubes onto bamboo or metal skewers that will fit into your air fryer basket. Put the pieces of pork relatively close together, so keep the pork moist and to prevent the souvlaki from drying out. [photo 2]
Arrange the pork skewers in your air fryer basket, and give them a quick spray with avocado oil cooking spray, to get a golden brown char on the meat. Air fry for 15 minutes at 400°F, turning the skewers occasionally. The pork internal temperature should read 145°F on a meat thermometer.
While the souvlaki is cooking in the air fryer, mix together the olive oil and fresh lemon juice mixture. Brush the vinaigrette over the cooked pork skewers, and serve!
Expert Tips
Soak bamboo skewers: If using bamboo wooden skewers, soak the skewers in water to prevent burning in the air fryer.
Pork cut size: The ideal size to cut the pork into is approximately ½ inch cubes. You can cut the pork into smaller pieces, but make sure they are all even.
Marinating time: You can cook the souvlaki right away instead of letting it sit in the marinade for 30 minutes if you are in a rush. Do not over-marinate the pork, as the acid will change the texture of the pork over time.
Make-Ahead & Storage
- The souvlaki marinade can be prepared 3-5 days in advance, and stored in an airtight mason jar in the fridge.
- Pork can be mixed into the marinade 2-4 hours in advance of serving. I do not suggest leaving the pork overnight in the marinade.
- Leftover cooked souvlaki can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Reheat any leftovers in the air fryer or an oven. To prevent the pork from drying out, wrap the meat in foil while reheating.
Recipe FAQs
It is best to use thawed pork to make souvlaki, as the marinade will penetrate into the meat better. Frozen meat will likely have additional moisture on the exterior, making it harder to char.
While souvlaki technically refers to skewered meat, you can cook the unskewered pork cubes in the air fryer. The pieces may cook through quicker when off the skewer, so keep a good eye on them.
You can freeze leftover or precooked souvlaki in an airtight container for 2-3 months. If freezing the cooked souvlaki in a freezer bag, remove the excess air before sealing. Thaw the pork before reheating in the air fryer or oven.
Air fryer dinners are a go-to for busy nights. Find more air fryer weeknight dinners made fast in the air fryer with minimal cleanup.
Air Fryer Greek Pork Souvlaki
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lb Pork tenderloin - cubed, ½" pieces
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- 2 tablespoon Red wine vinegar
- 4 cloves Garlic - finely minced
- 1 ½ teaspoon Dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoon Sea salt
- 2 Lemons - juiced
- ¼ cup Olive oil
Instructions
- Mix together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and dried oregano in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.¼ cup Olive oil, 2 tablespoon Red wine vinegar, 4 cloves Garlic, 1 ½ teaspoon Dried oregano, 1 ½ teaspoon Sea salt
- Add the cubed pork tenderloin to the bowl with the marinade, and toss to coat well. Let the pork sit in the marinade for 15-30 minutes.2 lb Pork tenderloin
- Thread pork cubes onto bamboo or metal skewers that will fit into your air fryer basket. Put the pieces of pork relatively close together, so keep the pork moist and to prevent the souvlaki from drying out.
- Arrange the pork skewers in your air fryer basket, and give them a quick spray with avocado oil cooking spray, to get a golden char on the meat. Air fry for 15 minutes at 400°F, turning the skewers occasionally. The pork should read 145°F on a meat thermometer.
- While the souvlaki is cooking in the air fryer, mix together the olive oil and lemon juice mixture. Brush the vinaigrette over the cooked pork skewers, and serve!2 Lemons, ¼ cup Olive oil
Video
✱Recipe Notes
- Soak bamboo skewers: If using bamboo skewers, soak the skewers in water to prevent burning in the air fryer.
- Pork cut size: The ideal size to cut the pork into is approximately ½" cubes. You can cut the pork into smaller pieces, but make sure they are all even.
- Marinating time: You can cook the souvlaki right away instead of letting it sit in the marinade for 30 minutes if you are in a rush. Do not over-marinate the pork, as the acid will change the texture of the pork over time.
Tatiana says
My entire family loved this so much that they made me make it 2 nights in a row!! So easy and so delicious!