These Mayo Marinated Chicken Shashlik Skewers are a summer BBQ must-have in Lithuania. With tender chicken thighs marinated in a tangy mix of mayo, onion, and lemon, this recipe brings all the flavors of a Lithuanian grill-out straight to your table. Whether you’re reconnecting with your roots or exploring new tastes, these skewers are sure to impress at your next cookout!
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Summer BBQ In Lithuania
There’s something magical about a summer BBQ in Lithuania—it’s like a warm hug from the past. Growing up, no summer was complete without the smoky, mouthwatering scent of shashlik wafting through the air. Borrowed from Georgian cuisine, shashlik isn’t just food—it’s tradition, competition, and a whole lot of pride wrapped up in every juicy, perfectly charred skewer.
Every family has their own secret marinade, guarded like a treasure, and you better believe it’s a matter of personal honor to have the best one. It’s practically a sport, with uncles and dads sneaking glances at each other’s skewers, convinced they’ve cracked the code to the juiciest, most flavorful shashlik.
Family BBQs in Lithuania are more than just meals; they’re gatherings where the grill is the heart of the party. Everyone gets involved—kids, grandparents, even that one cousin who insists on turning the skewers way more often than necessary. But that’s all part of the fun. The sun sets late in the summer, giving you those endless evenings around the coal grill, chatting, laughing, drinking beer and Lithuanian Kvass (Gira) and making memories that stick with you long after the last skewer is gone.
Ingredient Notes
- chicken thighs: skinless and boneless chicken thighs are used. You can make this recipe with chicken breasts too, but chicken skewers will take less time to look and they dry out quicker.
- brown onions: may be replaced with red onions.
- mayonnaise: we used whole egg mayonnaise.
- lemon juice: freshly squeezed.
- olive oil: or sunflower oil.
- salt and black pepper.
Step-By-Step Method
1. Cut the skinless boneless chicken thighs into long strips, about 3 cm (1-11/4 inch) wide (depending on the size of the chicken thighs, cut each into 2-3 strips).
2. Place the onion wedges, chicken strips, mayo, lemon juice, oil and seasoning in a Tupperware box and mix everything well.
3. Cover with a lid and place the chicken in the fridge for 6-12 hours to marinate.
4. When your coals are hot, thread the skewers through the chicken as if you're stitching it with a needle, adding an onion wedge in between each chicken strip.
4. Put the skewers on the BBQ grill and cook turning occasionally for 15-20 minutes until fully cooked through. To check if your chicken is cooked, cut into the thickest part of the thigh: if there's no pink (the juices run clear), it is ready to eat. Alternatively, use a kitchen thermometer: it should read 74°C (165°F).
Lithuanian Tip: As the shashliks near perfection on the grill, here's a little Lithuanian trick—grab a bottle of beer and give those skewers a quick spray. The hoppy aroma will wrap around the meat like a cozy blanket, adding an extra layer of flavor while keeping everything juicy. It’s a sneaky little move that’ll make your shashliks unforgettable, and hey, it’s an excuse to have a beer in hand while you grill. Cheers to that!
5. Using a fork, push the chicken off of the skewers and serve with your favourite BBQ side dishes!
What To Serve Lithuanian-Style Shashlik With?
Pair your mayo-marinated chicken shashlik with these classic sides to complete the BBQ experience:
- Fresh Lithuanian Garden Salad: A creamy, dill-packed vegetable salad is a staple, adding a refreshing contrast to the smoky shashlik.
- Fresh Veggie Platter: Sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, and bell peppers sprinkled with a little salt and dill for that fresh crunch.
- Dill Pickles are a must with any Lithuanian BBQ.
- A bunch of salads including Lithuanian Cabbage Slaw, Carrot Salad With Sunflower Seeds and Creamy Tomato Salad are often served alongside.
- Georgian Adjika is a popular sauce to serve with chicken shashlik recipes.
Mayo-Marinated Chicken Shashlik (Lithuanian Recipe)
Equipment
- 4 large metal skewers
- BBQ Grill
Ingredients
- 600 g (1.4 lb) chicken thighs skinless and boneless
- 2 brown onions cut into wedges
- 60 g (¼ cup) mayonnaise
- ¼ lemon juice only
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cut the skinless boneless chicken thighs into long strips, about 3 cm (1-1¼ inch) wide (depending on the size of the chicken thighs, cut each into 2-3 strips).
- Place the onion wedges, chicken strips, mayo, lemon juice, oil and seasoning in a Tupperware box and mix everything well.
- Cover with a lid and place the chicken in the fridge for 6-12 hours to marinate.
- When your coals are hot, thread the skewers through the chicken as if you're stitching it with a needle, adding an onion wedge in between each chicken strip.
- Put the skewers on the BBQ grill and cook turning occasionally for 15-20 minutes until fully cooked through. To check if your chicken is cooked, cut into the thickest part of the thigh: if there's no pink (the juices run clear), it is ready to eat. Alternatively, use a kitchen thermometer: it should read 74°C (165°F).
- Using a fork, push the chicken off of the skewers and serve with your favorite bbq side dishes!
Kiris says
I love learning about the Lithuanian holiday’s and culture. My grandmother was Lithuanian, she was born in the US however her family was from Udrija as well as from Vilnius. I’ve been working on our family tree and look forward to visiting soon.
Great site!
Ieva says
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! How wonderful to have Lithuanian roots through both Ūdrija and Vilnius — and working on a family tree sounds like such a special way to reconnect with that history. I hope you get to visit soon; there’s something very moving about seeing the places your family came from in real life. I’m so pleased you’re enjoying the site!