The Perfect Chicken Gyros Recipe That Everyone Will Love

The classic chicken gyros bring Mediterranean street food magic right to your kitchen, revamping ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Savory marinated chicken revamps standard dinner routines with its rich, herbaceous profile and tender texture.

Mediterranean cooking traditions inspire this beloved dish, blending robust spices and fresh ingredients into a harmonious celebration of flavor.

Authentic gyros showcase culinary artistry through carefully balanced marinades that infuse meat with complex, aromatic notes.

Traditional preparation methods highlight the skill required to create perfectly seasoned, juicy chicken that melts in your mouth.

Home cooks can easily replicate restaurant-quality results with simple techniques and carefully selected ingredients.

Warm pita, crisp vegetables, and tangy tzatziki revamp this recipe into a meal that connects you with vibrant Mediterranean culture.

Chicken Gyros Bursting With Mediterranean Flavor

• Burst with Vibrant Mediterranean Flavors: This chicken gyros recipe delivers an explosion of zesty, herbal tastes that transport your taste buds straight to Greece with every single bite.
• Effortless Culinary Adventure: Requiring minimal cooking skills, this recipe allows home cooks to create restaurant-quality street food with simple ingredients and straightforward preparation steps.
• Quick and Protein-Packed Meal Solution: Perfect for busy weeknights, these gyros can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes, offering a nutritious and satisfying dinner that takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
• Customize with Endless Variations: Easily adapt the recipe by switching proteins, adding different vegetables, or experimenting with spice levels to match personal preferences and keep meals exciting.

What Goes Into a Delicious Chicken Gyro

Main Ingredients:

• Chicken Breast: Lean protein that absorbs marinade flavors and provides tender, juicy meat for the gyros.

• Pita Bread or Soft Wrap: Soft, flexible base that holds all the gyro ingredients together with traditional Mediterranean style.

• Olive Oil: Helps distribute flavors and keeps chicken moist during cooking.
• Lemon Juice: Adds bright, tangy flavor and helps tenderize the chicken.
• Garlic: Provides robust, aromatic flavor typical in Mediterranean cuisine.
• Dried Oregano: Classic Greek herb that adds authentic Mediterranean seasoning.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Enhances overall seasoning and brings out chicken's natural taste.

• Greek Yogurt: Creamy, thick base that gives tzatziki its signature smooth texture.
• Cucumber: Fresh vegetable that adds crisp coolness and traditional tzatziki character.
• Fresh Dill or Mint: Herbs that provide fresh, aromatic notes to the sauce.
• Garlic: Adds depth and traditional tzatziki flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens the sauce with a tangy touch.
• Salt and Pepper: Balances and enhances sauce flavors.

• Lettuce, Tomatoes: Fresh vegetables that add crunch and color to the gyros.
• Feta Cheese: Salty, crumbly cheese that provides authentic Greek flavor.

How to Wrap Up the Best Chicken Gyros

Step 1: Prepare Zesty Chicken Marinade

• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Garlic
• Dried oregano
• Salt
• Black pepper

Whisk all ingredients in a large bowl or sealed plastic bag. Add chicken pieces, ensuring they’re completely coated. Refrigerate for 4-8 hours to let flavors meld deeply.

Step 2: Grill Perfect Chicken Strips

Preheat grill or heavy skillet to high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and shake off excess liquid. Cook chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let meat rest for 5 minutes, then slice into tender strips.

Step 3: Create Creamy Cucumber Sauce

• Greek yogurt
• Grated cucumber
• Fresh dill
• Minced garlic
• Lemon juice
• Salt
• Pepper

Grate cucumber and squeeze out excess moisture using a clean kitchen towel. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes to enhance flavors.

Step 4: Assemble Mouthwatering Gyros

Warm soft pita bread briefly on grill or skillet. Spread generous layer of cucumber sauce. Layer with warm chicken strips, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato slices, and crumbled feta cheese. Fold or roll tightly. Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade Mediterranean feast!

Chicken Gyro Tips for Juicier, Tastier Results

• Maximize Marinade Magic: Let chicken soak in the marinade overnight to intensify flavors and tenderize the meat completely.
• Grill with Precision: Use high heat and watch carefully to achieve perfect char marks without drying out the chicken.
• Squeeze Cucumber Thoroughly: Remove maximum moisture from grated cucumber to prevent watery tzatziki sauce and maintain a thick, creamy consistency.
• Warm Wraps Technique: Lightly toast bread wraps just before assembling to enhance texture and prevent sogginess.
• Strategic Layering: Place warm chicken first, then cool ingredients to maintain ideal temperature balance and prevent soggy wrap bottoms.

How to Keep Chicken Gyros Fresh and Reheatable

• Refrigeration: Store leftover chicken gyros in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Separate chicken, tzatziki sauce, and bread wraps to maintain their individual textures and prevent sogginess.
• Freezing: Wrap individual chicken slices and tzatziki sauce separately in freezer-safe containers. Frozen gyros can last up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheating: Warm chicken slices in a skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or microwave for 30-45 seconds. Gently reheat bread wraps in a toaster oven or microwave to prevent drying. Add fresh tzatziki sauce and toppings after reheating for the best flavor and texture.

What to Serve With Chicken Gyros Tonight

• Crisp Wine Companion: Pair this savory chicken gyro with a chilled, crisp white wine like Assyrtiko from Greece, which complements the tangy tzatziki and cuts through the richness of the grilled chicken.
• Fresh Mediterranean Salad Side: Serve a light Greek salad with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and kalamata olives dressed in olive oil and lemon juice to enhance the gyro's Mediterranean flavors.
• Zesty Beverage Match: Cool down the meal with a refreshing glass of homemade mint lemonade or a Greek-style frappé coffee, which provides a bright, invigorating contrast to the warm, spiced chicken.
• Creamy Dip Addition: Include extra tzatziki sauce on the side for dipping, allowing guests to add more of the cool, tangy sauce to their gyros and enjoy a burst of traditional Greek flavor.

Chicken Gyro Versions That Shake Things Up

• Mediterranean Veggie Gyros: Replace chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or marinated tofu. Enhance flavor by adding roasted red peppers and kalamata olives for a vegetarian alternative packed with Mediterranean essence.
• Spicy Southwestern Gyros: Transform the recipe by using chili-lime marinade for the protein. Add pepper jack cheese, jalapeños, and cilantro-lime crema instead of tzatziki. Swap traditional wrap with chipotle-seasoned flatbread for a zesty kick.
• Greek-Inspired Lamb Gyros: Substitute chicken with marinated lamb strips seasoned with rosemary and garlic. Keep the traditional tzatziki sauce but sprinkle additional fresh mint leaves for an authentic Greek street food experience.
• Breakfast Gyro Fusion: Create a morning version using scrambled eggs, crispy bacon bits, and a lighter yogurt sauce. Incorporate hash browns or roasted sweet potatoes for a hearty breakfast wrap that breaks traditional boundaries.

Delicious Chicken Gyros Recipe

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4.8 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Greek street fare comes alive with these mouthwatering chicken gyros, packed with Mediterranean flavors and zesty tzatziki sauce. Savory marinated chicken, wrapped in warm pita bread, promises a quick culinary escape you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken and Base Ingredients:

• 2 lb (907 g) chicken thighs, fat removed
• 1 ¼ cup (296 ml) whole fat Greek yogurt

Marinade and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• Pepper to taste

Vegetables and Additional Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, peeled, grated and squeezed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped dill
• ½ tablespoon finely chopped or minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 pita or lavash bread wraps
• 2 tomatoes, cubed
• 1 small red onion, sliced
• 1 head lettuce, sliced
• 6 oz (170 g) feta cheese

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Instructions

1. Craft a robust marinade by blending aromatic herbs, zesty lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil in a sealed container, ensuring chicken pieces are thoroughly coated and left to absorb flavors for a minimum of 4 hours or ideally overnight in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat grill to high temperature, creating distinct char marks on marinated chicken pieces, cooking each side for approximately 3-4 minutes until internal temperature reaches safe cooking point and exterior develops a golden-brown crust.
3. Prepare tzatziki sauce by meticulously deseeding cucumber, grating it finely, and extracting excess moisture using a clean kitchen towel to prevent watery consistency.
4. Combine grated cucumber with tangy yogurt, minced garlic, fresh dill, and a splash of lemon juice, mixing thoroughly to create a creamy, herbaceous sauce with balanced flavors.
5. Chill tzatziki sauce for at least 15 minutes to allow ingredients to meld and develop a rich, harmonious taste profile.
6. Gently warm flatbread or pita wraps to enhance pliability and bring out subtle bread aromatics.
7. Assemble gyros by spreading a generous layer of tzatziki sauce across the warm bread, layering tender sliced chicken, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato slices, and crumbled feta cheese.
8. Carefully fold or roll the gyro, ensuring ingredients are securely tucked inside, creating a compact and delectable handheld meal.

Notes

• Quick Marination Tip: Let chicken soak in flavorful herbs and spices for 4-8 hours to ensure maximum taste absorption and tender meat.
• Grilling Technique: Cook chicken over high heat until perfectly charred and cooked through, creating delicious caramelized edges.
• Tzatziki Prep Hack: Remove cucumber moisture thoroughly to prevent watery sauce and maintain a thick, creamy consistency.
• Wrap Assembly Trick: Layer ingredients strategically for balanced flavors and prevent soggy bread.
• Cheese Enhancement: Sprinkle fresh feta for a tangy, salty finish that elevates the entire gyro experience.
• Serving Suggestion: Enjoy immediately while chicken remains warm and bread stays soft for optimal texture and taste.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg