Grilled Chicken Gyro
Juicy marinated grilled chicken wrapped in warm pita bread with fresh vegetables and creamy homemade tzatziki sauce — a delicious Mediterranean-style meal perfect for lunch or dinner.
Prep & Cook Time
- Prep: 20 minutes
- Marinate: 1–4 hours
- Cook: 12–15 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade
- 1½ lb (700 g) boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh dill or mint, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Gyro Assembly
- 4 pita breads or flatbreads
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- Crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Marinate the Chicken
In a bowl combine:
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- garlic
- Greek yogurt
- oregano
- paprika
- cumin
- salt
- pepper
Add chicken and coat thoroughly.
Cover and refrigerate:
- at least 1 hour
- preferably 4 hours
2. Make the Tzatziki
Mix together:
- Greek yogurt
- cucumber
- garlic
- lemon juice
- olive oil
- dill
- salt
- pepper
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Grill the Chicken
Outdoor Grill
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
Cook chicken:
- 5–7 minutes per side
until nicely charred and fully cooked.
Chicken is done at:
165∘F=74∘C165^\circ F = 74^\circ C
Let rest:
- 5 minutes
Slice into thin strips.
Indoor Skillet Method
Cook in a hot skillet or grill pan:
- 5–6 minutes per side
until golden and cooked through.
4. Warm the Pita
Warm pita bread:
- on grill
- in skillet
- or oven
for about:
- 30 seconds to 1 minute
5. Assemble the Gyros
Spread tzatziki sauce onto pita.
Add:
- grilled chicken
- lettuce
- tomato
- red onion
- feta cheese
Top with extra tzatziki and parsley if desired.
Wrap tightly and serve.
Optional Add-Ons
- olives
- cucumber slices
- hummus
- pickled onions
- hot sauce
Serving Suggestions
Serve with:
- Greek salad
- roasted potatoes
- rice pilaf
- lemon fries
Variations
Low-Carb Version
Serve in:
- lettuce wraps
- salad bowls
instead of pita.
Spicy Gyro
Add:
- chili flakes
- harissa
- spicy garlic sauce
Extra Juicy Version
Use:
- chicken thighs instead of breasts
for more flavor and tenderness.
Storage
- Refrigerate chicken up to 4 days
- Store tzatziki separately
- Reheat chicken gently before serving
