Greek Chicken Gyros recipe (2024)

The marinade for the chicken for this Greek Chicken Gyros recipe isSO GOOD that I use it even when I’m not making Gyros. Try it once, and I think you’ll be as obsessed with it as I am!

This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!

Greek Chicken Gyros recipe (1)

Greek Chicken Gyros recipe

It’s been ages since I made this Greek Chicken Gyros. But the minute the chicken hit the grill, all I could think was “why don’t I make this more often??”

The smell is incredible. You can REALLY smell garlic and oregano. You know how sometimes you add herbs into things and you can’t really taste it? Or you can, but it’s a very subtle flavour. Definitely not the case with this!!

Greek Chicken Gyros recipe (2)

What goes in Gryos

Here are the components that make up a Greek Chicken Gyros wrap:

  1. Marinated Greek Chicken

  2. Tzatziki

  3. Tomato Cucumber Salad

  4. Flatbread to roll up the gyros – or use smaller pita breads and just fold them over

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Greek Chicken Gyros Marinade ingredients

Here’s what you need for the marinade. There’s LOTS of garlic and dried oregano. Lots!!

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Yogurt is a magical marinade – it’s a terrific flavour carrier and tenderises the chicken!

Yogurt is the secret ingredient in this recipe. The acid in the yoghurt breaks down the fibres so it not onlysoftens the chicken but also helps the marinade really infuse into the flesh.

Plus, the yoghurt makes this marinade “paste like” so it stays slathered on the chicken when you cook it (unlike many marinades that are thin). So you have extra flavour oomph!

Greek Chicken Gyros recipe (5)

In the video, you’ll see that I cook this indoors on a grill pan. But during the warmer months, this is a BBQ favourite!

What goes in Tzatziki for Greek Gyros

And here’s what goes in the tzatziki.

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Greek Yogurt please! Or at least Greekstyle which is what I mostly use because it’s easily found at everyday supermarkets. 🙂

How to make Greek Chicken Gyros

And onto the making part!! There are a few components to Gryos – but the making part is a cinch!

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GREAT meal for groups – prepare ahead, make loads!

This Greek Chicken Gyros is a really fab recipe for entertaining. Because it is really fast to prepare and the men can BBQ while the girls sip wine and chatter. (Joke joke JOKE!!!)

Then you can just lay everything out on the table. Why should you slave away, rolling up a gyros for everyone? Make ’em do it themselves!

(Few more of my favourite large format foods, DIY style, include: Chicken or Beef / Lamb Doner kebabs, Chicken Shawarma and Lamb Shawarma, Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Bowls).

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What to serve on the side

I serve Greek Chicken Gyros as a complete meal in itself because there’s a decent amount of tomato and cucumber used to stuff inside.

If you wanted to boost the fresh vegetables, a big fat juicy Greek Salad would be terrifically on theme! For something more substantial, especially if you’re making Gyros for a group, try this Greek Lemon Orzo Saladas well.

And though not specifically a Greek-style salad, this OR this Creamy Cucumber Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing would go down a treat with this Gyros. I also offer a Greek take on my recipe for Roasted Pumpkin with Yogurt Sauce and Pine Nuts (see Customisations ideas section) that would be a great partner to the Gyros.

If you’re really wanting to impress, make Gyros using your very own homemade flatbread wraps. They’reeasy and they’re madewithout yeast!!

– Nagi x

Watch how to make it

This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!

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Greek Chicken Gyros recipe (9)

Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzaziki

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 6 minutes mins

Marinade: 3 hours hrs

Total: 26 minutes mins

Dinner, Entertaining, Grilling, Lunch

Greek

4.99 from 423 votes

Servings4 – 6

Tap or hover to scale

Print

Recipe video above. The marinade for the chicken is so sensational that I use it even when I'm not making Gyros! This is fantastic for entertaining because you can just lay it all out for guests to help themselves. The smell when the chicken is cooking is incredible – you can really smell the oregano and garlic!

Ingredients

  • 2 lb / 1 kg chicken thigh fillets , boneless skinless

Marinade

  • 3 large garlic cloves , minced (~ 3 tsp)
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar (or red wine or apple cider vinegar)
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp Greek yogurt , preferably full fat
  • 1 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Black pepper

Tzatziki

  • 2 cucumbers (to make about 1/2 – 3/4 cup grated cucumber after squeezing out juice)
  • 1 1/4 cups Greek yoghurt , preferably full fat
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or more if you want richer)
  • 1 garlic clove , minced
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Black pepper

Salad

  • 3 tomatoes , desseeded and diced
  • 3 cucumbers , diced
  • 1/2 red spanish onion , peeled and finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves (optional)
  • Salt and pepper

To Serve

  • 4 to 6 pita breads or flat breads

Instructions

  • Place the Marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag and massage to mix. Add the chicken into the ziplock bag and massage to cover all the chicken in the Marinade. Marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably 3 hours, ideally 12 hours and no longer than 24 hours.

Make the Tzatziki

  • Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise. Use a teaspoon to scrape the watery seeds out. Coarsely grate the cucumber using a box grater. Then wrap in paper towels or a tea towel and squeeze to remove excess liquid.

  • Place cucumber in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients then mix to combine. Set aside for at least 20 minutes for the flavours to meld.

Salad

  • Combine ingredients in a bowl.

Cook Chicken

  • Brush the outdoor grill with oil, then preheat on medium high. Or heat 1 tbsp of oil in a fry pan over medium high heat.

  • Remove chicken from Marinade. Cook the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through (cooking time depends on size of chicken).

  • Remove the chicken from the grill / fry pan onto a plate. Cover loosely with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Assemble Gyros

  • If your chicken thighs are large, you may need to cut them. Mine were small.

  • Get a pita bread or flatbread (preferably warmed) and place it on a piece of parchment (baking) paper (or you could use foil). Place some Salad down the middle of the bread, then top with chicken and Tzatziki.

  • Roll the wrap up, enclosing it with the parchment paper. Twist the end with the excess parchment paper to secure it and cut if desired.

  • I prefer to lay everything out on a table and let everyone help themselves.

Recipe Notes:

1. Tzatziki – makes a generous amount. But better to have too much than not enough!

2. Freezing – chicken can be frozen in marinade uncooked. Once thawed, massage well to remove curdling then cook per recipe!

Cooked chicken will keep for 4 days in the fridge.

3. Nutrition per serving assuming this serves 4 using pita bread.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 641.78cal (32%)Carbohydrates: 47.64g (16%)Protein: 64.69g (129%)Fat: 20.26g (31%)Saturated Fat: 4.58g (29%)Cholesterol: 242.16mg (81%)Sodium: 1297.31mg (56%)Potassium: 1456.56mg (42%)Fiber: 5.09g (21%)Sugar: 11.21g (12%)Vitamin A: 1455.3IU (29%)Vitamin C: 35.67mg (43%)Calcium: 232.57mg (23%)Iron: 4.09mg (23%)

Keywords: Greek Chicken, greek chicken gryos, gyros, yogurt marinade

Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

First published June 2015. Long overdue for fresh new photos and a brand new video!!

Life of Dozer

WAY too close to the BBQ!

Greek Chicken Gyros recipe (10)
Greek Chicken Gyros recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is chicken gyro made of? ›

Chicken gyros typically contain marinated and seasoned grilled chicken strips wrapped in a warm pita bread. It is often garnished with various toppings such as tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and sometimes feta cheese.

What does a Greek gyro have on it? ›

In Greece, it is customarily served in an oiled, lightly grilled piece of pita, rolled up with sliced tomatoes, chopped onions, lettuce, and fried potatoes, sometimes topped with tzatziki, or, sometimes in northern Greece, ketchup or mustard.

Are Greek chicken gyros healthy? ›

The Mediterranean diet — which includes many Greek dishes — is known as the healthiest way of eating. These simple-to-make pork and chicken gyros fit into the Mediterranean diet, delivering both heart and brain health benefits.

How do you assemble a Greek gyro? ›

To assemble the sandwiches, generously spread tzatziki in the center of 4 rounds flatbread or in the pocket of the pita. Add 1 lettuce leaf, some sliced tomato, and a few thin onion slices to each flatbread or pita. Add the patty and fold the bread over the meat.

What's the difference between chicken gyro and chicken pita? ›

The pita is more prevalent, and gyros have been around for a short time. The pita is a soft and leavened flatbread, generally round or oval. It is often used in pockets because that helps hold the fillings and can also be cut and used as a tortilla. On the other hand, Gyros is the meat filling inside the pita.

What is a traditional Greek gyro? ›

Traveler with family in Greece. · 3y. Generally it is pork gyro meat, tzatziki, tomato wedges, thin strips of red onion, and french fries all wrapped up in a piece of pita bread. There's a lot of variations, and the idea of a “traditional” gyro is up for debate.

What is tzatziki sauce made of? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

What is the difference between gyro and Greek gyro? ›

In the United States, gyro meat is often ground beef, but in Greece, it's a blend of lamb and beef. Tzatziki sauce is a refreshing and flavorful accompaniment that adds a pop of freshness to the sandwich. Traditional gyro meat is cooked on a vertical spit, then sliced off.

How do you cut tomatoes for a gyro? ›

Slice the tomatoes into thin wedges. Optional - sprinkle with salt. Slice olives in half - optional, they're fine whole and you save a step. Scoop out peperoncini peppers.

What makes gyros unhealthy? ›

One of the main concerns about gyro meat is its relatively high fat content, especially when made with lamb or a combination of lamb and beef. Saturated fat, in particular, increases LDL cholesterol levels and elevates the risk of heart disease. However, this issue can be mitigated by choosing leaner meat options.

What is the healthiest Greek food to eat? ›

This article discusses 13 traditional Greek foods that are super healthy.
  1. Hummus. Hummus is a popular dip or spread throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East. ...
  2. Melitzanosalata. ...
  3. Tzatziki. ...
  4. Dolmades. ...
  5. Gigantes plaki. ...
  6. Avgolemono. ...
  7. Fakes soupa. ...
  8. Souvlaki.
Apr 6, 2022

What to serve with chicken gyros? ›

With that in mind, here are seven of the best side dishes to serve with gyros:
  • Parmesan Polenta Fries. Parmesan polenta fries are the perfect side dish for gyros. ...
  • Steamed Vegetables With Creamy Sauce. ...
  • Red Pepper Hummus. ...
  • Greek Salad Perfect With Gyros. ...
  • Greek-Style Rice Pilaf. ...
  • Tzatziki Sauce. ...
  • Fried Plantains.
Dec 1, 2022

What is Greek gyro sauce made of? ›

How to Make Tzatziki Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, grated garlic cloves, chopped dill, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper, or season to taste. Use the cheesecloth to squeeze out as much juice as you can from your chopped cucumber.

How do you cut an onion for gyros? ›

Grilled Beef Gyros with Marinated Onions

Cut the onion in half from stem to root and peel. Thinly slice one half of the onion and place the slices in a medium bowl. Add the lemon juice, dill, and salt. Toss to coat the onion slices and let marinade while you continue with the sauce and gyros.

Do Greeks put chips in gyros? ›

Actually a lot of people would be surprised but they actually do put french fries in Lamb gyros in Greece there is plenty of videos of people going to Greece and eating the street food from vendors and I've repeatedly seen in these people's videos the people who make the gyros putting French fries in them.

Is chicken gyro processed meat? ›

processed meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie (The.

Is chicken gyro healthier? ›

Traditional gyro meat combines beef and lamb, which can be higher in fat, particularly saturated fat. For a leaner option, chicken or turkey gyro can be chosen. These poultry choices offer a lower fat content, making them a healthier alternative without compromising taste.

Is chicken gyro meat healthy? ›

Some people may question whether or not gyro meat is processed, but you can rest assured that it contains no artificial substances and is prepared with natural spices. It is a tasty and healthy dish that is perfect for individuals who are looking to have a balanced diet.

Is gyro meat or chicken healthier? ›

Generally, chicken is a lean meat that is a good source of protein, low in fat (especially if you choose skinless, white meat), and it provides essential nutrients. Gyro meat, traditionally made with a mixture of ground meat (often lamb or beef), fat, and seasonings, tends to be higher in saturated fat.

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