These Chicken Gyros are the Greek street food that makes weeknight dinners exciting. Marinated chicken grilled until charred and juicy, wrapped in warm pita with fresh vegetables and tangy tzatziki sauce. Takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. I make these Chicken Gyros whenever I need something that tastes like vacation but uses simple marinade and quick cooking on any grill or skillet.
Why You'll Love This Chicken Gyros Recipe
Real talk, these Chicken Gyros are one of the easiest chicken gyro recipe versions I've made and my family requests them constantly.
What Actually Works: This Chicken Gyros recipe marinates chicken in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and Greek spices for at least 30 minutes, grills or pan-sears until charred and cooked through, then serves in warm pita bread with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and homemade tzatziki sauce. Simple marinating technique, about 45 minutes total. Comes out with flavorful tender chicken, crispy edges, and that authentic Greek flavor profile.
Why Other Methods Fail: Most chicken gyros attempts mess up by not marinating long enough which makes bland chicken without flavor penetration. Others use dried herbs instead of fresh which tastes flat and dusty. Some overcook chicken until dry and rubbery instead of juicy and tender.
The thing that changed everything: Understanding that you need proper marinade time and high heat cooking for Chicken Gyros success. My first attempt I marinated chicken for only 10 minutes because I was rushing. The chicken had zero flavor inside and tasted like plain grilled chicken.
Jump to:
What You'll Need for Chicken Gyros
Basic ingredients you probably already have. This is the easiest gyro pita healthy meal you'll make.
For the Chicken Marinade
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Fresh lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh garlic, minced
- Dried oregano
- Ground cumin
- Paprika
- Salt and black pepper
For Assembly
- Pita bread or flatbreads
- Sliced tomatoes
- Sliced red onion
- Shredded lettuce
- Sliced cucumbers
- Crumbled feta cheese
For Tzatziki Sauce
- Greek yogurt
- Cucumber, grated and drained
- Fresh garlic, minced
- Fresh dill, chopped
- Lemon juice
- Salt
Optional Add-Ins
- Kalamata olives
- Pepperoncini peppers
- French fries inside gyro
- Hot sauce
- Fresh mint
Exact measurements in the Recipe card.
How to Make Chicken Gyros
This Chicken Gyros recipe comes together with simple marinating and grilling. The technique is authentic.
Step 1: Make the Marinade
Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper in large bowl for your homemade gyros chicken base.
The acid from lemon tenderizes chicken while spices create that signature Greek flavor in easy chicken gyro dinner preparation.
Step 2: Marinate the Chicken
Add chicken pieces to marinade and toss to coat completely. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours for healthy greek chicken gyros flavor development.
Don't skip marinating time. The chicken needs time to absorb flavors for easy chicken gyros recipe card worthy results.
Step 3: Make Tzatziki Sauce
While chicken marinates, grate cucumber and squeeze out excess liquid using cheesecloth or paper towels. Mix cucumber with Greek yogurt, minced garlic, chopped dill, lemon juice, and salt for easy gyro recipe chicken sauce.
Refrigerate tzatziki until ready to serve. The flavors meld and improve as it sits for chicken gyro dinner perfection.
Step 4: Cook the Chicken
Heat grill or large skillet over high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and grill for 5 to 7 minutes per side until charred and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
The high heat creates charred exterior while keeping inside juicy for chicken gyros recipe instructions success. Don't move chicken too much.
Step 5: Rest and Slice
Let cooked chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing into thin strips. Resting keeps juices inside meat for how to make greek chicken gyros properly.
Slice against the grain for most tender texture. The thin strips are traditional for ground beef gyros style presentation.
Step 6: Warm Pita and Assemble
Warm pita bread in dry skillet or wrap in foil and heat in 350°F oven for 5 minutes. Spread tzatziki on warm pita, add sliced chicken, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cucumbers, and feta.
Fold pita around filling and serve immediately. These sheet pan chicken gyros inspired wraps are best eaten fresh and hot.
Top Tip
Marinate at least 30 minutes and use high heat for perfect Chicken Gyros. Here's what I learned through failures:
- That marinating time is what makes this actually work
- Made this mistake twice marinating chicken only 10 minutes because I was rushing
- The chicken had zero flavor penetration and tasted completely bland
- Just plain grilled chicken with spices on surface only
- Everyone was disappointed expecting Greek flavors throughout
- Started marinating minimum 30 minutes, preferably 2 hours
- The chicken absorbed marinade and tasted amazing inside and out
- Suddenly got authentic easy chicken gyros texture and flavor
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
The base Chicken Gyros are perfect but you can customize them for different preferences.
Protein Swaps
Use pork tenderloin for pork gyros recipe or ground lamb for traditional gyro meat recipe. The marinade works with any protein for gyros recipe chicken alternatives.
Sheet Pan Method
Arrange marinated chicken and vegetables on sheet pan for sheet pan chicken gyros that bake at 425°F for 20 minutes. The hands-off method is easier for crowds.
Ground Meat Version
Use seasoned ground chicken formed into patties for ground beef gyros style that's budget-friendly. Cook patties until crispy then slice for chicken pita recipes.
Storage and Reuse Instructions
Yeah, Chicken Gyros keep great for meal prep.
Refrigerator: Store cooked chicken, tzatziki, and vegetables separately covered in fridge for up to 4 days. Assemble gyro sandwich fresh when ready to eat.
Freezing: Marinated uncooked chicken freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before cooking for homemade gyros prep.
Make Ahead: Marinate chicken and make tzatziki up to 1 day ahead. Cook chicken fresh for best greek gyro recipe texture and flavor.
Serving: Warm pita bread fresh and assemble gyros right before serving. The chicken gyro tastes best when components are fresh and hot.
What to Serve With Chicken Gyros
These Chicken Gyros are substantial enough as complete meal but pair well with Greek sides.
Greek Sides: Serve chicken gyros recipe with Greek salad, roasted potatoes, or rice pilaf. The sides keep meal authentic without competing with gyro flavors.
Simple Options: French fries, coleslaw, or cucumber salad complement the homemade gyros chicken without extra work. Keep sides light since gyros are filling.
Appetizers: Start with hummus, tzatziki with pita chips, or spanakopita for complete easy chicken gyro dinner experience. The mezze style feels festive.
My Chicken Gyros Journey
First time I made Chicken Gyros I marinated chicken for only 10 minutes because I didn't think timing mattered. The chicken tasted like plain grilled chicken with no Greek flavors.
Everyone was disappointed expecting authentic taste. The marinade sat on surface without penetrating meat at all.
Tried again after marinating chicken for full 2 hours in refrigerator. Suddenly every bite had that lemon, garlic, oregano flavor throughout. The transformation was incredible.
Then I cooked chicken over medium heat worried about burning. It steamed instead of charring and had no crispy bits or color. Started using high heat and got perfect char marks.
Now I make these Chicken Gyros weekly for easy family dinner. Proper marinade time, high heat cooking, homemade tzatziki, and fresh vegetables create authentic results.
Similar Easy Greek Recipes Worth Making
Greek Chicken: Uses similar marinade on whole chicken pieces for greek gyro recipe variation with different presentation.
Souvlaki: Threads marinated chicken on skewers for chicken gyro vs souvlaki distinction with similar flavors.
Gyro Meat: Makes seasoned ground meat loaf for gyro meat recipe that's traditional street food style.
These gyros recipe chicken variations all use similar marinade techniques to Chicken Gyros, so once you master this recipe the others become straightforward.
FAQ
What is in a chicken gyro?
Chicken Gyros contain marinated grilled chicken sliced thin, wrapped in warm pita bread with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cucumbers, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce. The chicken gyro recipe uses Greek spices like oregano, cumin, and paprika in marinade. Some versions add french fries inside for chicken gyros ingredients authentic Greek style.
What is chicken gyro vs souvlaki?
Chicken Gyros can be healthy when made with lean chicken breast, whole wheat pita, and lots of vegetables. The greek chicken gyros recipe provides protein, vegetables, and yogurt-based tzatziki. Traditional versions with chicken thigh, white pita, and extra sauce are higher in calories but still nutritious for gyro pita healthy meal.
What is chicken gyro vs souvlaki?
Chicken gyro uses thinly sliced marinated chicken wrapped in pita with vegetables and sauce, while souvlaki is marinated chicken chunks on skewers. Both Chicken Gyros and souvlaki use similar Greek marinades but different cooking methods. Gyros are wrapped while chicken gyros sauce and souvlaki are served on plates with sides.
Is chicken thigh or breast better for gyros?
Chicken thigh is better for Chicken Gyros because it's more flavorful, juicy, and forgiving if slightly overcooked. The chicken gyro recipe works with breast but requires careful cooking to avoid dryness. Thighs have more fat which keeps meat tender during high heat grilling for chicken gyros tasty results.
More Recipes You'll Love
Once you've nailed these Chicken Gyros, try my Creamy Garlic Pasta for silky sauce with parmesan in 20 minutes. My Garlic Butter Steak Bites and Potatoes make tender steak and crispy potatoes in garlic butter. And my Cannoli Squares create easy Italian dessert with creamy ricotta filling that everyone devours.
Chicken Gyros
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper in large bowl, add chicken and toss to coat, cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- While chicken marinates, grate cucumber and squeeze out excess liquid, mix with Greek yogurt, minced garlic, chopped dill, lemon juice, and salt, refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Heat grill or large skillet over high heat, remove chicken from marinade and grill 5 to 7 minutes per side until charred and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let cooked chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing into thin strips against the grain.
- Warm pita bread in dry skillet or wrap in foil and heat in 350°F oven for 5 minutes.
- Spread tzatziki on warm pita, add sliced chicken, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cucumbers, and feta, fold pita around filling and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Greek Chicken Gyros:
Leave a Reply