Quick Greek Chicken Gyros Recipe: Flavorful Mediterranean Magic

Greek chicken gyros blend Mediterranean flavors into a delightful culinary experience that reimagines ordinary meals into vibrant, memorable encounters.

Tender marinated meat nestled within soft, pillowy flatbread creates a sensory journey of textures and tastes.

Ancient cooking traditions inspire this iconic street food, celebrating simple ingredients reimagineed through careful preparation and bold spices.

Rich cultural heritage emerges through each carefully assembled bite, connecting generations of passionate home cooks and food enthusiasts.

Aromatic herbs and zesty marinades infuse the chicken with layers of complex, mouth-watering sensations that dance across your palate.

Balanced between rustic authenticity and modern culinary innovation, these gyros represent more than just a meal—they’re a celebration of shared connection and gastronomic creativity.

Crafting these gyros at home promises an adventure in flavor that will transport you to sun-drenched Mediterranean landscapes.

Tips for Juicy and Flavorful Chicken Gyros

• Marinate Masterfully: Let the chicken soak in the marinade overnight for maximum flavor infusion and tender meat.
• Grill with Precision: Cook chicken on high heat to achieve perfect char marks and seal in juicy goodness.
• Squeeze Cucumber Dry: Remove excess moisture from grated cucumber to prevent watery tzatziki sauce.
• Chill for Flavor Depth: Refrigerate tzatziki sauce for at least 15 minutes to allow ingredients to meld and intensify taste.
• Warm Wrap Technique: Slightly heat bread wraps to enhance flexibility and create a softer, more enjoyable texture.

Saving and Reheating Chicken Gyros Made Easy

• Refrigeration: Store chicken gyros separately in airtight containers. Wrap tzatziki and chicken individually to maintain freshness for up to 3 days. Separate bread wraps to prevent sogginess.
• Reheating Chicken: Warm sliced chicken in a skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, adding a splash of olive oil to restore moisture. Alternatively, microwave for 30-45 seconds, covering with a damp paper towel to prevent drying.
• Serving Tip: Reassemble gyros with fresh ingredients after reheating. Add crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and a dollop of tzatziki sauce to revive the original flavors and texture. Enjoy your delicious meal within 24 hours for best taste.

Favorite Pairings for Chicken Gyros

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A refreshing Greek white wine like Assyrtiko perfectly complements the zesty flavors of the chicken gyros, cutting through the creamy tzatziki and enhancing the herb-marinated meat.
• Match with Greek Salad Side: Create a classic Mediterranean moment by serving a traditional Greek salad alongside the gyros, bringing extra freshness and complementary textures that highlight the dish's vibrant profile.
• Enjoy with Chilled Lager: A cold, light Greek beer like Mythos provides a smooth, crisp contrast to the rich chicken and tangy tzatziki, cleansing the palate between each delicious bite of the gyro.
• Serve with Kalamata Olive Tapenade: Add a small side of olive tapenade to intensify the Greek culinary experience, offering a salty, robust flavor that perfectly echoes the Mediterranean roots of this dish.

Fun Variations of Chicken Gyros to Explore

• Mediterranean Lamb Delight: Replace chicken with marinated lamb strips, using similar Greek-inspired herbs like oregano and rosemary for a rich, hearty flavor profile.
• Veggie Mediterranean Wrap: Swap chicken with grilled halloumi cheese or marinated portobello mushrooms, keeping the tzatziki sauce and traditional Greek vegetable toppings.
• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Add harissa paste or red pepper flakes to the marinade for a zesty kick, complementing the cool tzatziki sauce with a spicier protein option.
• Gluten-Free Greek Plate: Use lettuce wraps or gluten-free pita bread instead of traditional wheat wraps, maintaining all the authentic Greek flavors and ingredients.

Greek Chicken Gyros Are a Must-Try

• Burst with Mediterranean Flavors: Dive into a vibrant Greek culinary experience packed with zesty herbs, tangy yogurt, and perfectly grilled chicken that transports your taste buds straight to the sunny streets of Greece.
• Quick and Easy Weeknight Wonder: This gyro recipe comes together effortlessly in just about 30 minutes of active cooking time, making it an ideal meal for busy families seeking delicious and satisfying dinner options.
• Customizable Crowd-Pleaser: Create personalized gyros by adjusting toppings, adding extra vegetables, or experimenting with different protein options while maintaining the classic Greek-inspired taste profile that everyone loves.
• Nutritious and Balanced Meal: Combines lean protein from chicken, fresh vegetables, probiotics from tzatziki sauce, and whole grain wraps, offering a well-rounded dinner that's both healthy and incredibly tasty.

Gyro Ingredients You’ll Love

Main Proteins:

Chicken: Lean protein that forms the base of the gyros, with a mild flavor that absorbs marinade beautifully. Best to choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for even cooking.

Marinade Ingredients:

Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Garlic, Oregano: Bright and zesty mixture that tenderizes and infuses chicken with classic Greek flavors. Fresh herbs and ingredients make a significant difference in taste.

Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients:

Greek Yogurt: Creamy base that provides tangy and rich foundation for the sauce. Full-fat yogurt works best for authentic texture.

Cucumber: Fresh vegetable that adds crisp and cool element to the sauce. English or Persian cucumbers are ideal for less water content.

Garlic: Provides sharp, aromatic flavor that complements the yogurt and cucumber. Fresh garlic cloves offer the most robust taste.

Dill, Lemon Juice: Herbs and citrus that brighten and balance the tzatziki sauce. Fresh herbs provide more vibrant flavor than dried.

Wrap and Garnish Ingredients:

Pita Bread: Soft, warm wrap that holds all ingredients together. Preferably fresh or slightly warmed for best texture.

Lettuce, Tomatoes: Fresh vegetables that add crunch and freshness to the gyros. Crisp romaine or iceberg lettuce works well.

Feta Cheese: Salty, crumbly cheese that adds a classic Greek touch. Authentic Greek feta provides the best flavor profile.

Instructions to Assemble a Perfect Chicken Gyro

Step 1: Prepare Flavorful Chicken Marinade

• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Garlic
• Oregano
• Salt
• Pepper

Combine thoroughly and let the chicken soak up the flavors for 4-8 hours in the refrigerator.

Step 2: Grill Chicken to Perfection

Heat grill to high temperature. Cook chicken for 3-4 minutes on each side until fully cooked and slightly charred. Slice chicken into tender strips.

Step 3: Create Creamy Tzatziki Sauce

• Halving
• Removing seeds
• Grating
• Wrapping in paper towel
• Squeezing out excess moisture

• Greek yogurt
• Dill
• Garlic
• Lemon juice
• Salt

Stir ingredients until well combined. Chill in refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to let flavors meld.

Step 4: Assemble Delicious Gyros

• Crisp lettuce
• Fresh tomatoes
• Crumbled feta cheese

Wrap or fold gyro and enjoy your Mediterranean feast!

Greek Chicken Gyros Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours 28 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Sizzling Greek chicken gyros deliver Mediterranean flavors straight to your plate. Tender marinated chicken, wrapped in warm pita with tangy tzatziki, invites you to savor an authentic taste of Greece’s culinary magic.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms) chicken thighs, fat removed

Marinade Ingredients:

• 0.5 cup whole fat Greek yogurt
• 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

Tzatziki and Garnish Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, peeled, grated and squeezed
• 1.25 cups whole fat Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped dill
• 0.5 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 ounces (170 grams) feta cheese

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken gyro marinade by thoroughly blending olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl or sealed plastic bag.
2. Submerge chicken breasts or thighs completely in the marinade, ensuring every surface is coated. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours or ideally overnight to enhance flavor penetration.
3. Remove marinated chicken from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to reach room temperature, which promotes even cooking.
4. Preheat grill or heavy skillet to medium-high heat (approximately 375-400°F or 190-204°C).
5. Grill chicken for 3-4 minutes per side, rotating once to create appealing crosshatch grill marks, until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
6. Let grilled chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin, diagonal strips against the meat’s grain.
7. Prepare tzatziki sauce by halving cucumber lengthwise and removing seeds with a spoon.
8. Grate cucumber using a box grater, then wrap in clean kitchen towel and squeeze firmly to extract excess moisture.
9. In a separate mixing bowl, combine grated cucumber with Greek yogurt, minced garlic, chopped dill, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Stir until ingredients are well incorporated.
10. Refrigerate tzatziki sauce for minimum 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
11. Warm pita bread or flatbread on skillet or grill for 30-45 seconds per side.
12. Spread generous layer of tzatziki sauce across bread, layer with warm chicken strips, fresh chopped lettuce, and diced tomatoes.
13. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top for additional flavor and texture.
14. Carefully fold or roll the gyro, tucking in sides to prevent filling from falling out.

Notes

• Marinate chicken for maximum flavor by letting it sit in the mixture overnight, allowing herbs and spices to deeply penetrate the meat.
• Grate cucumber and squeeze out excess moisture to ensure tzatziki sauce remains thick and creamy without becoming watery.
• Grill chicken at high heat to achieve perfect golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside juicy and tender.
• Warm bread wraps slightly before assembling to enhance the overall texture and make folding easier.
• Refrigerate tzatziki sauce for at least 15 minutes to let flavors meld and develop a more robust taste profile.
• Layer ingredients strategically: sauce first, then warm chicken, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and a sprinkle of tangy feta cheese for balanced Mediterranean flavors.

• Prep Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 550 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 880 mg
• Fat: 35 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 180 mg