Description
Craving a takeout-style dinner you can whip up at home? These Irresistible Greek Chicken Gyros pack juicy lemon-garlic chicken, warm soft pitas, crisp fresh veggies, and a cool, creamy tzatziki sauce into one handheld feast. They’re perfect for quick dinner nights, easy entertaining, or meal-prep lunches and beat your usual dinner ideas by a mile. This easy recipe brings bright Mediterranean flavors to the table with simple ingredients, turning everyday chicken into a crowd-pleasing favorite for busy weeknights, weekend grilling, or anytime you need new food ideas and fresh lunch and dinner inspiration.
Ingredients
Chicken and Marinade:
1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Tzatziki Sauce:
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
0.5 cup finely grated cucumber squeezed dry
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill
1 small clove garlic minced
0.25 teaspoon kosher salt
0.125 teaspoon black pepper
For Serving:
4 Greek style pita breads or flatbreads warmed
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 cup chopped tomato
0.5 cup thinly sliced red onion
0.5 cup sliced cucumber
0.5 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Instructions
1. Whisk olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl until well combined.
2. Add the chicken thighs to the bowl or a zip top bag, toss to coat in the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
3. Make the tzatziki by stirring together the Greek yogurt, grated and squeezed dry cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then chill until ready to serve.
4. Heat a grill pan, cast iron skillet, or outdoor grill over medium high heat and cook the marinated chicken for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until nicely charred and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board, let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice it into thin strips.
6. Warm the pita breads in a dry skillet, directly over a gas flame, or wrapped in foil in a low oven until soft and pliable.
7. Assemble each gyro by layering lettuce, sliced chicken, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and feta on a warm pita, then drizzle generously with tzatziki sauce, fold, and serve immediately.
Notes
For the juiciest gyros, avoid overcooking the chicken—use an instant read thermometer and pull it off the heat as soon as it reaches 165°F, then let it rest before slicing so the juices stay in the meat instead of running onto the cutting board.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 gyro
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 880
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 135
Keywords: greek chicken gyros, easy dinner, quick dinner, weeknight dinner, chicken dinner ideas, Mediterranean recipe, healthy lunch, food ideas