These Greek-inspired Chicken Gyros feature flavorful chicken seasoned well and marinated in Greek yogurt for the best texture. They’re loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and creamy homemade tzatziki, all wrapped in soft pita bread. Throw the chicken on the grill or cook it up on the stovetop! This recipe is such a fun one for the fam, a great weeknight-friendly lunch or dinner, and so easy!

greek chicken gyros with fries on wooden board

Friends, can y’all believe that we’re over halfway into 2021 already?! I mean, my goodness, time is truly flying by. Before you know it, we will be doing all things related to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Until then, let us bask in where we are currently, yes? I’ve been enjoying quick eats and things that I can easily transport or meal prep for the current season. Listen, ya girl has been loving her poolside summer dates and more lol.

Greece has always been on my bucket list of top travel destinations. I cannot wait to one day visit the beautiful islands of Mykonos, Santorini, and more. Definitely looking forward to international travel, but until then I’ll have to settle for culture via food, ha! Needless to say, I’ve been dreaming of sharing these Greek chicken gyros with you for a little bit. Gyros are one of my favorite eats, let’s get into it!

greek chicken gyros with fries in white baking pan with tzatziki in bowl

Greek Chicken Gyros With Tzatziki Sauce

For starters, I ain’t even going to try and tell you that this is an authentic Greek chicken gyros recipe because it isn’t. I believe in transparency and showing respect when it comes to foods tied to certain cultures. My chicken gyros recipe is Greek-inspired through an American lens.

Nevertheless, these Greek chicken gyros are crazy good with many signature gyro elements! A lot of traditional Greek recipes use yogurt, specifically Greek yogurt, when marinating. That yogurt is a game-changer because it creates such a nice texture and flavor enhancer within the chicken. And tzatziki?! This Greek dip/sauce is so delicious and the perfect cool topping on these flavorful gyros.

ingredients for greek chicken gyros in bowls

What Is A Greek Chicken Gyro?

Great question! So, chicken gyros are a popular Greek fast food. To go further into detail, many Greek gyros are made using lamb, beef, pork, and chicken. The meat is typically cooked and then shaved off from one of those vertical rotisseries. You know, the spinning ones where you can see the juicy meat- I always think of New York (they are wildly popular there!). So, all in all, you’ll typically find a Greek gyro to be filled with juicy meat, lettuce, tomatoes, creamy tzatziki sauce, and more, all wrapped in a pillowy soft pita bread.

ingredients for tzatziki sauce in glass bowl
homemade tzatziki sauce in glass bowl
raw chicken with spices in glass dish
raw chicken with marinade in glass dish

Ingredients For Greek Chicken Gyros:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

  • Chicken thighs: I use boneless/skinless chicken thighs for my Greek chicken gyros, all the way. Dark meat chicken holds a lot of flavor compared to other chicken parts, stays more juicy, and tastes better- just being honest. I recommend chicken thighs above any other cuts of chicken. However, if you do not have them, you can use boneless/skinless chicken breasts and even chicken tenderloins.
  • Greek yogurt: You’ll need plain/unsweetened Greek yogurt. We’re using the yogurt to make signature tzatziki sauce and to marinate the chicken thighs in. Yogurt marinades are one of the best because they help to tenderize meats due to the acidic nature of fermented dairy products like yogurt.
  • Garlic cloves: Garlic makes all things greater- 5 cloves, finely minced!
  • Lemon juice: Fresh is best! Used for the tzatziki sauce and the chicken marinade, yum.
  • Olive oil: For the marinade and for cooking up the chicken.
  • Spices: Dried oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, ground nutmeg, and salt/pepper.
  • Cucumber: You will need an English cucumber to make the creamy tzatziki sauce.
  • Fresh Dill: Adds a nice herbaceous touch and is used in the tzatziki.
  • & for the Greek chicken gyro assembly: To fully assemble the chicken gyros, you will need lettuce (I typically use romaine), tomatoes, feta, sliced red onion, and pita bread. Use your favorite pita bread- I love the whole wheat pitas!
grilled chicken thighs on grill pan
grilled chicken thighs with knife on cutting board

How To Make Greek Chicken Gyros:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

Making my Greek chicken gyros is so easy, y’all- in fact, just watch how laidback this recipe is!…

  1. Prep the tzatziki. Combine all of the tzatziki ingredients, mix, and pop in the fridge.
  2. Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken and marinade ingredients into a container or large baggie and massage to fully coat all of the chicken. Transfer it into the fridge to marinate for at least an hour.
  3. Cook the chicken. You can use an outdoor grill or cook up the chicken via the stovetop!
  4. Slice the chicken. Cut the chicken thighs into strips so that they fit better into the pitas.
  5. Assemble the gyros. Badda bing, badda boom, dassit! Fill the top of each pita bread with cooked chicken, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, crumbled feta, sliced red onion, and tzatziki sauce. Fold and enjoy- yassss!
greek chicken gyros with fries

Gyro Serving & Customizations:

→ Here are some additional toppings to take these Greek chicken gyros up a few tasty notches!

  • crumbled feta cheese
  • kalamata olives (or your favorite olive variety!)
  • grilled/marinated artichokes
  • chopped cucumbers
  • sliced bell peppers
  • crispy French fries, yummo!
greek chicken gyros with fries stacked on top of each other

These homemade Greek Chicken Gyros are incredibly comforting, extra satisfying, and perfect for entertaining! Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More easy, comforting meals:

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
greek chicken gyros with fries

Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Quin Liburd
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6
  • Category: Main Entree
  • Cuisine: American, Greek
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

Description

These Greek-inspired Chicken Gyros feature flavorful chicken seasoned well and marinated in Greek yogurt for the best texture. They’re loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and creamy homemade tzatziki, all wrapped in soft pita bread. Throw the chicken on the grill or cook it up on the stovetop! This recipe is such a fun one for the fam, a great weeknight-friendly lunch or dinner, and so easy!

Ingredients

For the tzatziki sauce:

  • 1 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup grated English cucumber, water squeezed out & completely dry
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic paste)
  • 1 large lemon, zested
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, from zested lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper, to taste

For the chicken gyros:

  • 2 lbs boneless/skinless chicken thighs
  • ⅓ cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt
  • 5 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2–3 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking
  • 6 pita breads or flat breads of choice, warm
  • 2–3 cups chopped romaine lettuce, packed
  • 1 large beefsteak tomato, diced
  • 2–3 ounces crumbled feta
  • ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Prep the tzatziki sauce: In a bowl, combine the yogurt, grated and squeezed cucumber, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, dill, oil, and salt/pepper- to taste. Stir to fully combine. Give the tzatziki a taste test and adjust the seasoning, if desired. Then cover the sauce with plastic wrap and transfer the sauce into the fridge until ready to use.
  2. Marinate the chicken: In a large container or ziplock bag, combine the chicken thighs, yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, oil, oregano, paprika, nutmeg, and salt/pepper, to taste. Use your hands (fitted with disposable gloves, if desired) to combine and massage everything into the chicken until fully coated in the marinade. Transfer the chicken into the fridge to marinate for at least one hour- you can marinate the chicken for longer if you’d like (up to overnight, about 8 hours) >> be sure to turn or rotate the chicken halfway through for even marination.
  3. Cook chicken using an outdoor grill– Heat the grill over medium-high heat and brush the grates with oil. Remove the chicken from the marinade and add it onto the grill. Allow the chicken to cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through completely with an internal temperature of 165°F.
  4. Cook chicken using an indoor pan– Using a cast iron skillet/grill pan over medium-high heat, warm up 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering hot, remove the chicken from the marinade and add into the pan, cooking in batches. Cook the chicken for about 3-5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through completely with an internal temperature of 165°F.
  5. Slice the chicken: Cut the cooked chicken thighs into strips.
  6. To assemble Greek chicken gyros: Evenly distribute and fill each warmed pita (see note) with cooked chicken, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, crumbled feta, sliced red onion, and tzatziki sauce. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Please read the blog post in its entirety for more tips + tricks.
  2. To warm pita bread: wrap the pita in a damp piece of paper towel and microwave for about 10-15 seconds. Alternatively, you can warm the pitas in a skillet over medium heat- brush the pita with a touch of olive oil and use tongs to flip and warm on both sides for a few minutes.
  3. Storing tzatziki: keep the sauce covered in an airtight container stored in the fridge. The tzatziki sauce will keep for up to four days.

Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: Camera Eats First

greek chicken gyros with fries on baking dish