Years ago the Mediteranean diet was all the rage. Everyone was tapping into their secrets for living healthy lives. Since then, Greek food has been in the spotlight for it's use of fresh herbs and spices, protein packed Greek yogurt, and flavorful meats.
I am full-on obsessed with it. Bring on the Greek food! I am pretty sure I could eat Pita Jungle every day of my life and be happy.
So, I wanted to create a homemade Greek Chicken Gyro recipe using marinated spiced chicken, grilled to perfection and topped with a homemade tzatziki sauce, fresh Greek Salad, all on a warm pita bread. Phenomenal!
Here's a few key tips to making an out-of-this-world Greek Chicken Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce:
- Marinate your chicken. You want it to not only be flavorful but juicy as well. By marinating it in greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, spices, and red wine vinegar, it gives it time for the chicken to soak in all of those traditional Greek flavors. At least 2-4 hours is a suggested amount of time but 24 hours is ideal.
- Make your own Tzatziki sauce. It is so easy since it is made in one bowl and uses only the freshest of ingredients. The key is to squeeze out as much water from the grated cucumber as possible. This ensures that the tzatziki sauce stays nice and creamy. I used Fage 2% Greek yogurt but the fat-free version works well too. Taste for seasoning and salt accordingly.
- These Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki sauce can be wrapped in your favorite pita bread. You can use soft flatbread or Naan bread as well. Warm your pitas before wrapping to make them nice and soft.
- You can also serve this chicken, Greek salad, and handcrafted tzatziki sauce in a bowl. Serve alone or on top of romaine lettuce.
Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
Marinated Greek Chicken topped with homemade Tzatziki sauce and Greek salad in warm pita bread.
Ingredients
- Chicken Marinade:
- 2 lbs. Chicken Breast cut into pieces
- ¼ cup Greek Yogurt
- 3 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 2 teaspoons Oregano
- Tzatziki Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups Greek Yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 Tablespoons Fresh Dill diced
- 3 Garlic Cloves finely diced
- 1 cucumber grated and squeezed to drain
- Greek Salad:
- 3 Tomatoes diced
- 2 Cucumber peeled and diced
- ¼ Red Onion diced
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Italian Parsley diced
- 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Feta Cheese
- 4-6 Greek Pita Breads Naan bread, or Flatbread
Instructions
- Place chicken, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano in bag and let marinate at least 30 minutes, preferably 2-4 hours. The ideal time is 24 hours.
- To make tzatziki sauce, stir together yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, dill, and garlic. Stir in grated cucumber and taste for seasonings. Squeeze the cucumber to remove excess water before adding to rest of ingredients.
- To make greek salad, place tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper in bowl. Stir to coat. Season to taste.
- Chicken can be cooked on grill or in skillet. To cook on grill -- place chicken on kebobs and heat grill to medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side or until chicken is full cooked.
- To cook chicken on skillet. Heat skillet to medium high heat. Sprinkle with oil. Add chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked and golden brown.
- Place chicken in pita bread. You can warm the pita bread to make it pliable. Top with tzatziki sauce and greek salad. Add additional feta, if desired.
Video
Notes
May use my popular Honey Chicken Recipe for a unique chicken option as well.
Nutrition
Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 40gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 1174mgPotassium: 1037mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 799IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 119mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
I hope your family loves these Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce and I can't wait to hear all about what you are making in your kitchen!
DonnaSue Flanders
Can I make the chicken with out the olive oil and red wine vinegar. I have pancreatitis and can't use either. Thanks
MaryAnn
I made this recipe for my son and he LOVED it. Our favourite Greek food truck closed last year and my son and husband really miss their gyros, but now I can make it for them anytime...thank you!!
Melissa Stadler
MaryAnn I am so glad that you found this recipe! I am sorry can’t get your favorite Greek food anymore, but this can definitely help. Thanks for trying my recipe!
Stephanie
This is such a great recipe. We make it all the time!
Melissa Stadler
I am so happy to hear it, Stephanie! Thank you so much for using my recipe. I am glad that it’s a part of your recipe rotation now!
Carly
This recipe has become one of my weekly staples and is a fan favorite. It’s absolutely delicious. I’ve shared the recipe with multiple friends who have all made it and loved it just as much. Personally I half the tzatziki recipe and only use one garlic clove because it makes quite a lot.
Melissa Stadler
Carly you are the BEST! Thank you so much for sharing my recipe with others. That’s the biggest testament to the fact that you liked it, haha! You are wonderful, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Sue
I made the tzatziki sauce, it was amazing!! It will be my go to from now on!
Melissa Stadler
So nice of you Sue! I am so glad that you like it.
Aharon D. Manes
I’m the oldest son(22) of a five person household. Worried about my family’s health due to fast food,I wanted to change the problem I have seen, so this will be my first comment about this recipe,I hope to help my family and their health with your recipes,I find them simple to understand and make,I hope this comment makes anyones day.
Sincerely your
Aharon
Melissa Stadler
Thank you so much for your comment, Aharon! I am happy to hear that you love my recipes. Thanks for trying them out!
rjam
Delicious! The chicken marinade gives excellent flavor. I kept the cucumber separate from the tzatziki since my family takes issue with it. I added it as a topping. Absolutely will make this again.
Melissa Stadler
I love hearing how you adjusted this recipe to your family’s preferences. I am so glad that it worked out and that you loved it! Thanks for trying it out!
Maggie
If you only knew how happy this recipe makes my family!!
Thank you thank you!
Absolutely delicious!
Melissa Stadler
Maggie, that is so sweet of you to comment! Thank you so much. I love hearing when anybody, but especially a family, loves and uses one of my recipes. I really appreciate it!
Jinger
Our family loves this recipe. We keep this in our regular dinner rotation. Delicious!
Jacqui
I love this recipe! In fact the whole family does! The only modification I made was I added some Authentic Za’Atar seasoning to the tomato/cucumber salad and also to the marinade the chicken. It was delicious!
Melissa Stadler
I’m sure that that seasoning was delicious. What a great adjustment! Thank you for trying out my recipe and for taking the time to comment.
Dean Stadler
This is one of our families all time favorite! Tons and tons of flavor and super fresh and easy on the stomach. So good!
Sierra Peterson
I make this recipe weekly! It has the best flavor and everyone I make it for loves it. I also meal prep this recipe for the week and it always tastes delicious!
Christine Anderson
This has become one of our go-to meals. Easy to put together and for the two of us, plenty of leftovers for lunches. Pretty delish!
Deborah Oliver
Really, really tasty recipe. I’ve made this a few times. I love that it’s made with ingredients most people already have in their home. Also very easy to throw together!!
Serena
Can you make the Tzatziki Sauce and the salad ahead of time, like the day before?
Melissa Stadler
Sorry about the late response, Serena. I haven’t been looking at comments lately and I totally missed yours!
But yes! The tzatziki sauce keeps well in the fridge, and is a great meal to prep ahead of time to eat throughout the week. I hope you enjoy it!
Alex S
Really delicious, my husband helped make it and loved it. Several suggestions based on our preferences: we used approx. one lg garlic clove (it’s raw); don’t overcook the chicken! (our bad); I might try it with boneless thighs next time (the premium kind) and trim most of the noticeable fat. Can’t wait to try another recipe!
Kelsey
These are super delicious! I’ve always been intimidated by tzatziki sauce and it’s so rewarding to finally make it and enjoy it! Thank you for the recipe!
Deisy
I made this chicken tonight and everyone loved it! I will definitely make this again. Thanks for sharing such a simple yet delicious recipe.
Christen
Any tips for a dairy free greek yogurt option?
SUSAN GOVERNALE
Bravo Bravo... Oh Mrs. Melissa, I have made three dishes from your website. Girl, you are the best cook ever! I finally got my picky eater daughter to eat a flavorful chicken dish for the first time. Everyone loved it and wanted more. I find your select the number of servings a great feature. I'm a beginner cook at 40 and I feel like a pro thanks to you.
I've been recommending your recipes to my friends and family.
Cookie eaters unite,
Susan