Description
Experience the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean with this Greek Chicken Gyros recipe, featuring tender marinated chicken thighs grilled to perfection, fresh diced salad, and a creamy cucumber tzatziki sauce, all wrapped in warm pita bread for a deliciously satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade and Chicken
- 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp Greek yogurt (full fat)
- 1½ tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
Tzatziki Sauce
- 2 cucumbers, grated and drained
- 1¼ cups Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 3 tomatoes, diced
- 3 cucumbers, diced
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup parsley (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Additional
- 4–6 pita breads or flatbreads, warmed
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: Place all marinade ingredients (minced garlic, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, Greek yogurt, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper) into a ziplock bag and mix thoroughly to combine.
- Marinate Chicken: Add the boneless, skinless chicken thighs to the bag, massage to coat evenly with the marinade, and refrigerate for 3 to 12 hours to infuse flavors.
- Make Tzatziki Sauce: Grate the cucumbers and thoroughly drain excess moisture. In a bowl, combine grated cucumbers with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir well and set aside to meld flavors.
- Prepare Salad: In a separate bowl, combine diced tomatoes, diced cucumbers, finely chopped red onion, and parsley if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix gently.
- Heat Cooking Surface: Preheat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat and add a small amount of oil to prevent sticking.
- Cook Chicken: Remove chicken from marinade and cook for 2–3 minutes on each side until the exterior is golden and the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Rest and Slice Chicken: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to retain juices, then slice into strips suitable for layering in the gyro.
- Assemble Gyros: Warm the pita breads or flatbreads. Spread a layer of salad and sliced chicken in the center, then top with a generous amount of tzatziki sauce.
- Serve: Wrap the gyros with parchment paper, twisting the ends to secure the filling, and serve immediately for best taste and freshness.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for longer, up to 12 hours, enhances flavor and tenderness.
- Be sure to drain the grated cucumbers well to avoid watery tzatziki sauce.
- Warming the pita breads before assembling prevents cracking and makes them more pliable.
- These gyros can be customized with additional toppings such as feta cheese or olives if desired.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, Greek
Keywords: Greek chicken gyros, Mediterranean chicken recipe, grilled chicken gyros, tzatziki sauce, easy Greek recipe, pita bread gyros
