Description
This Greek Chicken Gyros recipe features marinated chicken thighs cooked to perfection on the grill, served in warm pita bread with fresh cucumber, tomato, red onion, shredded lettuce, and creamy tzatziki sauce. It’s a vibrant and flavorful Mediterranean main course that’s perfect for a healthy, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For Serving
- 6 pita or flatbreads
- 1 cup sliced cucumber
- 1 cup diced tomato
- ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup tzatziki sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken thighs or breasts to the marinade and toss thoroughly to coat each piece evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for deeper flavor infusion.
- Preheat the Grill or Skillet: Heat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat to ensure it’s properly hot before cooking the chicken.
- Cook the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it on the grill or skillet. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side until the chicken is fully cooked through and has a nice light char on the outside.
- Rest and Slice Chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain juices. Once rested, slice the chicken into thin strips suitable for filling the gyros.
- Warm the Pita Breads: Warm the pita or flatbreads directly on the grill or in a hot pan until soft and pliable, about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Assemble the Gyros: Lay the warm pita flat and place sliced chicken in the center. Top with cucumber slices, diced tomato, thinly sliced red onion, shredded lettuce, and a generous spoonful of tzatziki sauce.
- Serve: Fold the pita around the fillings to form a gyro wrap and serve immediately while warm and fresh.
Notes
- For a low-carb alternative, serve the chicken and toppings over a fresh salad or wrapped in large lettuce leaves instead of pita bread.
- Marinated chicken can be grilled ahead of time, cooled, and refrigerated. Reheat gently before assembling gyros to save time.
