Chicken Gyro Recipe

This Chicken Gyros recipe will make you forget that sandwiches and wraps even exist. Once you get your first bite of that soft pita bread paired with moist and juicy chicken, all you’ll be thinking about is taking your next bite! 

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HOMEMADE CHICKEN GYROS FOR THE WIN! 

The next time you’re craving Greek food but don’t want to venture out of the house, this homemade chicken gyro recipe is exactly what you’ll need! Simple Greek seasonings paired with tzatziki sauce are a perfect way to curb that hankerin’ quickly! The best part? You’ll have enough leftover chicken to throw into a salad or pasta later! 

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TRY SOME OF MY OTHER Chicken RECIPES:

We eat a lot of chicken in our house because of how well it tastes and how versatile it is. Some of my other favorite chicken recipes are: Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs, Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup, Chicken and Dumplings with Tortillas

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• The flavor and texture of this Greek chicken pita are out of this world delicious! 
• Greek chicken gyros are a super affordable way to make a fun and unique dish. 
• The cooked chicken meat is great for leftovers so you can enjoy these homemade gyros again the next day! 
• You can easily make this simple chicken gyro recipe for lunch, dinner, or as a late-night snack. It’s literally perfect for any night of the week.

INGREDIENTS USED

• Chicken breasts
• Garlic
• Apple cider vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Greek yogurt
• Oregano
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Salt
• Pepper
• Seasoning Salt
• Greek Seasoning
• Pita bread
• Optional garnishes:  tzatziki sauce, sliced red onion, sliced grape tomatoes, shredded lettuce.  

*see recipe card for detailed measurements

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KITCHEN SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED

• Meat tenderizer
• Ziplock bag
• Medium size bowl

HOW TO MAKE THIS CHICKEN GYRO RECIPE WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

1. Flatten the chicken. Grab your meat tenderizer and pound the chicken until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. 

2. Combine the marinade ingredients. Put the garlic, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, greek yogurt, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and seasoning salt,and greek seasoning in a medium bowl and mix well. 

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3. Put the chicken into the marinade. Add the marinade into a large plastic bag that you can seal. Put the chicken inside the bag and squish it around so that the chicken is totally covered. Once covered, place the bag of chicken in the fridge for at least 2 hours. 

4. Make the tzatziki sauce. As the chicken is marinating in the fridge, make my homemade tzatziki sauce.

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5. Cook the chicken. Take the chicken out of the marinade. It’s time to cook the chicken on the stovetop. Put a tablespoon of oil into a skillet and turn it to medium heat. Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes on each side (this will sear the chicken while it cooks), then turn the chicken over and cook until it’s cooked all the way through. (You will be throwing away the excess marinade that’s still in the bag)

6. Cut up the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, put the pieces of chicken on a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes. After that time has passed, slice the chicken meat into thin strips. 

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7. Warm up the pita bread. Soften the pita bread by warming it in the microwave for a few seconds. Once it’s warm, fill it with the chicken, tzatziki sauce, and your favorite garnishes. 

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HELPFUL TIPS & TRICKS

• Use tongs to turn the chicken in the skillet. This is the easiest way to grab it and flip it quickly. If you’re cooking the chicken gyro meat in a cast-iron skillet, it should release the chicken once it’s cooked on one side, making it simple and easy to flip.
• You can make the marinade ahead of time if you want to prep it a little bit in advance. Make sure that you give the bag a shake and stir up the ingredients in it before adding the chicken to it. 
• The stovetop is another way that you can warm up the pita bread! Just put the pita in the skillet on low heat and let it cook for about 30 seconds or so, then flip. Repeat the process until the pita is warmed up. There’s nothing like warm pita bread!

SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS

• Make a wrap – If you run out of pita bread or want to try something different, you can easily add this gyro mixture to a wrap as well! You can also use flat bread, too.
• Can I use sour cream instead of Greek yogurt? Yes, you can. If you don’t have Greek yogurt in the house, you can use sour cream in its place. 
• Leave out the spiciness – There’s nothing in the gyro rule book that says you have to have spice added to this recipe if you don’t want it. 
• Add red onion – I’m a huge fan of putting red onions in my pita wrap. It may not be traditional Greek food to do this, but I really love the flavor that it adds to this easy gyro recipe.

STORAGE NOTES

After cooking the chicken, you can keep it stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the chicken and use it for later, too. 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long can I marinade the chicken before cooking it? 

You can actually marinate the chicken for up to 48 hours, but no longer than that. I find that the sweet spot is right at that 24-hour mark! 

Can I use grilled chicken instead? 

Yes, you can. Grill the chicken for about 5-10 minutes and flip it halfway through. Another cooking option for the chicken is in the air fryer. To make a chicken gyro pita in the air fryer, set the temperature to 360 degrees and cook the chicken for 5 minutes on each side. 

How do I know when chicken is done cooking?

A meat thermometer is the best bet. Put it inside the thick part of the chicken. As long as it reads 165 degrees, the chicken should be done and safe to eat. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, cut into the chicken. If the juices run clear, this is a way to tell that it’s cooked all the way through. 

What can I do with leftover tzatziki sauce? 

If you’re ready to try something other than this Greek chicken with tzatziki, use the leftover sauce as a dip for fresh veggies. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to two weeks or can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. The creamy tzatziki sauce is good with just about anything!

What side dishes go well with this Greek chicken gyro recipe?

Fresh crisp veggies, a nice Greek salad, and even french fries are a few of my favorite things! Since easy chicken gyros are popular street foods in many countries, I think that this means that you can pair it up with a ton of different great recipes!

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If you’ve made this recipe or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how they turned out. We love hearing from you! You can also follow along with me on FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM to see more colorful recipes!