The marinade for the chicken for this Greek Chicken Gyros recipe is SO GOOD that I use it even when I’m not making Gyros. Try it once, and I think you’ll be as obsessed with it as I am!
Gyros marinade is made with yoghurt, lemon, garlic and oregano – classic Greek ingredients that infuses the chicken with flavour AND tenderises it. The smell when this is cooking is outrageous!
Greek Chicken Gyros recipe
It’s been ages since I made this Greek Chicken Gyros. But the minute the chicken hit the grill, all I could think was “why don’t I make this more often??”
The smell is incredible. You can REALLY smell garlic and oregano. You know how sometimes you add herbs into things and you can’t really taste it? Or you can, but it’s a very subtle flavour. Definitely not the case with this!!
What goes in Gryos
Here are the components that make up a Greek Chicken Gyros wrap:
- Marinated Greek Chicken
- Tzatziki
- Tomato Cucumber Salad
- Flatbread to roll up the gyros – or use smaller pita breads and just fold them over
Greek Chicken Gyros Marinade ingredients
Here’s what you need for the marinade. There’s LOTS of garlic and dried oregano. Lots!!
Yogurt is a magical marinade – it’s a terrific flavour carrier and tenderises the chicken!
Yogurt is the secret ingredient in this recipe. The acid in the yoghurt breaks down the fibres so it not only softens the chicken but also helps the marinade really infuse into the flesh.
Plus, the yoghurt makes this marinade “paste like” so it stays slathered on the chicken when you cook it (unlike many marinades that are thin). So you have extra flavour oomph!
In the video, you’ll see that I cook this indoors on a grill pan. But during the warmer months, this is a BBQ favourite!
What goes in Tzatziki for Greek Gyros
And here’s what goes in the tzatziki.
Greek Yogurt please! Or at least Greek style which is what I mostly use because it’s easily found at everyday supermarkets. 🙂
How to make Greek Chicken Gyros
And onto the making part!! There are a few components to Gryos – but the making part is a cinch!
GREAT meal for groups – prepare ahead, make loads!
This Greek Chicken Gyros is a really fab recipe for entertaining. Because it is really fast to prepare and the men can BBQ while the girls sip wine and chatter. (Joke joke JOKE!!!)
Then you can just lay everything out on the table. Why should you slave away, rolling up a gyros for everyone? Make ’em do it themselves!
(Few more of my favourite large format foods, DIY style, include: Chicken or Beef / Lamb Doner kebabs, Chicken Shawarma and Lamb Shawarma, Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Bowls).
What to serve on the side
I serve Greek Chicken Gyros as a complete meal in itself because there’s a decent amount of tomato and cucumber used to stuff inside.
If you wanted to boost the fresh vegetables, a big fat juicy Greek Salad would be terrifically on theme! For something more substantial, especially if you’re making Gyros for a group, try this Greek Lemon Orzo Salad as well.
And though not specifically a Greek-style salad, this Cucumber Salad with Garlic & Herb Dressing OR this Creamy Cucumber Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing would go down a treat with this Gyros. I also offer a Greek take on my recipe for Roasted Pumpkin with Yogurt Sauce and Pine Nuts (see Customisations ideas section) that would be a great partner to the Gyros.
If you’re really wanting to impress, make Gyros using your very own homemade flatbread wraps. They’re easy and they’re made without yeast!!
– Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzaziki
Ingredients
- 2 lb / 1 kg chicken thigh fillets , boneless skinless
Marinade
- 3 large garlic cloves , minced (~ 3 tsp)
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar (or red wine or apple cider vinegar)
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp Greek yogurt , preferably full fat
- 1 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- Black pepper
Tzatziki
- 2 cucumbers (to make about 1/2 - 3/4 cup grated cucumber after squeezing out juice)
- 1 1/4 cups Greek yoghurt , preferably full fat
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or more if you want richer)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper
Salad
- 3 tomatoes , desseeded and diced
- 3 cucumbers , diced
- 1/2 red spanish onion , peeled and finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves (optional)
- Salt and pepper
To Serve
- 4 to 6 pita breads or flat breads
Instructions
- Place the Marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag and massage to mix. Add the chicken into the ziplock bag and massage to cover all the chicken in the Marinade. Marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably 3 hours, ideally 12 hours and no longer than 24 hours.
Make the Tzatziki
- Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise. Use a teaspoon to scrape the watery seeds out. Coarsely grate the cucumber using a box grater. Then wrap in paper towels or a tea towel and squeeze to remove excess liquid.
- Place cucumber in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients then mix to combine. Set aside for at least 20 minutes for the flavours to meld.
Salad
- Combine ingredients in a bowl.
Cook Chicken
- Brush the outdoor grill with oil, then preheat on medium high. Or heat 1 tbsp of oil in a fry pan over medium high heat.
- Remove chicken from Marinade. Cook the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through (cooking time depends on size of chicken).
- Remove the chicken from the grill / fry pan onto a plate. Cover loosely with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Assemble Gyros
- If your chicken thighs are large, you may need to cut them. Mine were small.
- Get a pita bread or flatbread (preferably warmed) and place it on a piece of parchment (baking) paper (or you could use foil). Place some Salad down the middle of the bread, then top with chicken and Tzatziki.
- Roll the wrap up, enclosing it with the parchment paper. Twist the end with the excess parchment paper to secure it and cut if desired.
- I prefer to lay everything out on a table and let everyone help themselves.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
First published June 2015. Long overdue for fresh new photos and a brand new video!!
Life of Dozer
WAY too close to the BBQ!
This recipe is amazing! My husband and I have cooked this several times and there are never very many leftovers. You are a culinary genius Nagi!
I feel ridiculous asking this but my 3 year old is a picky eater so I was curious to know if anyone has served the chicken in the flatbread with salad and cheese? He will eat some things with cheese but I don’t know how it will go with the marinade?
I have friends with children Steff, they LOVE this recipe!
Could I use this marnide for lamb ?
Sure can Libs! N x
Finally found an easy recipe for one of my favorite foods. Made a few adjustments, not quite as much oregano in marinade but added oregano to sauce!!! Yum
Sounds great Gwen! N x
Made this about 4 nights ago and made it again tonight. Soooo good. Hubby said he’d happily eat this once a week! Another keeper, Nagi. Thank you so much for all the good recipes…
Happy Birthday Dozer!
Hello from New Brunswick Canada!!! Happy Birthday Dozer!!
These are outstanding! The chicken is to DIE for. But every component brings its own to the party, for sure. Didn’t change a thing.
Nagi, you are THE BOMB!! Thank you so much for creating such amazing, simple and delectable dishes for us. You are, bar none, the best food blogger out there. Just saying. ❤️❤️
You’re so welcome Sue – I’m so glad you loved this one!! N x
Absolutely a-ma-zing!We had a Greek afternoon,the tsatsiki and gyros delicious,while watching(obviously)the famous dance scene from Zorba the Greek!Thank you for the experience Nagi!And ‘Happy birthday!’to Dozer.😀xx
Sounds perfect Ramona!!! N x
Can you substitute the yogurt for anything lactose free. Will mayonnaise work
Hi Sonia, lactose free yogurt or coconut yogurt would work great here! N x
I marinated the chicken yesterday, but did not end up grilling it. I will be grilling it tonight, but it has marinated for little over 24 hours. The recipe says not to marinate it longer than 24 hours. Why is that?
Hi Lanette, the acid in the marinade can actually toughen up the meat if marinaded too long. You should be fine though – love to know how it turns out! N x
Omg I have the chicken marinating now honey it smells so good!I’ll update when everything is all done😉
Excellent! N x
Easy but so tasty! We loved it. The chicken were juicy and well-seasoned. The hubby claimed it was his best Greek dinner. Thanks for these recipes, Nagi!
Made the chicken the other night and it was a smash hit with the whole family. Will definitely be adding to weekly dinner rotation! Thanks
You’re so welcome Steph! N x
I made this last night and we loved it! I sent your pin to all of my kids to try it
Wahoo, that’s great Karen! N x
I marinaded the chicken just a little bit over 20 hours (but less than 24!) OMGERD. Plate licking delicious! Thank you for sharing! Love all your recipes.
Wahoo!!! That’s so great to hear!! N x
I first made these Chicken Gyros for my family. They were so easy, fresh and delicious everyone loved them! I also made them for my walking group when I hosted our Healthy Heart luncheon. Everyone raved about them! I served them with the salad and some ice cold cucumber water! Healthy and delicious! Also LOVE your “Epic Mushroom Beef Pie”! Making that again tonight! Thank you Nagi for your delicious and easy recipes, they’ve become some of our favorites!
Stay safe! Best regards,
Allison (from California)
I LOVE hearing this Allison, thank you so much!! ❤️
It’s a family favorite – one of about three both kids love. Having it for our Easter dinner tonight!
That’s great Elizabeth!! N x
Nagi! This recipe was sooo good! Made it for dinner tonight and everyone loved it 💕. Happy Easter 🐇
Family loved this. They said, “this is a definite make again.” I baked it in the oven but I bet it’s delicious on the grill.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Just bought make it for the second time, it is so so easy and absolutely delicious! You are amazing!
Wow, woman, wow! This was so delicious. Whenever I try a new recipe, I’m always hopeful that I’ll love it and wary that it might just be ok. Everything was so tasty (chick, salad, tzatziki, wraps)! I and my family loved it. Thank you :D.
I LOVE hearing this Elamie!!! I’m so happy you loved it! N x
This was truly delicious. Thank you, Nagi.
You’re so welcome Diane! N x