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!
Omg! The chicken is to die for! I cheated and bought premade Tzatziki sauce but this recipe was sooo mouthwatering! I definitely will make again!
I’m so glad you loved it Kristen!!! N x
can i cook it in the oven?
Hi Lumi, you could cook it under a grill in the oven! N x
Thank you so much 👍
3rd time making this delicious meal!
Nagi, thank you so much for your recipes!
This is one of our favorites and look forward to the zesty chicken every time.
Made this for a small gathering and it was a hit! Everyone loved it… will definatly keep this in my recipe box!
Fabulous!! There was a bit of chopping and prep involved but TOTALLY worth it!! Restaurant quality!! It was phenomenal. Definitely a keeper. **I did add a bit of dill to the sauce, for a little extra Greekness**
have made this multiple times, absolute hit!
could the same marinate be used with lamb?
I added feta to the salad and some dill to the tzatziki – took this from a 10/10 to an 11/10
Loved this so much I had to make it again one week later! Paired it with naan bread from BBC goodfood https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/naan-bread and your tzatziki and cucumber tomato salad. Super excited to be giving it another go tonight for Greek friends. Thanks Nagi!!
I have made this recipe twice now; once for my fiancé and once for my parents. Each time, it was an absolute hit! Easy, delicious, and a new family favorite!!
A firm family favourite. During lockdown my family have been doing ‘takeaway’ for each other on Saturday nights. We each take it in turns, there are 12 of us. I knew they would love this & they did, has lots of requests to forward the recipe. Love your recipes, yours is the first website I go to for all my cooking inspiration. Many thanks 💗
Hi Nagi,
Tonight we used this recipe for the first time. The dinner turned out to be FANTASTIC! BTW, we “met” you and Dozer three years ago last month (February 2018) when we were searching for a good mac and cheese recipe. And ever since, we have been using your delicious recipes. You and Dozer have become an integral part of our lives. We can not thank you enough for your great recipes and hilarious stories about the love of your life. We also have a beautiful dog (a German Shepherd) who is the center of our lives.
Sending you and Dozer big hugs from Estonia!
Barbara
Delicious!! I left out the oregano, it’s not my thing, but the garlic-lemon flavour is terrific.
I don’t have a grill so I baked this in a casserole dish, marinade and all. It releases a lot of liquid so I reduced the cooking juices in a small saucepan on the stove top afterwards. Served this over basmati (and OMG THANK YOU for the perfect basmati and jasmine rice instructions!!) with the tzaiziki.
Your recipes are always “chef’s kiss”.
Delicious. I used nan bread in place of pita/greek pita since I had some on hand. Whole family loved these and they were super quick and easy to prepare. Thanks Nagi!
Just wanted to say I’m a cook in a childcare centre and I tried this recipe for my kids… it was an absolute winner. It’s now a regular on the menu 🙂
Thanks Nagi
Absolutely delicious! Will be making again! Thanks for another great recipe
Delicious!! Will make again & again!!
I love hearing this Debra!!!! N x
Nothing short of excellent. Another amazing recipe. Thanks you!!!
You’re so welcome Missy!! N x
I just made these gyros. They taste good!My tzatziki came out thicke. What could I do to thin it out or is it supposed to be a little thick..
Love love this recipe! Could I use lime juice instead of lemon in the tzatziki? I just ran out of lemons in the marinade 🙂
Made this tonight, using store bought pitas (the Greek ones from the deli), and the salad deconstructed on a plate with a few other pieces (like grated cheese and carrot, and avocado, for the family). I had frozen the uncooked marinated chicken as suggested, it worked perfectly (but did take a fair bit longer to cook through on the stove top). My ungrateful children didn’t like the chicken (CRAZY) but I’ve inhaled it. Makes a great salad without the pita too (if you’re so inclined). Thanks for a fab recipe!