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!
This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
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
This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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!
Looks delicious and will try it out tonight. A bit surprised that your tzatziki does not seem to contain garlic, is that intentional? I have never had Tzatziki without garlic, including eating it every day during a couple of trips to Greece.
Hi Jim! Yup, you are absolutely right, it is intentional. I agree, for dips etc I always use garlic. But for this sauce, the tzatziki is intended to be the “fresh” element. The flavour of the chicken is quite intense and the marinade has plenty of garlic in it! But if you want extra garlic, by all means add it in!
Hi, just stumbled on your page and I have about 50 tabs open at the moment of your recipes!!
This looks delicious however regarding the vinegar would I be able to use normal white vinegar? I don’t use the others as they have alcohol in them so if I use normal vinegar would it change the taste?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Hailey! You made me laugh with the vision of your computer with 50 tabs open!! Yes, normal white vinegar is absolutely fine or even more lemon juice. Whichever works easier for you. I don’t think I would even notice the difference in taste!!
Hope you love it!
OH. MY. DELICIOUSNESS.
I just made these for the first time…..where do I begin?!
First, my complaint: These Gyros were sooo delicious that I ate too much 🙁 Totally your fault 😉
The Tzatziki is the BEST I can remember having. I want to eat it by the spoonful! I will not consume
store-bought EVER again.
The chicken is amazing just on it’s own. I had no idea using Greek yoghurt would work so well.
Putting it all together exceeded my expectations. What a taste explosion, yet so fresh on such a
hot summer night (on the west coast of Canada). This was the perfect meal. It will become a regular in my house.
Thank you so much for another terrific recipe, Nagi. I have come to rely on your recipes and have made about 8-9 meals/appetizers since I discovered you (about 2 months ago). I love that the recipes I have tried are fairly quick and never compromise flavour. You have made me view cooking unlike ever before and I now enjoy my time in the kitchen much more. I plan to go through as many recipes of yours as I can! Much Love. XO.
Hi Nina! Wow, oh wow! You made my morning with your lovely message! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know you loved it! And it makes me so happy to hear that you’ve tried so many of my recipes! N x PS Yoghurt is a genius marinade 🙂 I’m making Butter Chicken today! I marinated the chicken last night in a yoghurt based mix. I LOVE BUTTER CHICKEN!!!
Butter chicken?! Ooooh…YUM! Will you be posting the recipe for it?!
YES! Coming Wednesday next week. Crazy easy! 🙂
What is the salad for? To put inside the gyros?
Hi Kay! Yes, the cucumber and tomato is to put inside the gyros 🙂
Wow, this marinade does look amazing! I coincidentally just posted a greek chicken souvlaki recipe just before I came across your post on foodgawker (greek food is amazing, right?!) but will definitely have to try your marinade next time – adding yoghurt to it sounds divine 🙂
No! Really? I was tossing up whether to do souvlaki or gyro! Popping over to get your recipe!! 🙂
Looks delicious Nagi. I love greek flavours and can imagine that this marinade tastes divine and SO flavoursome.
Thanks Thalia!! 🙂 The marinade for this is super yum I have to say!! 🙂
I found your gyro recipe through Foodgawker (congrats on the first page spot, by the way!) and I can’t wait to make it. I absolutely love gyros (and really all Greek food) and this marinade looks awesome. Pinning for later!
Thank you Live, you’ve so sweet! 🙂 And the marinade IS awesome. Really really is! I think I saw it on a SBS cooking show years ago and jotted it down. 🙂
Greece has always been THE place I want to visit… Santorini, specifically. I love Greek food, though I’m sure none of it comes close to the authentic dishes of the actual country. Nonetheless, these chicken gyros look and sound delish!! Putting these on my list of must make ASAP! Thanks for always sharing the beautiful and tantalizing yum! Cheers♡
Santorini is at the top of MY list too!!! 🙂
Loving that Tzaatziti sauce. This is way better than a midnight fix of Ebeneezers. Fresh and delicious and pinning now!
I am so greedy when I scoop up tzatziki with chips!!! BIG scoop. 🙂
These sound and look amazing! 🙂
Thanks!! N x
I love gyros, but not sure if I have had one with chicken. These look amazing! I love your photos.
Thank you so much Dawn! Actually, I need to make this with lamb!! 🙂
Don’t know why, but I’ve never made chicken gyros. I gotta make these! So after the first time, I can wonder why I don’t make them more often (love foods that evoke that reaction). Really nice — thanks.
Whaat? Shocked!! I definitely would have guessed that you’ve made this before!!! 🙂
Ha! I just picked up some Greek Oregano at the International Market near my house, so these might have to happen. These look great all wrapped up snug in that pillowy soft pita.
Ooh, fancy PROPER oregano!!! I used ordinary 😉 Show me up!! N x
LOL, it was for lamb!
Nagi your recipes are always mouthwatering and delicious. I love gyros. Such a fantastic idea to make them at home.
Thanks Kathy! So crazy easy to make at home too!! N x
These gyros look divine, Nagi! Love tzatziki – so perfect with the flavours!
Thank you so much Jess!!! 🙂
Chicken gyros are one of my favs, we have a small Greek restaurant close to us which has the best Greek food and every once in a while we go there and have some gyros and baklava. It’s the best! But homemade is better eh? Love your photos, they’re making me hungry!
Baklava….I think it is my all time favourite dessert. See? This is why we are friends. 🙂
Another home run! Big flavors, easy prep…your calling card!
Kathi
Thanks so much Kathi!! 😉
We are the same flavor train these days! I just made lamb greek tacos, but with a feta/olive sauce. I think we might need a greek party, can you bring this and that sauce? OH MY!! Divine!
p.s
Mind me asking what lens you used for the closer up shots?
Thanks friend!
Ohhhhh….feta olive sauce sounds DIVINE! Yes, let’s have a GREEK party!!! 😉
I used my 50 mm prime lens for the close ups. I can only get to around 1 foot away with that lens, but I just cropped the photo when I was editing. You lose a bit of quality but not enough to worry about when displaying photos on the web. 🙂
Oh Nagi!! I’ve know for a while that you are a woman after my own heart (teehee) but now here is the ultimate PROOF! You know I love all things Greek when it comes to food. I have eaten probably a few hundred (maybe thousand!) chicken souvlakis in my time in Greece and this recipe of yours looks every bit as good if not better than the best of them. Love the sound of that amazing marinade!
And yes, you have GOT to visit Greece some time soon. If you do, I am the woman to come to for oodles of tips on where to go/what to eat etc!! 🙂
Do you know, I actually popped onto your blog to see if YOU had a recipe??? 😉 Great minds think alike!!
Oh, yes please – just love this sort of food – so want my bbq back – shouldn’t too long now:-)
The reason I love cooking on my BBQ is cause it’s one less thing to wash up! I don’t have a dishwasher. Can you believe it?