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Chicken Gyros

A delicious recipe for homemade Chicken Gyros made with marinated chicken thighs, homemade tzatziki, and fresh vegetables wrapped in warm pita bread.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken Marinade
  • 700 g boneless, skinless chicken thighs Best choice for flavor and juiciness
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice About 1 large lemon
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 4 cloves garlic, very finely minced or pressed
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano Greek oregano if available
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Small amount but transformative
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Optional
For the Homemade Tzatziki
  • 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 medium cucumber, grated and squeezed completely dry
  • 2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped Or 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
For the Gyro Assembly
  • 4 large pita breads or flatbreads 23–25cm / 9–10 inch
  • 2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced or diced
  • 1/2 medium red onion, very thinly sliced
  • 1 small head romaine lettuce or 2 cups shredded iceberg
  • Fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
  • Lemon wedges for squeezing at the table
  • Optional: sliced kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Grate the cucumber and squeeze out the water, then combine with yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, dill, olive oil, salt, and white pepper to make tzatziki. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. In a bowl or bag, combine marinade ingredients: olive oil, lemon juice, zest, garlic, oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, cinnamon, salt, black pepper, and cayenne if using. Add chicken, coat thoroughly, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, ideally overnight.
Cooking the Chicken
  1. Allow the marinated chicken to come to room temperature for 10 minutes before cooking. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil.
  2. Add chicken thighs to the hot pan in a single layer, cook for about 5-6 minutes on one side without moving, then flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes until done.
  3. Remove chicken from the pan and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing it against the grain into thin strips.
Assembling the Gyros
  1. Warm the pita breads, then spread tzatziki down the center of each.
  2. Layer sliced chicken, followed by tomatoes, red onion, and lettuce. Add parsley and any optional toppings.
  3. Fold the pita to create a wrap and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

The marinated chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Cooked chicken keeps up to 4 days in the fridge. Make tzatziki ahead of time for best flavor.