Homemade Chicken Gyros and Pita Recipe
Isn’t Greek food amazing? I’ve never been a huge fan until this past year. I live in the Midwest and have temporarily moved to the East coast and there is SO much more Mediterranean food here than where I’m from. We had some delicious gyros last week at a restaurant, so it inspired me to create some at home. Yes, these pita gyros have a lot of steps and they can seem to have a lengthy prep, but if you do it all from scratch you’ll be glad you did. Although, if you are looking to make it a little bit healthier you could simply omit the pita altogether and just make it into a salad (which is what I did the second day). Another option would be to serve it over lemon mint rice instead of pita. Don’t get me wrong, the homemade pita is delicious, especially right when it comes off the hot skillet, but let’s be honest — we don’t often have a lot of time to make the entire meal from scratch. A non-negotiable part of this recipe is the homemade tzatziki sauce. I make my own tzatziki sauce with Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, parsley, and dill. It’s so easy and takes only 5 minutes to make! These homemade gyros are loaded with fresh and exciting flavors. Bland doesn’t exist in this wrap, which is one of my favorite things about it. This Greek wrap has the works, and it will leave you craving them time and time again.
Want to see how easy this gyros recipe is? Watch the video!
Chicken Lemon Greek Yogurt Red Wine Vinegar Red Onion Garlic Thyme Oregano Coriander
For the homemade tzatziki, you’ll need:
Cucumber Salt Greek yogurt Garlic Lemon juice Extra virgin olive oil Red wine vinegar Fresh parsley and dill Black pepper
And to assemble the chicken gyros, you’ll need:
Pita bread (I’ve shared my homemade pita bread recipe below, but store-bought is fine!) Diced tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, olives, feta, and so on for serving (all optional and to taste)
How to Make Gyros
Whisk together Greek chicken marinade and pour into baggie. Place chicken in bag and let marinate 2 to 4 hours. Grill chicken over medium-high heat until cooked through. Cut into strips. While the chicken is marinating, make the tzatziki sauce. First toss the cucumbers with salt to help them release some juice, then add them to the food processor along with the other ingredients. Pulse tzatziki sauce until smooth. Assemble chicken gyro wraps with desired toppings and enjoy!
Can I Let the Chicken Marinate Overnight?
No, if you leave the chicken in the marinade for too long the acids in the vinegar and lemon juice will start breaking down the chicken. You’ll be left with tough chicken after it’s been cooked.
Can I Make Chicken Gyros with Chicken Thighs?
Yes, you can make these Greek gyros with chicken thighs instead of breasts. Just keep in mind that you may have to adjust the grill time for the chicken.
Tips for the Best Gyros
Use a really thick Greek yogurt for the best tzatziki consistency (I like Fage). I like homemade pita fresh, but you can also freeze them for later. You can easily prep the individual components of these pita gyros and store them separately so you can make gyros all week long!
More Greek Recipes You’ll Love:
Greek Pasta Salad Greek Potato Salad Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Greek Orzo Salad Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta Grilled Greek Chicken Quinoa Bowls Slow Cooker Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
