Once you’ve tried this Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce, you are forever hooked! A soft wrap of juicy, tender, and flavorful marinated chicken that will take you to a new level of perfection.
The beautiful fragrance of the spices and herbs promises a memorable experience and do not disappoint. The grilled, seasoned chicken contrasts with the creamy, tangy Tzatziki sauce harmoniously to create a wonderful burst of flavors enclosed within warm pita bread for a comforting bite.
Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce will be your next go-to food, especially for family gatherings. Your guests will definitely ask for more, so add this recipe to your menu!
Loaded with a Ton of Flavors
What Is Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce?
Originally, Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce was a beloved traditional street food.
In fact, Gyros, which means “turn” in Greek, refers to the method of cooking meat on a vertical rotisserie, allowing it to cook evenly and develop a mouthwatering charred crust while remaining tender and juicy.
Tzatziki sauce is a combination of yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs, is a traditional Greek condiment. Despite its simplicity, it adds a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the gyro meat and levels up any dish you eat it with.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
dried oregano
fresh oregano, finely chopped
cloves garlic, minced
extra virgin olive oil
salt
paprika
pinch of turmeric
coriander powder
black pepper
garlic powder
lemon juice
full-fat Greek yogurt
For the Tzatziki Sauce
full-fat Greek yogurt
finely chopped dill
salt
small garlic cloves, finely minced
olive oil
black pepper
chopped mint
lemon juice
large English cucumber, peeled, and grated
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Steps to Prep
To Make the Chicken
To start with, add all the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl before adding the chicken thighs to marinate them.
Note: I prefer to marinate for a minimum of 4 hours, nothing longer than 24 hours.
Then, when the marinated chicken thighs are ready, transfer them to a slightly oiled skillet on medium heat and grill them for about 5-6 minutes per side, until done.
Next, set them aside to rest, covered, before slicing.
To Make the Tzatziki Sauce
First, peel the cucumber and grate it finely.
Then, transfer the peeled and grated cucumber to paper towels and squeeze all the liquid out. You won’t need the liquid.
Now, in a bowl, combine the cucumber with the rest of the ingredients and you’re ready to serve.
To Assemble
First, warm your pita or flatbread.
Then, spread some tzatziki sauce.
After that, add your chicken.
Finally, add chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions, and top with more tzatziki sauce. Serve and enjoy!
A Festive Dish to Enjoy
A Greek Special
As gyro can be traced back to the 19th century in Greece, it is suggested that its concept was inspired by Turkish doner kebab, which consists of seasoned meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie.
Chicken Gyros and Tzatziki was most likely developed by immigrant Greek communities who wanted to carry the taste of their home along with them.
It is heart-warming how family recipes and traditions are passed down through generations. Many people cherish memories of learning how to make this recipe Sauce from their parents or grandparents, often with some variations or secret ingredients that make their version unique.
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Variations for Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
Authentic Middle Eastern Taste: Pair your chicken with a bowl of refreshing Mediterranean salad. Tabbouli Salad Recipe (Tabbouleh), Fattoush, and Arabic Chopped Salad (Salata Arabiyeh) are so delish salads to try!
For All the Rice Lovers: Add your chicken to a warm bowl of Aromatic Spiced Yellow Rice or Easy Vegetable Rice Pilaf, then add the incredible tzatziki sauce.
Going Low-Carb: Skip the pita and rice combination and serve your homemade chicken gyros with lettuce and other fresh veggies according to your preferences. But don’t miss to drizzle the tzatziki sauce on top, it makes all the difference!
A Bite of Heaven
Tips and Tricks
When you marinate chicken thighs, make sure that they are well coated with the marinade.
It is better to marinate the chicken thighs for a minimum of 4 hours. The longer you marinate it, the juicier and more tender the chicken gyros will be.
On the same side, make sure not to over marinate them. If you marinade for longer than 24 hours, the chicken thighs might break down.
The cooking time depends on the size and thickness of the chicken thighs. It also depends on the cut you use. Large chicken thighs take about 10-12 minutes of cooking time. However, smaller ones will need less cooking time.
If you like the taste of grilled chicken, grill the chicken thighs over medium heat for about 7-8 minutes per side.
For best results, let the cooked chicken thighs rest for 3-5 minutes covered before slicing them to allow the juices of the marinade to redistribute throughout the flesh.
Add chopped mint to the tzatziki sauce. It is an optional ingredient, but so good at the same time!
Storage Tips
Storing: Store homemade chicken gyros leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2-3 days. It is better to store the ingredients individually and assemble the gyro sandwiches when you’re ready to serve.
Freezing: Absolutely, you can freeze them for about 3 months after popping them in a Ziploc bag. But make sure to thaw them overnight in the fridge, then reheat them in the microwave or skillet before assembling.
Reheating: Reheat chicken gyros in a skillet or in the oven over low heat for about 5 minutes, then assemble your sandwich by adding tzatziki sauce and fresh veggies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To make Greek chicken gyros, I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I love how juicy meat you get after cooking. You can also use chicken breasts; the result will be a little more dry.
Yes, you can use store-bought tzatziki sauce if you’re short on time. However, homemade tzatziki sauce has a fresher flavor and would taste much better.
Fresh chicken is definitely preferred for the best outcome, but you can use thawed frozen chicken if necessary. Just ensure that it’s fully thawed before marinating and cooking
You can experiment by adding sliced onions, bell peppers, or tomatoes to the gyro filling. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can add crumbled feta cheese or olives for a burst of flavor.
Impress Your Family
Must Try Recipes:
Authentic Middle Eastern Chicken Shawarma
Easy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Tender Middle Eastern Style Beef Shawarma
Butter Chicken Paratha Quesadilla
If you’ve tried this recipe, don’t forget to rate it and leave a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1½ pounds chicken thighs boneless and skinless
- 1½ tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- pinch of turmeric
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons full-fat Greek yogurt
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon dill finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 3 small garlic clove finely minced
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon chopped mint optional, but so good
- 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ large English cucumber peeled and grated
Instructions
To Make the Chicken
- Add all the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl before adding the chicken thighs to marinate them.
- When the marinated chicken thighs are ready, transfer them to a slightly oiled skillet on medium heat and grill them for about 5-6 minutes per side, until done.
- Set them aside to rest, covered, before slicing.
To Make the Tzatziki Sauce
- Peel the cucumber and grate it finely.
- Transfer the peeled and grated cucumber to paper towels and squeeze all the liquid out. You won’t need the liquid.
- In a bowl, combine the cucumber with the rest of the ingredients and you’re ready to serve.
To Assemble
- Warm your pita or flatbread.
- Spread some tzatziki sauce.
- Add your chicken.
- Add chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions, and top with more tzatziki sauce.
Notes
- When you marinate chicken thighs, make sure that they are well coated with the marinade.
- It is better to marinate the chicken thighs for a minimum of 4 hours. The longer you marinate it, the juicier and more tender the chicken gyros will be.
- The cooking time depends on the size and thickness of the chicken thighs. It also depends on the cut you use.
- For best results, let the cooked chicken thighs rest for 3-5 minutes covered before slicing them to allow the juices of the marinade to redistribute throughout the flesh.
This recipe just went out and I made it already is amazing my kids love it they are very fan of gyros this recipe is everything Masha’Allah
Yuuuuum !!! Sooo delicious, so easy and the chicken is extremely tender. Can’t wait to make again 😋
Great recipe!!! The chicken was beyond fabulous; well seasoned and tender!! I’m not a yogurt fan and but once the Tzatziki sauce got cold–new fan. Your recipe will be on repeat. Thank you for posting!!!!
This recipe is to DIE for, so delicious! Better than any store/restaurant bought sandwich I have had!
Delicious outcome and very easy to make , thank you so much for all your effort.
This recipe was a hit in my home! The chicken itself was very flavorful and the tzatziki sauce was the best recipe I’ve ever tried. This is definitely a staple in our house now. Can’t wait to try your other recipes as well. Thank you!