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!
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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!
Hi Nagi!!
I attempted to make this tonight but with chicken breast, I marinated them overnight and beat them a little bit so they weren’t as thick.
I followed your instructions on the stovetop but it took wayyy longer than 3-4 minutes each side. by the time the chicken was cooked to temp the outside was super burnt. 🙁 I’m kinda of a cooking rookie and don’t usually cook chicken on the stovetop so maybe I did something wrong. Should I cook at a lower temp next time? Overall though I still really enjoyed, looking forward to making again the right way haha!!
Next time try using chicken thighs as they are way juicier. 😁
If you still want to use breast make them smaller and have them no more than 1 inch thick.
So delicious! Have been able to prep ahead and throw together when friends are coming by. Would definitely bbq the chicken- so good!
Simple & amazing! Thank you for this recipe, my entire family LOVED it.
Hi Nagi!! Mine has been marinating for about 26 hours!!! Was meant to cook last night but didn’t happen. Can I still cook it or is it ruined?
My whole family loved this recipe. The chicken marinade is so fresh and flavourful. Will 100% make again.
This recipe was absolutely delicious! We LOVED it! Would be a nice change of pace for a summer backyard picnic. Soooooo good! 5+ stars!
Delicious! And so simple.
The Greek Chicken Gyros were delicious and easy to make! The meat had such a good flavor. We are going to bring it to a pot luck dinner tomorrow night!
We had yet another “Thank you Nagi” moment in our house last night. This was superb! I substituted with coconut yoghurt to make my version dairy free and it still worked! Nagi, your generosity is so much appreciated! Thank you! xo
Really tasty, fresh and delicious. Will make again
So tasty, quick and easy to make but full of flavour!
NAGI the smell must be driving Dozer mad, it drove my husband crazy, you are right it’s better to make more Tzatziki than is needed goes so well eith everything. I am making this for my husband’s birthday, I’m making the pita from scratch using your recipe, then your vanilla cake to finish as well as margarita all for a picnic in our 5 km zone as we’re in Melbourne lockdown
Made this again! This time for my husband’s birthday. It’s always so good!
This was absolutely delicious the only thing I added was dill it brought all the flavors together.
I have made this before with thighs but now have chicken breast strips (probably about 2inches wide). How long should I marinade them. I don’t wNt them to go mushy.
This was delicious. Thankyou! So quick and easy and you’re right about the cooking smells being amazing!
Hello! Can chicken breasts be subbed for thighs? Can’t wait to try this.
Hi Kim, I prefer thighs as they are guaranteed to stay juicy, if you use breast, I’d cut them in half horizontally (or bash them thin) before marinading 🙂 N x
The chicken is divine! I marinated for 3 hours and the flavours were beautiful, next time I’ll leave it for a day and see how it goes. Miss 6 and Mr 3 devoured it happily. Thank you Nagi, this will be on high rotation in our house in the future!
That’s great to hear Jemma!! N x
Made this for a group of friends for a games night. Was really easy and was a big hit with everyone!!!
Great meal for entertaining!
I’ll be cooking inside (bog standard oven and electric hob). Is it OK to just fry the chicken, or worth getting a grill pan? What’s the benefit, if so?
Thanks!
Hi John, the cast iron grill pans just holds a higher temperature, but you can fry the chicken just the same without a grill pan. I hope you love it! N x
Another winner, delicious 😋
The best gyro I’ve ever had!