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!
Excellent dish!! The flavors were well balanced and flavorful. The whole family loved it.. thank you so much Nagi!!!!
Excellent fish. The flavor was great not too strong, perfect balance!!! Thank u soo much Nagi
What can I use to substitute white wine vinegar? Can I use rice wine vinegar? Or is that same? Hahaha
Hi Patty, rice vinegar will be fine to use 🙂 N x
This was SO good! Some of us ate this as written, others of us turned it into a big salad. So delicious! Thank you!
I made this tonight. It’s so absolutely delicious! I just sprinkled more salt on the chicken while cooking it. I’m going to make this regularly now. So good!
That’s great to hear Yuki!! N x
A perfect meal for a dinner party. We cooked the chicken in a Trager and turned out delicious. You must make it with the homemade pita bread on this site.
Great recipe! I made it tonight and was so glad I did. I baked the chicken thighs and they were still very tasty. I paired it with some yellow rice to complete the Mediterranean theme. This was a nice refreshing dinner on a very hot summer night.
Hi Nagi,
Absolutely love this recipe. We feast on it regularly and always make it when we are entertaining family and friends. Thank you for sharing!
I made this recipe recently and its absolutely delicious. It took me back to when I was travelling to Greece last year. I also made the baklava recipe you have posted for dessert and it made for an incredible meal. Thank you
Love love love this recipe, it’s become a regular in our household! Your food is fantastic!!!
That’s so great to hear Annapreet!! N x
I was in a dinner slump, everyone in my house has different things they like and do not like (my 4 year old is my least picky surprisingly) my 6 year old like many children would live on chicken nuggets, fries and fish. I was sick of making the same things over again. This was AMAZING everyone ate it my 6 year old ate not much salad but devoured the chicken and tzatziki. My husband liked it so much he asked if i spent the day making it lol. I will definitely be adding this to family favorites. Can’t wait to see the rest if your site. Take care 🙂
So delish! on the regular rotation
This is amazing I’m so excited making right now and the flat bread. Thank you! You are amazing! !!!!
Sooo good! The recipe looks simple, but it tastes amazing, and was quick to make. We were naughty and put some chips in there, too!
Love this Alyssa, nothing wrong with chips! N x
My family loves this recipe. I use breasts and cube it before marinating. Then make it as a kabob. When I was grilling them on the BBQ the neighbor asked what I was cooking, it smelled great and was making them hungry. Tzatziki was very good also.
That’s great to hear Joe!! N x
I made this last night. Tasted great. The only problem I had is that I cooked it on the stove and it ended up cooking in the sauce, and I did not get the grill marks I was looking for. What do you suggest I do to avoid this next time and get the great grill marks you love to see?
Hi Jim, sounds like it stewed a little bit. You need a high heat and cook the chicken in batches to avoid it stewing in a pan. N x
Amazing once again…. I’ve never had Tzatziki before and wow 🤩 delicious. Your recipes are amazing trying your Satay chicken tomorrow night… Thank you once again.
I have made many of your recipes for years. The favourite I get requests for all the time is Bun Cha.
Trying the chicken gyros tonight.
I’m so glad you’re loving them Nici – that’s great to hear!! N x
I made this and I just want to make it and eat it again. Delicious
I’m so happy you loved it Sue! N x
I made this and LOVED it. Absolutely delicious. We meal prepped this for our lunches for the week and it was a healthy, fresh and satisfying summer time lunch.
I am gluten and diary free so I made the Tzatziki with unsweetened cashew yogurt and used BFree Gluten Free Pitas. It was still amazing ever with these substitutes.
Another Success! Thank you Nagi. Every recipe I have made from your website has been delicious. No joke.
Please don’t ever stop posting