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!
Can I make this with chicken breast??
Hi Lana, I prefer thigh as it’s more flavourful and stays juicy. If you want to use breasts, I’d bash them out to 1cm/1/2″ thick and then cook for a couple of minutes each side to ensure they don’t dry out. N x
Since the pandemic, I’ve been trying a lot of new recipes. This one stood out. We love the tenderness and flavors of the chicken. This has become a weekly meal for my family. I use breast meat.
Thank you for sharing.
All of my family love this recipe-a hard ask with different aged kids.
I prepare everything in advance and then just cook up the chicken at the end (or middle) of the day.
Another one to add to the list of popular Nagi recipes-my kids are always keen to try new recipes when I tell them it’s one of yours.
Thanks Nagi.
Obsessed with this recipe Nagi! I’ve made these maybe 3 times and so so good.
Last night we cooked the chicken on the BBQ instead of the stove top and it was sooo amazing. We have friends coming over Friday night and going to make it again !
Love your work
Nagi, I have made this again and again and it is a hit every time. The chicken is so tender and works so beautifully with the tzatziki❤️Loving all your recipes x
Can you add yogurt to the marinade?
Hi Nagi, I love this recipe! I have made this a few times and it comes out great every time! Thank you!!
I tried making this in the afternoon. I reduced the amount of cucumber and tomatoes; increased the amount of garlic cloves (because my family loves garlic!); and basically, portioning down the recipe so it was sufficient for 3 people. It tasted great! And it was so easy to do. Am really pleased with the result.
That’s great to hear Evelyn!! N x
I have made this one other time and remember it was so easy and delicious… I have no idea why Im not making this more. Its really hard to mess up. I added kalamata olives and it really did it for me. I also did this on a garlic naan. Great recipe!
Hi Danielle, I ask the same thing – it’s such a great recipe I should make it more often! N x
Nagi, I love your recipes.. This was a huge hit for my date night. Thank you
This dish was delicious. Made it for a friends and family dinner. All wanted the recipe.
I bought chicken through a home delivery service and I got 2+ lbs of bone in thighs with legs attached! I’m gonna marinate them bones and all!! Wish me luck!!
Love to know how you go Joan! N x
Unbelievably delicious! I decided to only cook the thighs – came out great! I have pics but can’t figure out how to upload them in this format and I don’t do Instagram.
Love all of your recipes.
If i don’t have white wine vinegar can I just use regular white vinegar. Thank you in advance 😃
Hi Rebecca, yes regular white vinegar is fine here. N x
These recipes are just fantastic Nag and so so yummy more of these would be great I have a Giros machine and love it.
Thank you Stephen
Hi Nagi
This is fantastic and so tasty, is there a lamb equivalent please?
Hi Nagi, I made all three recipes, flat bread, gyros and tzatziki. Im not the greatest of cooks and never thought for a second Id be able to pull it all off. But I did, it was so easy and delicious and was such a hit. Medium heat is definitely the the trick for flat bread which was my biggest fear but came out fine. Also did your apple muffins and once again yummm. You are a house hold name here. I always get asked if this is another one of Nagies recipes from my grandson who gets the reply of “Of Course” 😀 I never fail with you beside me Nagie Thank you for being such comfort and too so many xooo
Hi! Does the tzatziki sauce freeze well?
Thanks!
Hi Rina, no it doesn’t unfortunately it goes watery when thawed – N x
Could i cook this skewered in the oven like your chicken donner kebab recipie
Is the marinade for chicken freezer friendly?
Hi Nagi, this recipe looks great! To be honest, I love all your recipes. I was just wondering if I could use pork or lamb with this instead of chicken?