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!
Love this recipe! Very easy yet so flavorful. I followed the recipe and put extra garlic. highly recommend it! Thanks Nagi!
Love this recipe! Very easy yet so flavorful. I followed the recipe and put extra garlic. Very easy to do and highly recommend it! Thanks Nagi!
This chicken is so yummy! I enjoyed it in a gyro but then also enjoyed it on its own. It’s full of flavor and so so tender. Absolutely delicious! Better than that which you would get at a restaurant, I find the chicken in gyros at restaurants is usually very dry.
Woo hoo!! I am so glad that you enjoyed it! N x
Can I use pork tenderloin?
I don’t think that will work Barbara, sorry! N x
Hey Nagi,
Just letting you know there is a problem with the link to the What to serve on the side -Roasted Pumpkin with Yogurt Sauce and Pine Nuts recipe on this page. It sends me to a Url can’t be found” page when I click on it.
Am I able to use 1kg chicken breast instead of thighs? Thank you
Hey Maria,
I always use chicken breast as I don’t like thigh and my family love it. To be fair we are not food bloggers so we aren’t as particular about the end product, haha! ( I wouldn’t want it any other way Nagi, yours is my go to and fave food website )
You would have to try it and decide for yourself.
You can Maria but I don’t guarantee the results – breast dries out much faster than thighs and doesn’t have as much flavour. N x
Burpingly delicious!! Nagi, I just want to say thank you! I’ve been planning/cooking meals for more than 60 years (started in my mother’s womb, teehee!), and have reached the age where I just don’t want to think of what to make anymore! I just want easy, tasty dishes that get me in and out of the kitchen and to the dining table to enjoy the results! And then I discovered your recipes on ‘good food’ about 2 years ago! Absolutely the best discovery I ever made. Your recipes are easy to follow, I love the fact that you are thorough with them (I haven’t come across a typo yet! love that!), you offer substitutes, variations and serving suggestions (even storing leftovers recommendations), and most of all…they are effing delicious! We made the Greek chicken gyros last night…my picky-eater husband loved – LOVED!! – the dish, 3 helpings…a record! Even our human-food eating cat, Milo, loved your chicken!! Thanks! A super fan from Canada, with a connection to Sydney…my stepson and his family live there.
That’s great Danuta!! (I do make the occasional typo although I try not to!!) N x
This is one of our favorite recipes. I am so glad I found your site. Your recipes are always so easy and delicious.
I’m glad you liked it Sue!! N x
Excellent recipe. The chicken was so flavorful! Every recipe of yours that I have tried has been amazing. I love the butter chicken. Your website is the first place I look for dinner ideas. Thank you!
I’m happy you liked it Jenn! N x
Just made this today for a fun lunch and everyone loved it! The chicken was soooo moist and flavorful. I am adding this recipe to my regular rotation.
I am happy that you liked it Alexis! N x
Highly rated and enjoyed by all the family. Will definitely be making this again, and liked the recipe notes about freezing. Would be great to have these on hand in the freezer
What kind or oregano? Mexican or italian?
I just use regular oregano here – Mexican is hard to find in Australia. N x
Our entire family LOVED this dinner! Even my 9 year old son said “This is the BEST chicken you’ve ever made, Mom!” Thanks so much, Nagi! ♥️
Our entire family LOVED this dinner! My picky 9 year old son said “this is the best chicken you’ve ever made, Mom!” Thanks, Nagi! ♥️
This one is a winner! I made these gyros for dinner last night, finished off the leftovers for breakfast, and made another half recipe for tonight. Seriously. They are that good.
I want to make this for the family but I have a member who is allergic to garlic. Will the recipe still turn out okay if I skip the garlic, or is there another flavor I can substitute for it?
I haven’t tried it myself but I think it will be fine without the garlic since all the other seasonings will be there.
Hi Nagi!
Didn’t need anything except the marinade (I had some steak, some chicken and leftover ratatouille, and was in a barbecuing mood), so I arrived here from your “marinades for grilled chicken” section.
IT IS FANTASTIC.
Sorry for shouting, but regardless of whether you make gyros out of it, this chicken marinade is a wonder!
Thanks
Maurice
I’ve made this many times and it’s so delicious!
Getting ready to make it again, but I have someone who is allergic to garlic. Is there anyway I can skip out on the garlic or substitute a different spice/flavor? Would love for them to experience this dish (in some way). Much appreciated!
Delicious made with Nagi’s flat breads!
Omg….this was so delicious. I never buy thighs but yours looked so good I gave it a try. So so tasty. The only thing I changed was I added fresh dill to the tzitziki. Will definitely make this again. Photo copied the recipe so I wouldn’t lose it. Thank you for your amazing recipes.
Yes, love dill in my Tzitziki. Yummo!!!