Description
Mediterranean chicken gyros with tzatziki combine juicy marinated chicken, crisp vegetables, and creamy tzatziki wrapped in warm pita bread. This healthy, flavorful dish is perfect for family dinners, gatherings, or meal prep, with versatile options for gluten-free, dairy-free, or low-carb diets.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade:
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Tzatziki Sauce:
- 2 cucumbers, grated and excess liquid squeezed out
- 1 ¼ cups Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Black pepper, to taste
Salad:
- 3 tomatoes, diced
- 3 cucumbers, diced
- ½ red onion, diced
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Serving:
- 4–6 pita breads or flatbreads
Instructions
- In a ziplock bag, combine marinade ingredients. Add chicken thighs, coat well, and marinate for at least 2 hours (or overnight).
- Prepare tzatziki: combine grated cucumbers, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Chill for 20 minutes.
- Make salad: dice tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Grill or pan-fry chicken over medium-high heat, 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
- Warm pita bread. Layer with salad, sliced chicken, and tzatziki. Roll up and secure with parchment if desired.
Notes
- Chicken thighs stay juicier than chicken breasts, but breasts may be used.
- For thicker tzatziki, strain yogurt through cheesecloth.
- Swap pita with lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
- Vegan variation: replace chicken with tofu, tempeh, or mushrooms, and use dairy-free yogurt.
- Store chicken and tzatziki separately in the fridge up to 4 days; freeze marinated raw chicken up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (+2 hours marinating)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling / Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 gyro
- Calories: ~420
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg