🌿 Overview

Tender grilled chicken served in warm pita bread with crisp vegetables and drizzled with creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or a weekend feast.

🕒 Total Time

  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Marinating Time: 1–2 hours (recommended)
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total: ~2 hours 30 minutes

🍗 Ingredients

For the Chicken Marinade

  • 1 ½ lbs (700 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Tzatziki Sauce

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • ½ cucumber, finely grated and squeezed to remove excess water
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the Gyro Assembly

  • 4–6 pita breads (Greek-style flatbreads)
  • 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1 large tomato, sliced
  • ½ red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • Fresh parsley leaves for garnish

🔥 Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  2. Add chicken and toss until evenly coated.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to overnight for deeper flavor).

2. Make the Tzatziki Sauce

  1. In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
  2. Mix well, then refrigerate until ready to serve (the flavor improves as it chills).

3. Cook the Chicken

Option 1 – Grill:

  • Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
  • Grill chicken for 5–6 minutes per side or until fully cooked and nicely charred.

Option 2 – Pan-Seared:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Cook chicken 6–7 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.

Once done, rest the chicken for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.

4. Warm the Pitas

  • Lightly toast or grill pita breads for 30 seconds per side until soft and pliable.

5. Assemble the Gyros

  1. Lay out a warm pita.
  2. Add a layer of lettuce, tomato slices, cucumber, and red onion.
  3. Top with sliced grilled chicken.
  4. Drizzle generously with tzatziki sauce.
  5. Garnish with fresh parsley and fold the pita around the filling.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

  • Serve with Greek salad, roasted potatoes, or tabbouleh.
  • For extra flavor, sprinkle a pinch of feta cheese or kalamata olives on top.
  • Pairs beautifully with a cold glass of lemonade or white wine.

💡 Tips

  • You can substitute chicken with lamb, beef, or grilled vegetables for a vegetarian option.
  • Store leftovers separately: keep tzatziki refrigerated and chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat pita and chicken before serving again.