Chicken Gyro – Food Faith Fitness

Create a healthy meal with all the flavors of Greece by making this fresh, handheld Chicken Gyro.

The origin of gyros supposedly dates back to the late Ottoman Empire, which stretched over an extensive part of the Eastern world, including present-day Greece. The word gyro means “to turn” in Greek, which refers to how the meat is cooked and turned vertically on a rotisserie. Originally street food in Athens, Greece, gyros can now be found across the world. While traditionally made with lamb, today gyros can be made with a lamb and beef mixture, beef, or—my favorite—chicken.

This chicken gyro is made with healthy, fresh, crave-worthy ingredients in a warm pita bread. But the most important part is the chicken. The chicken is marinated in a zesty combination of lemon juice, oil, vinegar, fresh garlic, and herbs, then perfectly grilled. One characteristic of the chicken gyro that makes a difference is how the chicken is cut. Traditionally, it is sliced, which is the ideal way for most. For example, my husband specifically asks if the chicken is cut in slices before ordering a gyro. However, some chefs cut the chicken into chunks, which may not stay as moist and does not give the appropriate texture of a gyro.

This chicken gyro is also filled with creamy tzatziki sauce made with Greek yogurt, cucumbers, dill, and garlic. Normally, this is accompanied by fresh lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and red onions. Additional toppings that are common are salty feta cheese and French fries! Yes, French fries inside the gyro, which help you spoon out bites of the tzatziki sauce.

Is Chicken Gyro Healthy?

Given the simplicity and freshness of the ingredients in this chicken gyro, it is pretty healthy! For a leaner chicken gyro, replace the pita with a lettuce wrap, or skip the wrap altogether and make a gyro bowl. This will cut out a lot of the carbs and make your dish gluten-free and more keto-friendly.

How to Cook Authentic Gyros, Rotisserie-Style

In the instructions, I explain how to make chicken gyros with grilled chicken thighs, but the chicken can also be cooked on a spit or on skewers. A spit is a metal rod used to cook chicken rotisserie-style and can be done in some ovens that have that function. However, another option is to thread your chicken thighs onto soaked skewers after they have marinated. Cook the skewered chicken in the oven or on a grill, turning halfway through.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 pita breads
• 1 1/4 cups Greek yogurt
• 1 English cucumber, grated and drained
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1-2 tomatoes, sliced
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• Fresh lettuce, chopped
• Crumbled feta cheese (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Marinate
Mix marinade, add chicken, and refrigerate.

Grill
Cook chicken until done, then slice.

Assemble
Layer ingredients on pita, add tzatziki, fold, and serve.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

Serving Suggestions

There are a lot of tasty flavors already happening in our chicken gyro. However, you can add different sauces, like Shatta Sauce – a spicy, green pepper sauce – or try Tirokafteri Sauce, a spicy feta dip. For a more traditional taste, add Homemade Hummus and Greek Fries – either inside the pita or on the side.