Description
Chicken gyros at home start with a yogurt-marinated chicken that gets charred on a grill or under the broiler until smoky and juicy, then sliced and piled into warm pita with cool tzatziki, tomatoes, onion, and a scattering of fresh herbs. The yogurt marinade does double duty — tenderizing the chicken and carrying all the Mediterranean spices deep into the meat. It is fast-casual food done right, at home, for a fraction of the price.
Ingredients
Units
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, grated
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 pita breads, warmed
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 English cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- Fresh dill and mint
- Crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup yogurt, 3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken thighs and coat completely. Marinate at least 1 hour, or refrigerate up to overnight.
- Make the tzatziki: combine 1 cup Greek yogurt, squeezed cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to high heat, or set the oven broiler to high.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off excess. Grill or broil 5 to 6 minutes per side until charred and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
- Warm the pita breads on the grill for 30 seconds per side.
- Assemble the gyros: spread tzatziki on each pita, top with sliced chicken, tomatoes, red onion, feta, and fresh herbs. Roll up and serve.
Notes
- Greek yogurt in the marinade contains lactic acid that tenderizes the chicken more effectively than most acidic marinades. The result is remarkably juicy meat.
- Grate and squeeze the cucumber for tzatziki — if you skip squeezing out the water, your sauce will be thin and watery within minutes.
- Chicken thighs are better than breasts for gyros. They stay moist at high heat and have more flavor, which matters when you are competing with all those toppings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 36
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 40
- Cholesterol: 120