Savory Grilled Chicken Gyros (Printable Version)
Tender grilled chicken in pita with crisp vegetables and a tangy creamy garlic sauce—quick, Greek-inspired and high-protein.
# What You Need:
→ Grilled Chicken Marinade
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp kosher salt
09 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Creamy Garlic Sauce
10 - ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
11 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
12 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
13 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
14 - ½ tsp kosher salt
15 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
16 - 1 tbsp fresh dill or parsley, chopped (optional)
→ Assembly
17 - 4 pita breads or flatbreads
18 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
19 - 1 large tomato, sliced
20 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
21 - ½ cup shredded lettuce
22 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
02 - Add the chicken thighs or breasts to the marinade, tossing to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight for deeper flavor penetration.
03 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from the marinade and grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side until fully cooked through with attractive char marks. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
04 - In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, finely minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs if using. Stir until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Place pitas on the grill or in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side until warm, pliable, and lightly toasted.
06 - Layer sliced chicken, shredded lettuce, tomato slices, cucumber, and red onion onto each warmed pita. Drizzle generously with creamy garlic sauce and sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired. Fold or roll tightly and serve immediately.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
- The creamy garlic sauce is so good you will want to put it on everything from roasted potatoes to sandwiches the next day.
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all afternoon preparing it.
- Everyone at the table assembles their own gyro, which means zero plating stress and happy eaters.
02 -
- If you cut into the chicken right off the grill, all those delicious juices will escape onto your cutting board instead of staying inside the meat where they belong.
- The garlic sauce tastes even better if you make it a few hours ahead and let the flavors mingle in the fridge.
03 -
- If you do not have a grill, a cast iron skillet heated until it is smoking hot gives you an equally beautiful char on the chicken.
- Slice the chicken just before serving rather than ahead of time to keep every piece as juicy as possible.