Description
This Authentic Greek Chicken Gyros recipe features tender, marinated chicken thighs grilled to perfection and served with classic toppings like tzatziki sauce, red onion, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and feta cheese in warm pita bread. Perfect for a flavorful Mediterranean-inspired main course that’s easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For Assembly and Serving
- 4–6 pita breads, warmed
- 1 cup tzatziki sauce
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined to create the flavorful marinade.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the boneless, skinless chicken thighs to the marinade and toss well to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to deeply penetrate the meat.
- Preheat the Grill: Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat to get it ready for cooking. For authentic flavor, using a charcoal grill is recommended to get that slight smokiness and char.
- Grill the Chicken: Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade, letting excess drip off, and place them on the hot grill. Cook for about 5–6 minutes per side or until the chicken is fully cooked through and has a nice charred exterior.
- Rest and Slice the Chicken: Once grilled, transfer the chicken to a plate and let it rest for 5 minutes. This helps the juices redistribute making the chicken juicy. Then slice the chicken into thin strips suitable for filling the gyros.
- Assemble the Gyros: Place warm pita breads flat on a surface. Layer each pita with sliced grilled chicken, a generous spoonful of tzatziki sauce, thinly sliced red onions, chopped tomatoes, shredded romaine lettuce, and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top.
- Serve: Fold the pita bread around the fillings to form gyros and serve immediately while warm and fresh.
Notes
- For the most authentic flavor, grill the chicken over charcoal instead of a gas grill or pan.
- While chicken thighs provide more flavor and juiciness, chicken breasts can also be used if preferred.
- You can prepare the marinade and chicken a day in advance to save time and achieve deeper flavor.
- Warm the pita breads just before assembling to ensure they are pliable and soft.
