Mediterranean Chicken Gyros Feta Tzatziki (Printable Version)

Marinated chicken gyros featuring charred thighs, cool feta tzatziki, crisp greens, and fresh vegetables for a vibrant meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Chicken Marinade

01 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
02 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
05 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
06 - 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
08 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
10 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, thinly sliced

→ For the Creamy Feta Tzatziki

12 - 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
13 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
14 - 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, grated, and excess water squeezed out
15 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
17 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
18 - 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill
19 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For Serving and Assembly

20 - 4 to 6 pita breads or flatbreads
21 - 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
22 - 1 cup diced ripe tomatoes
23 - ½ red onion, thinly sliced
24 - ¼ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
25 - Fresh parsley or mint leaves, for garnish
26 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt, and pepper until well combined.
02 - Add the sliced chicken to the marinade, toss to coat thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight for deeper flavor.
03 - Place the grated cucumber in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze firmly to remove as much liquid as possible.
04 - In a medium bowl, combine the drained cucumber, Greek yogurt, crumbled feta, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and chopped dill. Stir until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste, cover, and chill in the refrigerator.
05 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil if the pan isn't nonstick.
06 - Remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off excess. Cook in a single layer for 5–7 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred at the edges.
07 - Transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
08 - While the chicken rests, warm the pita breads in a dry skillet or wrapped in foil in a low oven for 2–3 minutes.
09 - To assemble each gyro, lay a warmed pita on a plate, spread a generous spoonful of creamy feta tzatziki in the center, and top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onion slices, and Kalamata olives.
10 - Arrange sliced chicken on top, drizzle with extra tzatziki, and garnish with fresh parsley or mint leaves. Serve immediately with lemon wedges for squeezing.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The char from the skillet gives you that gyro stand flavor without needing a rotisserie
  • That feta tzatziki is the kind of sauce you'll want to put on everything
  • Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day cooking
02 -
  • That cucumber squeezing step is non-negotiable, I learned the hard way that wet cucumber makes watery tzatziki
  • Don't crowd the pan when cooking the chicken, it'll steam instead of getting that nice char we want
03 -
  • Pat your chicken dry with paper towels before adding it to the marinade, it'll sear better
  • If your pita bread cracks when you fold it, wrap it in a damp paper towel and microwave for 15 seconds
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