Description
These Greek Chicken Gyros feature tender, marinated slices of chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection, served in warm pita bread with fresh romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion, all topped with a creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. Perfect for a flavorful and satisfying dinner, this recipe combines vibrant Mediterranean flavors with easy stovetop cooking and quick assembly.
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Marinade
- 1 pound chicken breasts, thinly sliced into strips
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste or finely minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
For Assembly
- 4-6 Greek style pita breads
- 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, each cut into thirds
- 1 cucumber, deseeded and diced
- ½ red onion, diced
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- Tzatziki sauce (store-bought or homemade, ingredients not listed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Add the chicken strips into a large bowl and set aside for now.
- Make the Marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic paste, dried oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Pour the marinade over the chicken in the large bowl and stir to coat thoroughly. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours, allowing the flavors to soak into the meat.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Drain the chicken strips from the marinade and cook them in the skillet for about 6 minutes on each side or until they turn light golden and are cooked through.
- Rest and Slice Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then slice the cooked chicken into long strips and set aside.
- Toast the Pita Breads: While the chicken cooks, place the pita breads in a dry skillet over medium heat and toast each side for about one minute, until warm and slightly crisp.
- Assemble the Gyros: Lay the toasted pita breads on plates. Layer on chopped romaine lettuce, sliced cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red onion, and the sliced chicken strips.
- Add Tzatziki Sauce and Serve: Drizzle the homemade or store-bought tzatziki sauce over the assembled gyros. Serve immediately while the chicken and pitas are still warm.
Notes
- The chicken and tzatziki sauce can be stored separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days for meal prep convenience.
- This recipe yields 4 to 6 servings depending on how generously you fill the pita breads.
- You can use store-bought tzatziki sauce to save time, or make your own for an authentic touch.
- For extra flavor, you may sprinkle additional dried oregano or a squeeze of lemon juice on the assembled gyro before serving.
