Chicken Gyros with a homemade tzatiki cucumber sauce is hands down our favorite family meal. The best part is that it comes together in about 30 minutes. Pieces of chicken are marinated in a lemon juice and olive oil marinade before being grilled. Wrap the chicken gyros in pitas and serve with a delightfully fresh yogurt cucumber sauce for a light yet filling summer meal.
Just about a decade ago I spent a summer living and studying in Athens, Greece. Just about every day for lunch I would stop at a little restaurant on my way home from campus and pick up a souvlakia. Souvlakia looked like what Americans call “gyros” only instead of lamb it was almost always made with pork that was seasoned slowly roasted on a rotating skewer. The slouvakia was served wrapped in a pita stuffed with meat, french fries and tzatiki and then sprinkled with paprika. It was divine.
These chicken gyros are technically my version of a cheater souvlakia. Since I don't own a large roasting skewer, I use a grill to cook the meat. The spices aren't exactly the same, but it the gyros are delicious in their own right. And the homemade tzatiki cucumber sauce is just amazing. I like dip french fries in it!
This recipe is for just over one pound of chicken, but we always triple it because we want leftovers!
Chicken Gyros with Tzatiki Cucumber Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken, cut in to 3" strips
- 1 large onion, cut into 1/2" wedges
- 1/4 cup, olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 Tablespoon oregano
- 1 garlic clove, mashed in to a paste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Tzatiki Sauce
- 1 cup, whole fat Greek style yogurt
- 1 garlic clove, mashed in to a paste
- 1/2 European cucumber, seeded and very finely diced
Instructions
- Combine olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, and garlic in a bowl.
- Add chicken and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
- Let stand for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine all ingredients for tzatiki sauce. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Cook chicken and onions on a grill over high heat, turning once or twice, until tender and cooked through.
- Serve chicken with pitas and sauce.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 1026kcal Calories from fat 698 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 78g | 120% |
| Saturated Fat 21g | 105% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 232mg | 77% |
| Sodium 1464mg | 61% |
| Carbohydrate 17g | 6% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
| Sugars 10g | |
| Protein 65g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
Barb
May 9, 2014Okay – I have to try this. I love Middle Eastern food, and I never get enough of it. I’m pinning your recipe to my Grilling Recipes board. TODAY.
Camille
May 10, 2014It is one of our family favorites! And it’s pretty quick to make, too! Thanks for pinning.
Dianna
May 10, 2013Great stuff! Most of the kids didn’t appreciate the sauce, but Gene and I loved it! We’ll be having this again! Thanks!
Camille
May 10, 2013Yea! Glad you liked it! My kids don’t like the sauce either – they just do pitas and chicken!
Liz
May 6, 2013Oh, boy, does this look DELISH! My mom used to prepare pork this way…and now I need to try it with chicken!