Easy Chicken Gyro Recipe (Super Juicy!)

This chicken gyro recipe is easy and exceptionally delicious. The marinade makes the chicken extra flavorful and juicy. Stuff it into a pita with fresh veggies and homemade tzatziki for a fabulous Greek feast!

If you’ve been around for a while, you know we like our chicken to be flavorful. Mediterranean recipes definitely satisfy that craving for more bright flavors. From chicken souvlaki and one pan Greek chicken and rice to Mediterranean chicken, every single dish brightens up our taste buds and takes us to the shores of the Mediterranean! Now, if you love the gyro from your local Greek restaurant, this homemade chicken gyro is going to be one of your favorite recipes!

Jump to:

• About this recipe
• Why this recipe works
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Other cooking options
• Serving suggestions
• Leftovers
• Notes and tips
• Step-by-Step Recipe

About this recipe

Gyro (pronounced Yee-ro) is a classic Greek dish that’s commonly made with chicken, lamb or beef stacked and cooked on a rotating spit. That’s what you can usually find in Greek restaurants. I’ve put together this delicious and homemade chicken gyro recipe that’s easy, doesn’t require a pit, and is packed with all those delicious Mediterranean flavors. 

Why this recipe works

We use tender yogurt marinated chicken that’s cooked to perfection and nestled in a pita with homemade tzatziki, tomatoes, onions and other fixings. One bite and you’ll never look back! 

This is the perfect weeknight dinner since it's so fast and easy. You can marinate the chicken ahead of time and simply cook it when you're ready to have dinner.

The best part? You can make it at home in a pan, no grilling or pit required! 

Ingredients

• Chicken tenders: You can also use thinly sliced chicken breast for this recipe. Chicken tenders are just the right size and cook pretty fast.
• Yogurt: What makes this the best chicken gyro recipe is the yogurt marinade. Yogurt is a great addition to the marinade because in addition to making the chicken tender and delicious, it forms a crust around the chicken that gives it that nice golden color, which you can also find in our shish tawook recipe. 
• Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds such nice and bright flavor to the chicken.
• Olive oil: A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for more flavor.
• Garlic: I use about 4 cloves of garlic, but you can add less.
• Spices: For this recipe you need dried oregano, salt and pepper.

Instructions

Prepare the marinade

In a large bowl, whisk the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Add the chicken tenders to the marinade and gently toss them to make sure they’re covered with the yogurt mixture on all sides.

Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least one hour. You can marinate chicken for up to 24 hours.  

Sear the chicken 

Heat olive oil in a pan and bring the chicken out of the fridge. Wait for the oil to get shimmery but not smoking. 

Once the olive oil is hot, take the chicken tenders using a pair of tongs and make sure to shake off any excess yogurt marinade. Place the chicken tenders in the pan and sear for about four minutes until it’s golden brown. Flip and sear on the other side for five minutes until the chicken is fully cooked. 

Assemble the gyro wraps

Spread some homemade tzatziki on a warm homemade pita and add the chicken. Top with tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and red onion. 

Other cooking options

You can make this homemade gyro recipe simply on the stove top in a pan or in the oven. And if the weather permits, grilling would be a great option too. 

Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat it with non stick cooking spray. Place the chicken tenders on the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 20 minutes and flip halfway through. 

Grill: Heat up the outdoor grill and make sure the grates are oiled lightly so the chicken doesn’t stick. Shake off the yogurt off the tenders and place them on the grill. Grill for 5 minutes on each side or until it’s fully cooked. 

Serving suggestions

Beside the usual veggie fixings that come with pita when making a gyro wrap, you can also serve this Greek dish other delicious side dishes such as Mediterranean salad or traditional Greek salad. 

In addition to salads, there are other side dishes we love to serve with this dish such as Greek potatoes, fried eggplants, melitzanosalata and skordalia.

Leftovers

You can keep marinated chicken tenders in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If you have leftover cooked chicken gyro, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days. You can reheat it in a pan over medium heat and then make the wraps. 

Notes and tips

• For the yogurt marinade, you can use whole milk or low fat yogurt. My preference is whole milk yogurt since it gives a nice crispy crust to the chicken. 
• Make sure not to overcook the chicken. We want the chicken tenders to be truly “tender” and juicy - not tough and rubbery. 
• If chicken tenders are not available, you can use sliced chicken breast for this recipe. 
• To make this recipe ahead of time, prepare the marinade and marinate the chicken overnight. Refrigerate the marinated chicken until you’re ready to cook.  

Step-by-Step Recipe