Savory Grilled Chicken Gyros (Printable)
Grilled chicken in warm pita with crisp veggies and a creamy garlic sauce, Greek-inspired and quick.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Grilled Chicken Marinade
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp kosher salt
09 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Creamy Garlic Sauce
10 - ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
11 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
12 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
13 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
14 - ½ tsp kosher salt
15 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
16 - 1 tbsp fresh dill or parsley, chopped (optional)
→ Assembly
17 - 4 pita breads or flatbreads
18 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
19 - 1 large tomato, sliced
20 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
21 - ½ cup shredded lettuce
22 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Add the chicken pieces and toss thoroughly to ensure even coating. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight for deeper flavor penetration.
02 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from the marinade and grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until fully cooked through with appealing char marks. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
03 - In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, finely minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and fresh herbs if using. Stir until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste and refrigerate until ready to serve.
04 - Place pita breads on the grill or in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side, until warm, pliable, and lightly toasted.
05 - Layer sliced grilled chicken, shredded lettuce, tomato slices, cucumber slices, and red onion onto each warmed pita. Drizzle generously with the creamy garlic sauce and sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.
06 - Fold or roll each gyro tightly and serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy garlic sauce is so good you will want to put it on everything from roasted potatoes to grilled fish.
- Chicken thighs stay incredibly juicy even if you accidentally overcook them by a minute or two.
- Everything comes together in under an hour which makes it feel like a weeknight cheat code.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting step because sliced chicken that has not rested will dry out faster than you expect.
- Warming the pita is not optional since cold pita cracks and tears the moment you try to fold it around filling.
03 -
- If you have time to marinate the chicken overnight the flavor penetration is remarkable and worth planning ahead for.
- A grill pan on the stove works just as well as an outdoor grill as long as you let it get properly hot before the chicken goes on.