This chicken gyro pita recipe is loaded with juicy marinated chicken, creamy homemade tzatziki sauce, crisp vegetables, and warm pita bread for the ultimate Mediterranean-inspired meal. These homemade chicken gyros are easy enough for weeknights but flavorful enough for entertaining. If you love Greek-style meals, you should also try this Chicken Pasanda for another richly marinated chicken dish.
The combination of tender grilled chicken thighs, tangy yogurt marinade, and fresh toppings creates a Greek pita sandwich that tastes just like your favorite restaurant version.
What I love about this chicken gyro recipe is you can use the chicken for anything - it doesn't even have to be on a pita if you want to use it for something else! It's so delicious and flavorful we also love to serve it over basmati rice or even with this couscous salad!
What is a chicken gyro pita?
A chicken gyro pita is a Greek-inspired sandwich made with marinated grilled chicken wrapped in soft pita bread and topped with tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and feta cheese. Homemade chicken gyros are known for their bold Mediterranean flavors and juicy grilled chicken.
Jump to:
- What is a chicken gyro pita?
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why This Chicken Gyro Pita is Better Than Takeout
- What is My Take on Mediterranean Chicken Wraps?
- Ingredients
- Key Ingredients
- Step By Step Instructions
- How to Make Gyros
- How to Get Juicy Grilled Chicken Gyros
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Variations
- What to Serve With Chicken Gyro Pita
- Expert Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storage + Reheating + Make Ahead + Meal Prep
- Closing Chicken Gyro Pita
- Recipe
- 💬 Comments
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Why This Recipe Works
- The yogurt marinade keeps the chicken thighs juicy and tender.
- Homemade tzatziki sauce adds cool, creamy flavor.
- Perfect balance of savory, tangy, and fresh ingredients.
- Easy grilled chicken pita recipe for lunch or dinner.
- Great for meal prep and make-ahead Mediterranean wraps.
- Uses simple ingredients while delivering authentic Greek flavors.
Why This Chicken Gyro Pita is Better Than Takeout
Restaurant gyros can sometimes be dry or overloaded with sauce. Making chicken gyros at home lets you control the seasoning, freshness, and toppings.
These homemade gyros use fresh lemon juice, garlic, oregano, and Greek yogurt for a flavorful marinade that creates juicy grilled chicken every time.
What is My Take on Mediterranean Chicken Wraps?
I love using chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts because they stay incredibly tender on the grill and absorb the Greek marinade beautifully. The homemade tzatziki sauce also makes a huge difference compared to store-bought sauces.
The balance of warm pita bread, fresh vegetables, salty feta, and smoky grilled chicken creates one of the best easy Mediterranean dinner recipes.
Ingredients
I always use chicken thighs to make this as they come out perfectly juicy and don't dry out like chicken breast. Note, you can also make this recipe with sous vide chicken thighs or sous vide chicken breast! Just marinade it first, the sous vide it.
You can buy packages of pita bread at the store, typically in the bread aisle. You can also use any other type of flatbread. Sometimes, if we're out of pita bread, we'll even use tortillas!
Note the marinade includes lots and lots of garlic - this is a garlic heavy dish which is what makes the flavor so amazing!
Chicken Gyro Pita Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thighs
- 8 pitas
- 1 sliced tomato
- chopped lettuce substitute shredded
- ¼ - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup chopped red onion
Marinade
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- â…› teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ cup shredded cucumber moisture squeezed out
- ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- â…› teaspoon white pepper
Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable version of ingredients and instructions.
Key Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs - Chicken thighs stay juicy and flavorful after grilling, making them perfect for homemade chicken gyros.
- Greek Yogurt - Greek yogurt tenderizes the chicken while adding tangy Mediterranean flavor to both the marinade and tzatziki sauce.
- Fresh Dill and Cucumber - These ingredients create a refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce that balances the savory grilled chicken.
Step By Step Instructions
How to Make Gyros
Step1: Combine all the marinade ingredients together and pour it over the chicken thighs in a large ziplock bag. Marinade for 8-12 hours in the fridge.
Step2: To make the tzatziki sauce, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and store in the fridge until ready for use. Adjust the salt to taste if needed.
Step3: Remove the chicken from the bag and heat a grill over medium high heat.
Step 4: Grill the chicken for 4-6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Step 5: Remove from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes. Slice the chicken into strips or chunks.
You can also cook the chicken in the air fryer at 390° for about 8-12 minutes or the oven on a parchment paper or aluminum foil lined baking sheet at 425°F for about 20 minutes. Cut the chicken in pieces before air frying or roasting.
Step 6: Serve the chicken rolled in warm pita bread with the tzatziki sauce, lettuce, thin slices of tomato and red onion, and feta cheese.
How to Get Juicy Grilled Chicken Gyros
- Marinate the chicken overnight for maximum flavor.
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for tender results.
- Let the chicken rest before slicing to keep juices inside.
- Warm the pita bread before assembling for softer wraps.
- Use fresh lemon juice and dill for authentic Greek flavor.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the Marinade Time - The yogurt marinade needs time to tenderize the chicken and develop flavor.
- Overcooking the Chicken - Chicken thighs should be cooked to 160°F and rested before slicing.
- Watery Tzatziki Sauce - Squeeze excess moisture from the cucumber to keep the sauce creamy.
Variations
- Make spicy chicken gyros with red pepper flakes.
- Use naan bread instead of pita bread.
- Add olives or pickled onions for extra Mediterranean flavor.
- Turn this into a chicken gyro bowl with rice or lettuce.
- Serve alongside Greek-Inspired Coconut Rice for a flavorful side.
What to Serve With Chicken Gyro Pita
- Serve with some French fries thrown in the wrap - make these air fryer frozen French fries while you grill the chicken!
- Instead of serving on Greek pita bread, you can serve it in tortillas to make gyro tacos, on flatbreads to make gyro pizza, on chips to make gyro nachos, or serve it in a bowl with some jasmine rice.
- Serve the gyro wrap with some of these delicious sides:
- Crispy roasted potatoes - put a squeeze of lemon on top before serving
- Greek salad
- Hummus is always a classic side and great as a smear right on your gyro!
- A nice simple tomato soup goes amazing with this
- If you're not much of a tzatziki fan (I see you), try one of these sauces:
You can also serve these Mediterranean wraps with fries, cucumber salad, or grilled vegetables.
Expert Tips
- For optimal flavor, marinade the chicken for at least 8 hours, but not more than 12 as it will start to get mushy.
- The typical easy gyro sauce is tzatziki sauce, but you can use any sauce you'd like! I included some options in the serving options section of the post.
- The chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Use a thermometer to check doneness easily.
- Squeeze as much liquid out of the cucumber as you can before adding it to the yogurt sauce - it helps ensure the sauce stays thick and creamy.
- You can substitute beef, pork or lamb for the chicken to make a beef gyro, lamb gyro or pork gyros.
- Double the tzatziki sauce for dipping vegetables or fries.
- Prep the sauce and toppings ahead for easy assembly.
Frequently Asked Questions
A chicken gyro is made of marinated pieces of grilled chicken wrapped in pita bread served with tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and onions.
Gyros are Greek-style wraps typically seasoned with oregano, lemon, and yogurt, while shawarma uses Middle Eastern spices like cumin and cinnamon.
A chicken gyro is typically considered to be a healthy meal. Greek food is part of the Mediterranean diet which is often considered one of the healthiest ways of eating. The chicken is packed with protein, vegetables with vitamins, and the Greek yogurt in the gyro sauce has probiotics and protein.
**note I am not a medical or health professional. Please see your personal doctor for health advice.
Yes. You can cook the chicken in a skillet or bake it in the oven for an easy chicken pita recipe.
Soft pita bread is traditionally used for Greek chicken gyros and Mediterranean wraps.
Yes. Homemade tzatziki sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and often tastes better after chilling.
Storage + Reheating + Make Ahead + Meal Prep
- Store leftover grilled chicken, toppings, and tzatziki sauce separately in airtight containers for 3-5 days. Leftover vegetables should be stored separately in a a container for 2-3 days.
- Reheat the chicken gyro in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until warm, in a skillet over medium heat, or in a 400°F oven for 5 minutes, until warmed through.
- This chicken gyro pita recipe is perfect for meal prep because the chicken and sauce can be made ahead and assembled fresh throughout the week.
- You can freeze gyro meat in an airtight container for up to 60 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then follow the above reheating instructions.
Closing Chicken Gyro Pita
This chicken gyro pita recipe is one of the easiest ways to bring bold Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Between the juicy grilled chicken, creamy homemade tzatziki sauce, and warm pita bread, these homemade chicken gyros are fresh, satisfying, and perfect for easy weeknight meals or casual entertaining.
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Recipe
Easy Greek Chicken Gyro Pita with Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thighs
- 8 pitas
- 1 sliced tomato
- chopped lettuce substitute shredded
- ¼ - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup chopped red onion
Marinade:
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- â…› teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Tzatziki Sauce:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ cup shredded cucumber moisture squeezed out
- ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- â…› teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the marinade ingredients together and pour it over the chicken thighs in a large ziplock bag. Marinade for 8-12 hours in the fridge.
- To make the tzatziki sauce, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and store in the fridge until ready for use. Adjust the salt to taste if needed.
- Remove the chicken from the bag and heat a grill over medium high heat.
- Grill the chicken for 4-6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Remove from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes. Slice the chicken into strips or chunks.
- Warm the pita breads in an oven or the microwave (optional) and serve the chicken rolled in the pita bread with the tzatziki sauce, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion and feta cheese.
Expert Tips:
- For optimal flavor, marinade the chicken for at least 8 hours, but not more than 12 as it will start to get mushy.
- The typical easy gyro sauce is tzatziki sauce, but you can use any sauce you'd like! I included some options in the serving options section of the post.
- The chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Use a thermometer to check doneness easily.
- Squeeze as much liquid out of the cucumber as you can before adding it to the yogurt sauce - it helps ensure the sauce stays thick and creamy.
- You can substitute beef, pork or lamb for the chicken to make a beef gyro, lamb gyro or pork gyros.
- Double the tzatziki sauce for dipping vegetables or fries.
- Prep the sauce and toppings ahead for easy assembly.
EA says
This was mouthwateringly good even having forgotten the honey and vinegar in the marinade! Only thing I would add is I disagree with the expert tip about squeezing the cucumber juice out of it before adding to the tzatziki, I find using an extra thick Greek yogurt allows the cucumber juice to thin it out ever so slightly to the perfect consistency (especially if using less juicy cucumbers like Persian ones) while keeping all the cucumber flavour <3
Tara says
That is an excellent tip if you prefer a thinner sauce.
harry says
Loved this recipe! Came out really good 🙂
Danielle says
Glad to hear it!