Description
This Easy Chicken Gyros recipe features juicy marinated chicken tenderloins grilled to perfection and wrapped in warm pita bread with fresh green-leaf lettuce, tangy cucumber salad, crumbled feta cheese, and creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. The flavorful marinade combines olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs for a delicious Mediterranean-inspired meal that’s quick to prepare and perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- ½ cup olive oil
- juice of one lemon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning
Chicken & Assembly
- 1 ½ pounds chicken tenderloins, cut thick ones in half lengthwise
- white or whole wheat pita bread
- crumbled feta cheese
- green-leaf lettuce
- 5-Minute Tzatziki Sauce (prepared separately)
Cucumber Salad
- ½ cucumber, sliced or chopped
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- salt and pepper, to taste
- pinch of fresh dill, optional
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: Stir together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, minced garlic, garlic powder, and Herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning until well combined.
- Marinate the chicken: Add the chicken tenderloins to the marinade and toss to coat thoroughly. Cover tightly and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to two hours for more flavor infusion.
- Make the cucumber salad: While the chicken is marinating, combine sliced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and optional fresh dill in a bowl. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Cook the chicken: Preheat a grill or skillet over medium heat. Use tongs to transfer the marinated chicken onto the hot cooking surface. Cook for 6 minutes on each side, ensuring the chicken is cooked through and nicely browned.
- Assemble the gyros: Arrange the pita breads on a plate or clean surface. Fill each pita with a layer of green-leaf lettuce, grilled chicken, cucumber salad, crumbled feta cheese, and a generous dollop of tzatziki sauce.
- Serve: Fold the pita like a sandwich or roll it up securely and enjoy your flavorful, easy chicken gyros immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried herbs by substituting 1 teaspoon each of finely chopped fresh thyme, oregano, and parsley for the Herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning.
- For the cucumber salad, use the second half of an English cucumber if making homemade tzatziki sauce using half the cucumber.
- Consider adding sautéed bell pepper slices for an extra layer of flavor and texture—it pairs wonderfully with the gyros.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 gyro
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
