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This delicious Beef Gyros recipe has all of the amazing Middle Eastern flavor and is made in your cast iron skillet at home!
what is a Gyro?
Gyro, pronounced “yee row”, is a traditional Middle Eastern street food. I still remember the first gyro I enjoyed during a trip to Greece, it was amazing! A gyro is a combination of well seasoned meat served wrapped in a piece of pita bread and often topped with Tzatziki sauce. The beef gyros we had in Greece came with french fries on top.
What Kind of Meat Do You Use for Beef Gyros?
Traditionally, gyros are made from lamb, chicken or beef. Today we are using thinly sliced beef flank steak. Gyro meat is usually cooked on a rotating spit but since most home kitchens don’t have one we are using a cast iron pan. My favorite part of beef gyros is the amazing flavor you get from the spices used.
I also have a Chicken Gyro recipe here.
Ingredients Needed
- Beef. I like to use flank steak but you can also use skirt steak, hanger steak, or flat iron steak.
- Onion. White or yellow onion
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Lemon juice
- Olive Oil
- Garlic. Fresh garlic is best.
- Parsley. Fresh or dried. Use half as much dried prsley
- Salt and pepper
Gyro Meat Seasoning
If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice for your beef gyros you can make your own by using ¾ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves or nutmeg (choose one)
how to Make Beef Gyros
- Thinly slice your flank steak. Slice when partially frozen to allow for thinner slices.
- Add in seasonings. You can also use 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice in place of the cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg.
- Add in onion, garlic, fresh parsley and salt and pepper.
- Stir to coat meat. Let sit while you assemble the sauce.
How to Make Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
This recipe for yogurt sauce is slightly different than the traditional Tzatziki sauce that is commonly served on beef gyros but it is just as delicious.
- Combine chopped tomatoes and cucumber with Greek Yogurt
- Add in some fresh garlic, red wine vinegar, a squeeze of lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
How to Serve a Beef Gyro
- We love to serve beef gyros on pita bread, but you can also use Naan bread if you prefer.
Wrap the meat in the pita bread and then top with the tzaziki sauce, some additional chopped tomato, cucumber, red onion and some fresh lettuce if you like
Frequently Asked Questions
Saute meat and onions in olive oil until meat is lightly browned. Add in seasonings, lemon juice and 1/2 cup of beef broth to meat mixture in Instant Pot.
Lock lid into place.
Turn the steam valve to sealing.
Use the meat/stew preset cook time (30 minutes)
Do a natural release.
Place meat, onion, 1/2 cup of beef broth, lemon juice and seasonings into slow cooker. (Optional: lightly brown the meat in 1 tbsp olive oil before placing it in slow cooker)
Put on the lid.
Set to high for 3 1/2 – 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
The flavor of the two is similar but the shawarma meat is usually cut into chunks, put on skewers and grilled. It is served as a kabob with rice where the gyro is served as a sandwich.
For other delicious recipes try these:
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Beef Gyro
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lb. flank steak thinly sliced against the grain
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
- 1 cup plain Greek Yogurt
- 1 cup English cucumber peeled, seeded and diced
- 2 medium tomatoes chopped
- 2 cloves garlic pressed through a garlic press (or finely minced)
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper
- Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Mix together the sliced steak, onion, pumpkin pie spice, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper in a bowl
Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
- Mix together yogurt, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon juice.
- Mix in tomatoes and cucumbers
- Salt and pepper to taste
Meat Mixture
- Heat a cast iron pan to medium heat.
- Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to pan and then add meat and onion mixture in a single layer.
- Cook until meat is browned and cooked through. Repeat with remaining meat.
- Warm bread and serve meat and tzaziki sauce on top
Tips & Notes:
Lock lid into place.
Turn the steam valve to sealing.
Use the meat/stew preset cook time (30 minutes)
Do a natural release. Slow Cooker Directions: Place meat, onion, 1/2 cup of beef broth, lemon juice and seasonings into slow cooker. (Optional: lightly brown the meat in 1 tbsp olive oil before placing it in slow cooker)
Put on the lid.
Set to high for 3 1/2 – 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
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Nutrition Facts:
Onebrightcrayon says
I’m very thankful for this recipe. I used it as a base recipe for a quick and easy dinner.
I used the following groceries from Walmart:
1.5lbs Beef Bottom Round Steak Stir Fry, presliced
1 medium onion, sliced
Minced garlic, jar
Lemon juice, bottle
Olive oil for sautéing
6ct Sams Choice White Greek Style Pita Bread
16oz Marketside Tzatziki Style Dip (cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, onion)
9-10oz Marketside Romaine lettuce bag, pre chopped
1 tomato, sliced
For an even quicker dinner, I’d use the fresh, prediced onions and tomatoes in the refrigerator section
This was enough for 2 adults & 1 7yo for dinner and then 2 gyros for my husbands lunch the next day.
Seanna says
I have made this recipe twice, for 2 different groups of people. It is always delicious and well received, I get many compliments, and my picky young son gives it the thumbs up, and make again rating, which is hard to do, and very exciting. I am blown away at how the pumpkin pie spice really puts this recipe over the edge. Thanks for sharing!!
Leigh Anne says
Seanna, I am so glad everyone loves it. The pumpkin pie spice addition is the best!!
Michelle says
This was absolutely wonderful and so easy! I don’t care if it was authentic or not – simply delightful. Our local grocery store carries naan and I can’t imagine substituting pita. Thank you so much for this wonderful addition to my meal rotation. I look forward to more of your recipes!
Mary says
I would like to eat this for dinner VERY soon. It looks delicious! Your blog is adorable…I love the colors! I am looking forward to the SITS challenge this week!
Leigh Anne says
Thanks for stopping by Mary!!