Chicken Gyros were a huge hit at our house and fun to eat! Just a little messy!!
I have shared a lot of sweets with you this month – all those yummy holiday treats. I don’t know about you but I am usually pretty ready for a sweet break right about now. I just want some good, yummy real food!!
Today I am excited to share with you a recipe I made for the first time earlier this fall. My family fell in love with it and in fact when I made it again a few weeks ago Tessa commented that it was one of her favorite meals.
Whenever we visit Portland’s Saturday Market our favorite food vendor to have lunch with is the Greek Gyro booth – yum! When I came across this recipe over at My Kitchen Cafe I knew I had to give it a try.
It was a hit! The flavor is perfect and it is easy to do. The original recipe calls for you to cube the chicken, then marinade and then cook. I chose to marinade the breasts whole and then we grilled them. In fact my husband grilled them out in our twenty degree weather.
Today I will share the chicken part of the recipe and later this week I will share the soft wrap bread that you wrap all the yummy chicken and tzatziki sauce goodness in!! If you just don’t think you can wait to make these you will just have to buy yourself some pita bread at the store but I promise you the Soft Wrap Bread is worth waiting a couple days for. I could have just eaten the soft wrap bread for my meal without the chicken!
Did I mention how wonderful the soft wrap bread is?!
Chicken Gyros
This recipe calls for straining yogurt. I did not do that. I had some regular plain yogurt in my refrigerator and I used it as is. I am sure it is probably better and creamier if you take the time to strain it but I thought it was great without doing that. The chicken does need to marinade 1-2 hours so allow time for that.
Makes enough chicken and tzatziki for approximately 4-6 gyros. I also cut the tzatziki sauce recipe in half and it was plenty for the three of us.
- 16 oz. plain yogurt not fat free unless it is Oikos or Fage or another Greek-type yogurt
- 1/2 hothouse cucumber or 1 regular cucumber peeled and seeded (I used 1/2 of an English cucumber)
- 2-3 cloves garlic pressed through a garlic press (or finely minced)
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper
- Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic smashed
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 heaping tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper
- 2-3 bonless skinless chicken
- Pita bread or soft wrap bread (recipe to follow this week)
- Fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced
- Red onion, sliced thin
- To make the tzatziki sauce, strain the yogurt using cheesecloth over a bowl
- Let strain for several hours or overnight, if possible, to remove as much moisture as possible. (You won't believe how much liquid drains from the yogurt - it makes the yogurt much thicker and creamier. If you want to splurge on Greek yogurt, like Oikos or Fage, you won't need to strain it like this.)
- Shred the cucumber
- Wrap in a towel a squeeze to remove as much water as possible
- Mix together the strained yogurt, shredded cucumber, garlic, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, and lemon juice
- Drizzle lightly with olive oil
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld
- To prepare the chicken, combine the garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, yogurt, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl
- Whisk together until mixed well
- Add the chicken to the bowl and mix well to coat
- Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour
- Cook the chicken as desired, either in the skillet, broiler or on the grill
- (I grilled it - or rather my husband grilled it in our 20 degree temperatures!)
- Once the chicken is completely cooked through, transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes and then cube
- Heat pitas
- Top with chicken, tzatziki sauce, diced tomatoes and sliced onions
- Serve immediately
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I am so excited to try this!!! I love gyros, and if I can make them at home… well… I’ll be surprised if the family gets anything else for dinner! Can’t wait for the soft bread recipe!
This sounds delicious! Thank you for all of your recipes and knowledge! I hope you enjoy your time with family this week. Happy Holidays!
MMM that looks yummy. We had beef gyros at the Texas Renaissance Festival this year. I think I will have to give the recipe a try. Hurry with the bread recipe please!
Blessings,
Lorilee
Your pictures are lovely as always. This is one of my favorite recipes of ALL time so I’m very glad you liked it (and the soft wrap bread definitely makes it stellar).
Glad you’re enjoying time with the family! The Gyros recipe looks so good especially after eating so many cookies and sweets this holiday. If I don’t eat another cookie for a long time, it will be more than okay with me. I’m craving real food.
That sounds delicious! It’s been ages since I had a gyro! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I make these all the time! They are fast, easy and a crowd pleaser. However, I use 8oz of yogurt and 8oz sour cream. The other tricky part is finding pita bread. Many people mistake it for pocket bread which is VERY different. I have been able to find it at Winco and Bales in the deli section. I can’t wait to try your recipe for the bread…..I am sure it will make my homemade Gyros to die for!
Looking forward to your soft-bread recipe! I used to LOVE Wendy’s veggie wraps, and I was so sad when they stopped offering them. Once I learn how to make that delicious soft bread, I can make my own. =D Thanks for so many great recipes & ideas!
http://wherefloursbloom.blogspot.com/2009/09/goin-greek.html is my version of souvlaki. We love adding kalamata olives, those lovely pappadew peppers (little sweet tangy marinated red peppers found in the fresh deli), feta cheese and hummus to the mix. In fact, you’ve got me all in the mood for it. I’m thinking New Year’s day dinner.
Can’t wait to make this… Keep all the great recipes coming… along with the wonderful pictures… ! Looking forward to the pita recipe..!
This looks so yummy! I can’t wait to make the gyros. The bread looks delicious too. Have a great week with your family.
These look great!!
Enjoy your break from blogging. However, you and your wonderful recipes will be missed.
I’ve got this recipe scheduled for Tuesday night!
We absolutely love lamb gyros so when I saw this I decided it was a – MUST try! I just made everything and put it in the fridge to marinate overnight. I’m super excited for tomorrow’s dinner now 🙂