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Easy Chicken Gyros

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Mar 08, 2025, Updated Mar 29, 2025

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Chicken Gyros might just be my all-time favorite street food 🌯🔥! I know I’ve talked about this before, but I actually spent a small chunk of my childhood in Greece (lucky me, right? 🇬🇷). I not only devoured authentic Greek food on a daily, but my family also got to learn real-deal Greek recipes straight from Greek families we spent time with. Needless to say, we took those delicious secrets home with us and STILL make them to this day! Safe to say, Greek food is a staple in our house, and gyros? Ohhh, they’re on repeat.

  • Why You’ll Love Easy Chicken Gyros
  • What is a Gyro
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip 🏛️
  • Easy Chicken Gyros Variations and Substitutions
  • Similar Recipes
  • Best Served With
  • Common Questions
  • Easy Chicken Gyros Recipe
Two grilled pita wraps filled with chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and feta cheese drizzled with a creamy sauce, placed on a wooden board. A bowl of crumbled feta and a small dish of sauce are next to the wraps. - 3

BUT let’s be real—there’s a reason most people buy their gyros instead of making them. The meat is typically marinated and slow-roasted on a vertical rotisserie for what feels like a lifetime 🕰️. And who has time for that?!? Not me, not you, not anyone who isn’t Nara Smith 🤣 (seriously, love her, but who has the timeeeeee).

So if you want to sink your teeth into some mouthwatering, juicy Chicken Gyros without waiting forever, I gotchu 🙌! This Easy Chicken Gyros recipe is where I’ve unlocked the ultimate cheat code 🎮—cutting your prep down to just 10 minutes while still serving up insanely delicious, flavor-packed meat!

Why You’ll Love Easy Chicken Gyros

Juicy, tender chicken thighs take on a savory and slightly tangy flavor profile with help from an aromatic blend of traditional Greek herbs 🌱 and lemon zest 🍋. The simple loaf pan method packs the protein tightly, mimicking the traditional spit roasted texture that is tender and juicy on the inside with those crispy edges we all love 😍. The versatile chicken can be enjoyed with 🥙 warm pita, crunchy cucumber, juicy tomatoes, peppery arugula, and topped with creamy tzatziki, salty olives, crumbly feta, and pickled red onion. Easy chicken gyros taste so sinful , you’ll forget they’re actually good for you 🤤!

What is a Gyro

A Greek Gyro, or simply “Gyro,” is a popular Greek 🇬🇷 dish made of seasoned meat (often beef, lamb, pork, or chicken) cooked on a vertical rotisserie. The meat is then thinly sliced and served wrapped in warm pita bread, with toppings such as tomato 🍅, onion, and tzatziki sauce – a creamy yogurt and cucumber sauce. Sometimes, Gyros also include lettuce, french fries 🍟, or other veggies.

The word “Gyro” comes from the Greek word for “turn” or “rotate,” describing the method used to cook the meat. The meat is stacked in a cone shape on a vertical spit, where it slowly cooks and browns as it rotates. This method allows the meat to cook evenly while remaining juicy 💦, resulting in the most tender and flavorful meat.

Two gyros filled with grilled meat, fresh tomatoes, red onion slices, crumbled feta, and herbs are served on a wooden board. A creamy sauce is drizzled on top, and the gyros are wrapped in pita bread. - 4

How to Prepare

⏲️ Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).

🥣 In a bowl, mix the chicken with the rest of the ingredients until well combined.

Raw chicken in a bowl is topped with ground spices, fresh lemon zest, and a dollop of plain yogurt. The background is a reddish-brown textured surface. - 5

🥘 Take a loaf pan, and arrange the chicken thighs (making sure you place each one on its side) until the loaf pan is full.

Raw chicken marinating in a rectangular pan, covered with a mixture of herbs and spices. The marinade appears to contain visible pieces of garlic and other seasonings. The pan is placed on a dark, textured surface. - 6

👩‍🍳 Bake uncovered at 400F (200C) until fully cooked. Mine take anywhere from 45-60 min depending on the oven.

A turquoise rectangular baking dish containing golden-brown baked thighs with visible crispy edges. The dish is resting on a wooden surface, partially covered by a gray cloth with white leaf patterns. - 7

♨️ Note: if there’s too much liquid in the Ioaf pan and the chicken isn’t browning, drain the liquid and reserve it. Continue cooking the chicken until browned or brown the top by putting it on broil for a few minutes at the end.

🥙 Enjoy on pita, with a side of vegetables, with rice, tzatziki, my Greek lemon potatoes, a side salad, or anything else that you like!

Nonna’s Tip 🏛️

If there’s too much liquid in the Ioaf pan, and the chicken isn’t browning, drain the liquid and reserve it. Continue cooking the chicken until browned, or brown the top by putting it on broil for a few minutes at the end.

Easy Chicken Gyros Variations and Substitutions

Feel free to make these easy chicken gyros your own! Follow these suggestions to take the guesswork out of cooking this dish.

  1. No chicken thighs? No problem! You can make this recipe with chicken breast, lamb, beef, or pork 🐖. You may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
  2. Make your own Greek seasoning blend with dried herbs 🌱 and spices like oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and any other flavors you want to add!
  3. Spice up your gyros with smoked paprika or cinnamon.
  4. Serve with a variety of toppings , like Kalamata olives, pickled red onions, feta, tomatoes 🍅, and cucumbers.

Similar Recipes

A white baking dish filled with roasted chicken drumsticks, potato wedges, and garlic cloves, garnished with herbs. The dish sits on a white surface with a lemon slice, chopped herbs, and a bowl of pepper nearby. - 8 A white baking dish filled with roasted chicken drumsticks, potato wedges, and garlic cloves, garnished with herbs. The dish sits on a white surface with a lemon slice, chopped herbs, and a bowl of pepper nearby. - 9

Greek Lemon Chicken

1 hr 35 mins

A stack of grilled chicken pieces skewered on a spit in a pan. A spoon drizzles sauce over the top, enhancing the golden-brown, juicy appearance of the chicken. The background features a white, tiled wall design. - 10 A stack of grilled chicken pieces skewered on a spit in a pan. A spoon drizzles sauce over the top, enhancing the golden-brown, juicy appearance of the chicken. The background features a white, tiled wall design. - 11

Greek Chicken Gyros

1 hr 25 mins

Chicken Souvlaki Skewers with herbs are served on a plate with pita bread, lemon wedges, a small bowl of creamy dip, and fresh herbs, all beautifully arranged in bright natural light. - 12 Chicken Souvlaki Skewers with herbs are served on a plate with pita bread, lemon wedges, a small bowl of creamy dip, and fresh herbs, all beautifully arranged in bright natural light. - 13

Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

25 mins

A bowl of grilled chicken chunks, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and a dollop of cheese. Garnished with chopped herbs and drizzled with yogurt sauce. A wooden spoon rests on the rim. - 14 A bowl of grilled chicken chunks, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and a dollop of cheese. Garnished with chopped herbs and drizzled with yogurt sauce. A wooden spoon rests on the rim. - 15

Easy Greek Bowl

15 mins

Best Served With

  • Dipped in my Easy Tzatziki Recipe .
  • Stuffed in pita with veggies and topped with this Pickled Onions Recipe .
  • As the protein option for this Easy Greek Bow l .
  • Alongside these Greek Lemon Potatoes .

Common Questions

Chicken things have a higher fat content, giving these gyros their juicy flavor. That said, feel free to use your favorite protein – you just may have to adjust the cooking time so the meat doesn’t dry out.

Yes, you can use a plant based yogurt alternative if you are dairy-free.

If the chicken isn’t getting brown, pour some of the excess liquid in a jar to reserve for later. This should help brown the edges. You can also broil the top at the end for extra crispiness.

I recommend getting this one ! In addition to this recipe, you can use it to bake bread at home, make meatloaf, pound cakes, and so much more. If you’re in a pinch, use any pan with high edges that lets you pack the chicken thighs tightly.

Absolutely! Make your own spice blend with dried herbs and spices like oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and any other flavors you want to add!

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions!
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list!

Equipment

  • ▢ Loaf Pan
  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Nakiri Knife
  • ▢ Mixing Bowls

Ingredients

  • ▢ 11 chicken thighs , boneless, skinless
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ▢ zest of one lemon
  • ▢ 5 cloves garlic , minced
  • ▢ ½ tablespoon salt
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon dry oregano
  • ▢ ¼ teaspoon Greek seasoning
  • ▢ ¼ cup plain yogurt , any
  • ▢ ½ lemon , juiced

Instructions

  • ▢ Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
  • ▢ In a bowl, mix the chicken with the rest of the ingredients until well combined.
  • ▢ Take a loaf pan, and arrange the chicken thighs (making sure you place each one on its side) until the loaf pan is full.
  • ▢ Bake uncovered at 400F (200C) until fully cooked. Mine take anywhere from 45-60 min depending on the oven.
  • ▢ Note: if there’s too much liquid Ioaf pan and the chicken isn’t browning, drain the liquid and reserve it. Continue cooking the chicken until browned or brown the top by putting it on broil for a few minutes at the end.
  • ▢ Enjoy on pita, with a side of vegetables, with rice, tzatziki, my Greek lemon potatoes, a side salad, or anything else that you like!

Nonna’s Notes

  • Protein alternatives: No chicken thighs? No problem! You can make this recipe with chicken breast, lamb, beef, or pork. You may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
  • Seasoning blend: Make your own Greek seasoning blend with dried herbs and spices like oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and any other flavors you want to add!
  • Spices : Spice up your gyros with smoked paprika or cinnamon.
  • Toppings: Serve with a variety of toppings, like Kalamata olives, pickled red onions, feta, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Easy Chicken Gyros

Equipment

  • Loaf Pan
  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Nakiri Knife
  • Mixing Bowls

Ingredients

  • 11 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • zest of one lemon
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dry oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon Greek seasoning
  • ¼ cup plain yogurt any
  • ½ lemon juiced

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
  • In a bowl, mix the chicken with the rest of the ingredients until well combined.
  • Take a loaf pan, and arrange the chicken thighs (making sure you place each one on its side) until the loaf pan is full.
  • Bake uncovered at 400F (200C) until fully cooked. Mine take anywhere from 45-60 min depending on the oven.
  • Note: if there’s too much liquid Ioaf pan and the chicken isn’t browning, drain the liquid and reserve it. Continue cooking the chicken until browned or brown the top by putting it on broil for a few minutes at the end.
  • Enjoy on pita, with a side of vegetables, with rice, tzatziki, my Greek lemon potatoes, a side salad, or anything else that you like!

Notes

  • Protein alternatives: No chicken thighs? No problem! You can make this recipe with chicken breast, lamb, beef, or pork. You may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
  • Seasoning blend: Make your own Greek seasoning blend with dried herbs and spices like oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and any other flavors you want to add!
  • Spices : Spice up your gyros with smoked paprika or cinnamon.
  • Toppings: Serve with a variety of toppings, like Kalamata olives, pickled red onions, feta, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Nutrition

Easy Chicken Gyros https://themodernnonna.com/easy-chicken-gyros/ March 8, 2025