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.

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.

How to Prepare

⏲️ 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 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!

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

Greek Lemon Chicken

1 hr 35 mins

Greek Chicken Gyros

1 hr 25 mins

Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

25 mins

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 Bowl.
• Alongside these Greek Lemon Potatoes.

Common Questions