High Protein Chicken Gyros
on Mar 13, 2025, Updated Mar 29, 2025
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Call me The Modern PROTEIN Nonna—because ever since I started sneaking more protein into my meals, I’ve basically turned into a protein magician 🎩. You name a classic dish, and I’ll protein-ify it 💅. One of my favourite inventions to date is this three ingredient High Protein Chicken Gyros recipe!
Now, we all know chicken gyros are already high in protein—because, well, chicken 🐔… DUH. But what if I told you I could raise the protein stakes even higher? That’s right, I levelled up this beautiful, flavor-packed dish by being the first person online to ever marinate chicken thighs in a creamy, blended, perfectly seasoned (and I mean, perfectly seasoned, because bland chicken? We don’t know her 👀) mixture of cottage cheese.
Yes, you heard me. COTTAGE CHEESE 🧀. I’ve been marinating my meat in yogurt since forever—because let’s be real, yogurt is a GOAT-level marinade across so many cultures (including mine). But blending up cottage cheese and letting that work its magic? It takes a regular chicken gyro and takes it to protein heights you never thought were possible.
So, if you’re ready to jump on this High-Protein Chicken Gyro train, grab a seat, hold on tight, and let TMN show you the way 😉.
Why You’ll Love High Protein Chicken Gyros
Juicy chicken thighs 🍖 are marinated in a high protein cottage cheese mixture for maximum tenderness. Then, they’re generously seasoned with a savory poultry blend and spit roasted wearing an onion crown 🧅👑 to let the juices trickle down. This self-basting method creates a tower of meat that is crispy on the outside, and tender and juicy 💦 on the inside. The best part? It takes only 10 minutes to prep, so you can set it and forget it. The result? A savory, juicy – not to mention healthy! – protein rich meal that’s virtually hands free 🙌!
How to Prepare
♨️ Preheat the oven to 425F (220C).
🌀 Next, add the cottage cheese to a food processor and blend until smooth. Alternatively, you can blend the cottage cheese with an immersion blender in its container.
🐓 Now, add the chicken thighs to a bowl, with any poultry seasoning of choice. I used Watkins poultry and seafood seasoning but feel free to use any of choice.
🥣 Add in the blended cottage cheese and mix well.
🫒 Once marinated, take out the Vertical Gyro Oven Plate, oil it up with a little bit of olive oil, and thread on the chicken making sure to rotate each one opposite from the last.
🧅 If you don’t have a Vertical Spit, cut a large onion in half and position two bamboo skewers vertically into the onion to create your own home-made spit.
💧 Now, add one cup of water (or broth) to the bottom of the Gyro plate and place half of the onion on top of the meat.
👩🍳 Place it in the oven and bake for 75-90 minutes (depending on the oven) or until golden.
🥙 Take it out of the oven, let it rest for a few minutes and cut it. Enjoy on pita with tzatziki, french fries and all the fixings, on a salad, or on its own with a side of my Greek Lemon Potatoes.
Nonna’s Tip 🍗
Feel free to use any seasoning of choice, or create your own blend as well. Mine had salt in it already, so I didn’t have to add extra. Depending on the brand, you will have to adjust the sodium so be sure to look on the back of the ingredient label for best results.
Variations and Substitutions for High Protein Chicken Gyros
- Instead of cottage cheese, feel free to use Greek 🇬🇷 yogurt for the marinade.
- You can also make this dairy-free with plant based cottage cheese, or eliminate it altogether.
- Get creative with your poultry seasoning 🐓 blend! I used Watkins Poultry Seasoning, but some people swear by Bell’s Seasoning. I’m also a big fan of making your own with whatever’s available on your spice rack! Just make sure you read the sodium label and salt to taste.
- No spit? No problem! Simply cut a large onion in half and position two bamboo skewers vertically into the onion to create your own.
- The marinating time ⏲️ for this recipe is flexible, anywhere from 1 hour to overnight in the fridge. The longer you let it marinate, the more juicy and flavorful it will be.
More Greek Recipes
Greek Chicken Gyros
1 hr 25 mins
Easy Tzatziki Recipe
6 mins
Greek Feta Salad
8 mins
Spatchcock Greek Lemon Chicken
1 hr 35 mins
Greek Lemon Potatoes
1 hr 30 mins
Easy Chicken Gyros
1 hr 10 mins
Best Served With
- Serve these with my cool and creamy Easy Tzatziki Recipe.
- Pair them with a side of tangy Greek Lemon Potatoes 🥔.
- Make a delicious Easy Greek Bowl with fresh tomatoes 🍅 and cucumbers 🥒.
- Warm pita 🥙 is the perfect companion to these High Protein Chicken Gyros.
Common Questions
Absolutely! Feel free to use a dairy-free alternative to the cottage cheese, or eliminate it altogether.
Once the chicken has cooled, remove it from the spit and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I used Watkins poultry seasoning for this recipe. Bell’s Seasoning is another great option. You can also make your own blend! Just be sure to check the sodium content of your seasoning before adding salt to taste.
It’s flexible! You can marinate the chicken in the fridge for 1 hour, or up to 24 hours before cooking. The longer you let it marinate, the more flavorful and tender it will be. (But don’t go over 24-hours for food safety purposes!)
If you don’t have a Vertical Spit, cut a large onion in half and position two bamboo skewers vertically into the onion to create your own home-made spit.
High Protein Chicken Gyros
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 boneless skinless thighs, sometimes I add 10-12 thighs
- ⅓ cup cottage cheese, blended
- 1 tablespoon Poultry Seasoning, to taste
- 1 cup water, or broth
- ½ onion , or foil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F (220C).
- Next, add the cottage cheese to a food processor and blend until smooth. Alternatively, you can blend the cottage cheese with an immersion blender in its container.
- Now, add the chicken thighs to a bowl, with any poultry seasoning of choice. I used Watkins poultry and seafood seasoning but feel free to use any of choice.
- Note: feel free to use any seasoning of choice or create your own blend as well. Mine has salt in it already, so I didn’t have to add extra. Depending on the brand, you will have to adjust the sodium so be sure to look on the back of the ingredient label for best results.
- Add in the blended cottage cheese and mix well.
- Once marinated, take out the Vertical Gyro Oven Plate, oil it up with a little bit of olive oil, and thread on the chicken making sure to rotate each one opposite from the last.
- Note: if you don’t have a Vertical Spit, cut a large onion in half and position two bamboo skewers vertically into the onion to create your own home-made spit.
- Now, add one cup of water (or broth) to the bottom of the Gyro plate and place half of the onion on top of the meat.
- Place it in the oven and bake for 75-90 minutes (depending on the oven) or until golden. Feel free to insert a meat thermometer if you want to be safe.
- Take it out of the oven, let it rest for a few minutes and cut it. Enjoy on pita with tzatziki, french fries and all the fixings, on a salad, or on its own with a side of my Greek Lemon Potatoes.
Nonna’s Notes
- Cottage Cheese Substitution: Instead of cottage cheese, feel free to use Greek yogurt for the marinade.
- Dairy-free Alternative: You can make this recipe dairy-free with plant based cottage cheese, or eliminate it altogether.
- Poultry Seasoning: Get creative with your poultry seasoning blend! I used Watkins Poultry Seasoning, but some people swear by Bell’s Seasoning. Feel free to make your own blend. Just make sure you note the amount of sodium on the nutrition labels and add (or eliminate) salt to taste.
- Vertical Spit Alternative: Simply cut a large onion in half and position two bamboo skewers vertically into the onion to create your own.
- Marinade: The marinating time for this recipe is flexible, anywhere from 1 hour to overnight in the fridge. The longer you let it marinate, the more juicy and flavorful it will be.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you have a link tothe Canadian equivalent of this pen?
Yes, Daiana! Here you go:https://go.themodernnonna.com/amazon/tmn-vertical-spit-ca
I’m not typically a fan of cottage cheese. But when it’s hidden in a marinade, it works for me! 😆 These were so juicy and flavorful! I served them with a Greek salad and pita and my boys loved it! Thank you for the recipe! 🙏
Soooo tender and flavorful! Wow! Will definitely be making these again.
Mind blown! I was skeptical about the cottage cheese marinade, but it’s GENIUS! The result is tender, juicy and ridiculously flavorful chicken PACKED with protein. Definitely a must try for those trying to get their protein in everyday! Thank youuuu!