Savory Grilled Chicken Gyros (Print Version)
Tender grilled chicken in warm pita with crisp veggies and a luscious creamy garlic sauce, ready in 45 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Grilled Chicken
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp kosher salt
09 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Creamy Garlic Sauce
10 - ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
11 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
12 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
13 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
14 - ½ tsp kosher salt
15 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
16 - 1 tbsp fresh dill or parsley, chopped
→ Assembly
17 - 4 pita breads or flatbreads
18 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
19 - 1 large tomato, sliced into rounds
20 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
21 - ½ cup shredded lettuce
22 - Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
# Directions:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper until well combined.
02 - Add the chicken to the marinade and toss thoroughly to coat every piece evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight for deeper flavor penetration.
03 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side until fully cooked through with a golden char. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
04 - While the chicken rests, combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, finely minced garlic, lemon juice, kosher salt, black pepper, and chopped herbs in a bowl. Stir until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Place the pita breads on the grill or in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side until soft and pliable.
06 - Layer sliced chicken, shredded lettuce, tomato rounds, cucumber slices, and red onion onto each warmed pita. Drizzle generously with the creamy garlic sauce and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Fold or roll tightly and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The marinade works magic in just twenty minutes, but if you plan ahead and let it sit overnight, the flavor goes absolutely wild.
- That creamy garlic sauce is the kind of thing people will beg you to bring to every gathering.
- Everything cooks in one pan, which means cleanup is almost embarrassingly easy.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting step after grilling, cutting into the chicken immediately lets all those juices run out and you end up with dry meat.
- If your pitas crack when folding, try warming them a little longer or wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving for fifteen seconds.
03 -
- If you do not have a grill, a cast iron skillet gets nearly the same char and works just as well.
- Double the garlic sauce recipe because it disappears fast and is incredible on everything from roasted vegetables to sandwiches the next day.