Chicken gyro recipe: easy marinade and homemade sauce

A gyro chicken recipe starts with boneless thighs marinated for two to eight hours in yogurt, lemon, olive oil, garlic and oregano, then seared in a hot pan or roasted until the chicken reaches 165°F. Slice the meat and fold it into warm pita with tomato, red onion and tzatziki.

What is a chicken gyro?

A chicken gyro is a Greek-style pita sandwich filled with sliced, seasoned chicken, tomato, onion and a cool yogurt sauce called tzatziki. The traditional gyro is cooked on a vertical spit, and the home version imitates it in a pan or oven.

Most home cooks do not own a spit, so the practical method is to sear marinated strips in a skillet. The seasoning, rather than the spit, gives the gyro its flavor: oregano, garlic, lemon and olive oil.

What do you need for chicken gyros?

You need chicken thighs, a yogurt marinade, pita and the toppings. This list makes four large gyros.

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Juice of 1 large lemon
• 4 cloves garlic, grated
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 thick pitas, 1 tomato, 1/2 red onion, tzatziki to serve

Thighs give better texture, but breasts can be used if you slice them thin and cook them quickly.

How do you make the gyro chicken marinade?

Mix the yogurt, oil, lemon juice, garlic and spices, add the chicken and refrigerate for two to eight hours. The yogurt coats the chicken and the lemon brightens it.

1. Pat the chicken dry and cut it into strips about half an inch thick.
2. Whisk the marinade in a bowl until smooth.
3. Stir in the chicken until fully coated.
4. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.

Do not skip the salt: it seasons the meat from the inside. A marinade without enough salt gives bland chicken.

How do you cook chicken for gyros?

Cook the chicken in a hot skillet for four to six minutes per side, or roast it at 450°F for 18 to 22 minutes, until it is browned and reaches 165°F inside. The skillet gives the closest result to shaved gyro meat.

Rest the chicken for five minutes after cooking, then slice it thin across the grain. Return the slices to the hot pan for a minute for extra crisp edges.

How do you make homemade tzatziki for gyros?

Tzatziki is made from thick yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil and lemon. Squeeze the cucumber dry first so the sauce stays thick.

1. Grate half a cucumber and squeeze it in a clean towel until dry.
2. Stir it into 1 cup of Greek yogurt.
3. Add 1 grated garlic clove, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
4. Season with salt and a spoonful of chopped dill or mint.
5. Chill for at least an hour.

For a shortcut that skips the cucumber, mix yogurt with garlic, lemon and a pinch of salt. It is closer to a Middle Eastern garlic sauce than to tzatziki, but it works well on chicken.

How do you assemble a chicken gyro?

Warm the pita, spread tzatziki down the center, add the chicken, tomato and onion, then fold and wrap the bottom in paper or foil. Assembly takes a minute, and the order matters.

1. Warm each pita in a dry skillet for 30 seconds per side.
2. Spread a spoonful of tzatziki down the middle.
3. Pile on the sliced chicken.
4. Add sliced tomato and red onion.
5. Fold the sides in, then wrap the bottom half in foil or paper.

Fries tucked inside are a Greek street tradition and add a pleasing crunch.

What can you serve with chicken gyros?

Chicken gyros go well with a simple salad, rice, roasted potatoes or hummus. A cool, acidic side balances the garlic and spice.

• Greek-style salad with tomato, cucumber, olives and feta
• Lemon rice
• Roasted or fried potatoes
• Hummus with extra pita
• Sliced cucumbers and mint

Chicken gyro vs chicken shawarma: which is which?

A chicken gyro is Greek, seasoned with oregano and served with tzatziki in thick pita, while chicken shawarma is Middle Eastern, seasoned with warm spices and served with garlic sauce or tahini in thin bread. Both are sliced chicken in a wrap.

The two are close relatives, and a home cook can swap one set of spices for the other with the same method.

Does Shawarma Center sell chicken gyros?

No gyro is listed on the Shawarma Center menu. The Uber Eats store page, read on November 13, 2026, shows chicken shawarma instead, which is the shop’s closest relative of a chicken gyro.

The page lists the Chicken Shawarma Lavash at $16.89 and the Chicken Shawarma In Homemade Pita Bread at $18.19, both described as marinated chicken with shepherd salad, sumac onions, lettuce and tomatoes. These are delivery-app prices and may differ in the shop.

See the menu page for the full list and the hours and location page for the address. This guide is independent and takes no orders.

How do you store and reheat chicken gyro meat?

Store the cooked chicken in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to four days, and reheat it in a skillet until steaming. Keep the pita, vegetables and sauce separate.

Reheating in a pan with a little oil brings back the browned edges. Microwaving works for speed, but the chicken can turn rubbery. Cooked chicken can also be frozen for up to three months.

Common questions

For the address, opening hours and menu, see Shawarma Center in Brooklyn.

This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Shawarma Center itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.