Recipe Details
Homemade Chicken Gyro with Tzatziki Recipe
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, diced onion, cooking oil, paprika, cumin, oregano, black pepper, ground coriander, 2 teaspoons of salt, 2 teaspoons of grated garlic, and 1/4 cup of plain yogurt. Mix everything thoroughly until the mixture is evenly incorporated and smooth.
Split the prepared meat mixture evenly between 3 rectangular sheets of parchment paper, which works out to roughly 1 1/3 cups of mixture per sheet. Use a flexible spatula to spread the meat into an ultra-thin, even layer that stretches all the way to the edges of each parchment sheet.
Working from the shorter end of each parchment sheet, roll the meat-covered paper into a tight log, folding in 1 1/2-inch increments as you go. Arrange all the filled, folded parchment logs on a large rimmed baking sheet.
Bake the logs in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked through. Halfway through the baking time, pull the baking sheet out of the oven to drain off any excess fat and juices that have accumulated around the logs.
While the chicken cooks, prepare your homemade tzatziki sauce. Add grated cucumber to a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium bowl, toss the cucumber with 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and let it rest for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to encourage moisture release. Press the cucumber firmly against the strainer to squeeze out all excess pooled juice. In a separate bowl, mix together the drained cucumber, fresh dill, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, the remaining 3/4 cup of yogurt, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of grated garlic. Stir to combine evenly, then set the finished tzatziki aside.
Once the chicken finishes baking, carefully unfold and remove the meat from the parchment paper. Break the cooked solid log into large bite-sized pieces, then spread all the pieces back out on the baking sheet. Toss the chicken pieces with the remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to coat evenly.
To serve, pile the seasoned chicken onto warm pita bread, then top with your prepared tzatziki, sliced red onion, diced tomato, fresh cucumber, and chopped parsley. Add a side of crispy French fries for an extra hearty meal, if desired.