Greek Chicken Gyro Bowls (Printable)
A healthy blend of grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, rice, and creamy tzatziki for a flavorful meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 tsp dried oregano
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Tzatziki Sauce
10 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
11 - 1/2 cup cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
12 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
13 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
→ Bowls
17 - 2 cups cooked basmati or jasmine rice, warm
18 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
19 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
20 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
21 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
22 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
23 - Lemon wedges for serving
24 - Fresh parsley or dill for garnish
25 - Optional: warm pita bread, cut into wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add chicken, toss to coat evenly, and marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours refrigerated.
02 - Combine Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, dill, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and olive oil in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly and chill until serving.
03 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and cook 5 to 6 minutes per side until cooked through with light charring. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
04 - Divide warm rice evenly among four bowls. Layer sliced chicken, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red onion, olives, and crumbled feta atop each portion. Add a generous dollop of tzatziki.
05 - Garnish bowls with fresh parsley or dill. Serve alongside lemon wedges and optional pita bread wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The chicken stays juicy and tender even when you've accidentally overcooked it slightly, because marinating is secretly a cheat code.
- You can prep everything ahead, which means when dinner time comes, you're just arranging beautiful things in a bowl like you've got your life together.
- One recipe feeds four people for under thirty minutes, and everyone will think you spent way more effort than you actually did.
02 -
- Squeezing the moisture out of the grated cucumber isn't optional—it's the difference between creamy tzatziki and a watery puddle that disappoints everyone.
- The chicken continues cooking for a minute or two after you remove it from the pan, so pull it when it's just barely cooked through, not when you think it might be done.
- Warm rice makes an enormous difference in how this bowl feels and tastes; if your rice has been sitting in the fridge, warm it gently before assembling.
03 -
- If you're short on time, you can marinate the chicken for just fifteen minutes and still get delicious results, but marinating overnight transforms it into something genuinely special.
- Make the tzatziki while the chicken marinates so that everything comes together in one smooth, calm motion instead of a last-minute scramble.