If you are in the market for a big, tasty departure from classic gyros meat…. Forex: Chicken Tikka Gyros — an amalgamation of Indian and Mediterranean cuisines at its best. A twist on the more traditional gyros, this recipe layers tender chicken tikka with pita bread in place of pitas, showered over fresh veggies and a tangy yogurt sauce.
Chicken Tikka Gyros are the perfect healthy lunch, dinner, or even party appetizer over the weekend. The chicken is juicy and full of flavor from the marinade, while a cool yogurt raita sauce provides relief to some of those spices. This recipe may not work as the usual burger but if you need a new taste or to impress guests with your DIY fusion-style food, this will be one for every party.
Chicken Tikka Gyro Ingredients
Chicken Tikka Marinade
1lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated ginger
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (if you would like to add some extra heat)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
Yogurt Sauce (Tzatziki-style)
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
Ingredient Notes1 cucumber, grated and squeezed
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Fresh dill, 1 tablespoon (if using)
Salt and pepper, to taste
For Serving:
4 pita breads (or flatbreads)
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 tomato, diced
1 cucumber, sliced
Fresh cilantro or Italian parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Lemon wedges, for serving
Chicken Tikka Gyros Recipe
Chicken Tikka Marinade Recipe Ingredients for Step 1
In a mixing bowl, mix Greek yogurt + lemon juice (with the water squeezed out) Add garlic mince, and ginger grate Stir with cumin seeds coriander seeds garam masala turmeric optional chili powder paprika salt Combine everything in a thick marinade.
Meanwhile, finely chop the chicken thighs or breasts and marinate with salt. Take the time to coat everything evenly with no bare areas. Fold together, then cover the bowl and place in the fridge for at LEAST 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours (this part is important – it gets more flavorful as they sit).
Method 2 — Chicken Tikka
When ready to cook, heat olive oil in a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Place chicken pieces in the skillet and cook 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through and a nice even char. The result should be a tender, juicy chicken full of flavor. Take off the heat and keep aside.
Step 3: Make the Yogurt Sauce
Once the chicken has been moved to cool, make up your yogurt sauce. Whisk together Greek yogurt, grated cucumber (squeeze out excess water), minced garlic, and fresh lemon juice in a small bowl. Add fresh dill if using. Combine everything together till smooth. Season with salt and pepper to your taste Keep refrigerated until ready to serve with the sauce.
4 Assemble Chicken Tikka Gyros
If the pita breads are stiff, warm them in a dry skillet or oven until they soften and become pliable. When hot, lay them flat one by one and spread generously with the yogurt sauce along their center.
Spoon some of the yogurt sauce onto plates or serving dishes, then add a few pieces of chicken tikka on top, as well as sliced red onion, diced tomato, and cucumber. Top with fresh cilantro (or parsley 3???), and a squeeze of lemon juice to give it something zesty.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!
Fold the pita over and around all that delicious filling, wrap it up, or stuff your face right there on a plate… any way you choose to serve them, enjoy! While the ideal situation is to serve these gyros immediately, you can also wrap them in some foil and they will make for a great convenient meal on the go as well!
What Makes Chicken Tikka Gyros So Special?
These chicken tikka gyros offer a delicious mix of spices and textures. The warm, mild heat of the chicken tikka with cool yogurt and crunch from vegetables in a soft pita. Concat beef stays connected to social detoxlow setting RadiusIn Miles100 Send me: Recipe DetailsOrKind OfCrunchfoodtoPromise:vJoin ★ Did You Make This Recipe? At least this is why you are going to love it.
Indian Spice Flavor: Combine the Indian flavors from some Mixed Spices with a new blend of gyro ingredients and experience an unforgettable taste explosion. From the staccato heat to tang and creaminess in a single bite.
Simple and Quick: After marinating the chicken, everything cooks super fast while you prep the rest of your gyros. Which makes it just right for those busy weeknights or last-minute meals.
How to make the best Chicken Tikka Gyros
The longer you decide to marinate the chicken, the more it will taste. If you have the time, marinate it for at least 2-3 hours.
Fresh Ingredients: The vegetables and herbs add a lot of freshness to the gyros, so be sure to use super-fresh ingredients.
Avoid Overcooking the Chicken: While chicken thighs are more forgiving, take care not to overcook them. It should be lean and juicy, not dry.
This essentially softens the pita bread, which in turn makes it easier to wrap around the filling and just delivers an all-around better eating experience.
Adjust Your Sauce: If you hate garlic, go lighter on it in the yogurt sauce; or toss some mint leaves/parsley for a different taste.
Chicken Tikka Gyros (Variants)! Allow 30 minutes to chicken marinate here are a few tips you can follow while preparing for delicious yummy creamy serve with your favorite salad or veggies!!!
This fusion recipe is something you will want to love, and here are more customizations for it if your Thursday specials with those too.
- Lamb Tikka Gyros
If you prefer a more robust taste, opt for lamb tikka over chicken. The marinade will also work with lamb, imparting an even more yummy taste to the gyros.
- Vegetarian Tikka Gyros
TOFIRE CHICKEN: Replace chicken with paneer, tofu, or portobello mushrooms for this vegetarian recipe. You won’t even notice it, as the marinade itself is packed with bold flavors and this yogurt sauce should add some creaminess back.
- Spicy Chicken Tikka Gyros
Want it spicier: You can add more cayenne to the chicken marinade if you like extra heat, and/or a splash of sriracha in with the yogurt sauce for some added kick.
- Gluten-Free Option
If making this dish gluten-free, you can serve the chicken tikkaand toppings over rice in a gyro-inspired bowl or a gluten-free wrap.
Per serving: 110 calories; Formatter.strip_tags ((Nutrition.writable_nutritional_info[0].taskId))
Calories: 420
Protein: 32g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fat: 15g
Fiber: 5g
Sodium: 780mg
Yep, Chicken Tikka Gyros Any Day & All Days
If you are a lover of Indian food or Mediterranean food, then definitely this Chicken Tikka Gyro bites into the best flavors from both cuisines. The aromatic spices on the chicken, paired with crisp veggies and a tangy yogurt sauce offer an invigoratingly delicious bite. This recipe is light, painless to whip up, and serves as a neat little gyros novelty act.
It is an easy family weeknight dinner, casual gathering, or meal prepping for the week. Those of you who are not familiar with gyros must definitely start making them right away —- similar to your favorite restaurant, these flavorful wraps will be at the top of your recipe list.
