Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Recipe

Chicken breast: The main protein, cut into cubes for even cooking.

Olive oil: Used for marinating the chicken, adding richness and flavor.

Lemon juice: Provides acidity to tenderize the chicken and add brightness.

Garlic: Minced to infuse the marinade with a robust flavor.

Dried oregano: A classic herb in Greek cuisine, adding an earthy note.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.

Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice and depth.

Pita bread: Soft flatbread used to wrap the gyros.

Tzatziki sauce: A creamy, tangy sauce made from yogurt, cucumber, and garlic.

Red onion: Sliced thinly for a sharp, crunchy contrast.

Tomatoes: Diced for a fresh, juicy component.

Lettuce: Chopped to add a crisp, refreshing element.

To ensure your chicken souvlaki is tender and flavorful, make sure to marinate the chicken cubes for at least 30 minutes, but ideally, let them sit in the marinade for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic to penetrate the meat deeply, enhancing the overall taste. Additionally, when grilling, avoid overcrowding the skewers to ensure even cooking and a nice char on all sides.

• chicken breast - Substitute with turkey breast: Turkey breast has a similar texture and flavor profile, making it a suitable alternative for chicken in this recipe.

• olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point and a mild flavor, making it a good substitute for olive oil in cooking.

• lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice provides a similar acidity and citrus flavor, which can complement the other ingredients in the recipe.

• garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots offer a milder, slightly sweet flavor that can replace garlic in the marinade.

• dried oregano - Substitute with dried thyme: Thyme has a similar earthy flavor and can be used as a substitute for oregano.

• salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a similar level of saltiness along with a bit of umami flavor.

• black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper has a slightly different flavor but can still provide the necessary heat and spice.

• pita bread - Substitute with naan bread: Naan bread has a similar texture and can be used as a wrap for the gyro.

• tzatziki sauce - Substitute with hummus: Hummus offers a creamy texture and can be a flavorful alternative to tzatziki sauce.

• red onion - Substitute with yellow onion: Yellow onions have a milder flavor and can be used in place of red onions.

• diced tomatoes - Substitute with roasted red peppers: Roasted red peppers provide a sweet and smoky flavor that can complement the other ingredients.

• chopped lettuce - Substitute with baby spinach: Baby spinach offers a similar crunch and a slightly different flavor profile, making it a good alternative to lettuce.

• Allow the grilled chicken to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the chicken soggy.

• Place the cooled chicken cubes in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. If using a bag, try to remove as much air as possible before sealing.

• Store the tzatziki sauce separately in a small airtight container. This prevents the sauce from making the other ingredients soggy.

• Keep the sliced red onion, diced tomatoes, and chopped lettuce in separate containers. This ensures they stay fresh and crisp.

• For the pita bread, wrap each piece individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps maintain their softness and prevents them from drying out.

• Store all components in the refrigerator if you plan to consume them within 3-4 days.

• For longer storage, freeze the grilled chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a resealable freezer bag. This prevents the pieces from sticking together.

• Freeze the pita bread by wrapping each piece in plastic wrap and then placing them in a resealable freezer bag. This keeps them fresh for up to 2 months.

• Do not freeze the tzatziki sauce, red onion, tomatoes, or lettuce as they do not thaw well and can lose their texture and flavor.

• When ready to eat, thaw the chicken and pita bread in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat the chicken in a skillet or microwave until warm.

• Assemble the gyros with the thawed and reheated components, adding fresh tzatziki sauce, red onion, tomatoes, and lettuce just before serving.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Wrap the chicken souvlaki in aluminum foil to keep it moist.
  3. Place the wrapped chicken on a baking sheet and heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
  4. For the pita bread, wrap it in foil and place it in the oven for the last 5 minutes of the chicken's reheating time.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a small amount of olive oil to the skillet.
  3. Place the chicken souvlaki in the skillet and heat for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until warmed through.
  4. Warm the pita bread in another skillet over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes on each side.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the chicken souvlaki on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover the chicken with a damp paper towel to keep it from drying out.
  3. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking and stirring halfway through.
  4. For the pita bread, wrap it in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 20-30 seconds.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the chicken souvlaki in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  3. Heat for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. Warm the pita bread in the air fryer for the last 1-2 minutes of the chicken's reheating time.

• Grill Method:

  1. Preheat your grill to medium heat.
  2. Wrap the chicken souvlaki in aluminum foil.
  3. Place the wrapped chicken on the grill and heat for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally.
  4. Warm the pita bread directly on the grill for about 1 minute on each side.

Remember, always check that the chicken is heated thoroughly before serving. Enjoy your delicious Chicken Souvlaki Gyro once again!

• Mixing bowl: Used to combine the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper with the chicken cubes for marination.

• Measuring spoons: Essential for accurately measuring the olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.

• Garlic press: Handy tool for mincing the garlic cloves efficiently.

• Skewers: Used to thread the marinated chicken cubes for grilling.

• Grill: Preheated to medium-high heat for cooking the chicken skewers and warming the pita bread.

• Tongs: Useful for turning the chicken skewers on the grill and handling the pita bread.

• Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for slicing the red onion, dicing the tomatoes, and chopping the lettuce.

• Chef's knife: Essential for cutting the chicken breast into cubes and preparing the vegetables.

• Serving platter: Ideal for assembling and presenting the chicken souvlaki gyros.

• Basting brush: Optional, but can be used to apply extra marinade to the chicken while grilling.

• Kitchen timer: Helps keep track of the marination time and grilling duration.

Marinate in advance: Prepare the marinade and chicken the night before to save time on the day of cooking.

Pre-chop vegetables: Dice the tomatoes, slice the red onion, and chop the lettuce ahead of time and store them in the fridge.

Use pre-made tzatziki: Opt for store-bought tzatziki sauce to cut down on preparation time.

Batch grill: Grill extra chicken skewers and store them in the fridge for quick assembly later.

Warm pita in batches: Heat multiple pita breads at once on the grill to save time.