Veggie-Loaded Chicken Gyros

Gyros are some of the best wrapped goodness there is - standing right beside tacos and burritos. They are some of the easiest things to make and are a great recipe to meal prep for your week. The Greek-inspired wraps are full of fresh ingredients, herbed chicken, and creamy homemade tzatziki sauce topped with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Does it get any better?

Serves: 4

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 20-25 min

Chicken & the marinade:

2 large chicken breasts

2 tbsp oil

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tbsp chopped oregano leaves or 1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 black pepper

2 cloves garlic, crushed

Tzatziki sauce:

3/4 cup plain greek yogurt

1/3 cup cucumber, grated, then drained

1 tbsp fresh dill, slightly chopped, or 1 tsp dried

1/2 tsp salt

Pinch of black pepper

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp oil (olive is good here)

Gyros:

4 pita breads

1 large heirloom tomato, sliced

1 bell pepper, sliced

1/2 red onion, sliced

4 handfuls of chopped lettuce or spring mix

Feta for topping

Tzatziki sauce, for topping

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 and bring a skillet to medium heat.

2. Combine all of the marinade ingredients and cover the chicken. Cook the chicken in the skillet for about 3-4 minutes on each side, getting a nice char on the outside. Meanwhile, slice the bell pepper and cover with 1 tsp oil and dashes of salt and pepper.

3. Transfer the chicken to a sheet baking (foiling is optional) and lay the peppers around it. Bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts.

4. While the chicken and peppers are cooking, make the tzatziki sauce. Lay a paper towel or a kitchen towel over a bowl. Grate the cucumber and transfer the bowl lined with the towel. Pick up the cucumber by the top of the paper towel and bring it over a sink and squeeze the liquid out of the cucumber. Put the cucumber back into the bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, combining, after all of it is added.

5. Using the same pan as the chicken, wipe out any remaining chicken and oil and bring to medium heat again. Adding one at a time, warm the pitas and bring to a slight crisp (1-2 minutes per side). This step is optional, I just like a warm pita.

6. While the pitas, warm, slice the rest of the veggies to put in the gyros.

7. Once cooked, take the chicken and peppers out. Slice the chicken.

8. To assemble the gyros, my tip is to put a good amount of tzatziki on the whole pita before layering the rest of the ingredients. Serve immediately or keep the ingredients separate (meat, veggies, & tzatziki) in the fridge for 3- 4 days.

Chicken & peppers before baking.

Making the tzaztiki.

Gyro Assembly

Notes:

1. You can make the marinade and freeze the chicken in it ahead of time if you want to save some time with prepping.

2. You can buy the tzatziki in the store if you also want the save prepping time here as well. Or, you can make a double batch of it and use it for other meals or a dip for veggies.

If you decide to do the marinade and the tzatziki ahead of time, these really are super easy and quick to have for those busy nights that you don't have much time or energy.

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you try these. I'd love to see them, so tag me on Facebook or Instagram if you try them out.

Also, I've started a Pinterest page so I you prefer getting your recipes on there, give me a follow! The name is @emsprairiekitchen.

Have a great weekend :)