• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Yum Yum Club

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Smoothies
  • Techniques
  • Blog

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros

Table of Contents

  • 1. The order of preparation
  • 2. Prepare the chicken gyros and marinate
    • a) Prepare the marinade
    • b) Prepare the chicken thighs
    • c) Marinade the chicken thighs
  • 3. Prepare and cook the pitta bread
    • a) Gather the ingredients together
    • b) Mix the ingredients together and form a dough
    • c) Knead the dough
    • d) Form the pitta bread
    • e) Cook the pitta bread
  • 4. Prepare and barbecue the aromatic chicken gyros
  • 5. Nutritional values
  • 6. Printable recipe

For any of you who have tasted aromatic chicken gyros in an authentic Greek restaurant, you’ll know how absolutely delicious and moreish it really is. The problem for us mortals is that the Greek Gods make their irresistible aromatic chicken gyros by slow cooking the marinated chicken thighs on a vertical rotating kebab skewer. I’m not sure about you guys and girls but this large cooking utensil is not something I have in my kitchen. Improvisation, therefore, is required. Cue, aromatic barbecue chicken gyros…

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros

That’s right. Instead of purchasing an automated vertical rotating restaurant kebab pole, which would probably result in bankruptcy and getting divorced????, I’ve simply skewered the marinated chicken and chucked it on the barbecue…

Well, there is a little more to it than that. C’mon, I’ll show you…



1. The order of preparation

This particular post is slightly different from some of my others in that it talks about a whole dish and not just the recipe of one part e.g. soy honey pork tenderloin or Chinese chicken thighs. This aromatic barbecue chicken gyros post explains not only how to make the chicken gyros itself, but also the pitta bread.

To this end, it is important that the preparation is done in order. First, there is preparing and marinating the chicken thighs. This is followed by preparing and cooking the pitta bread. Finally, whilst the pitta bread is being kept warm the aromatic chicken gyros is cooked on the barbecue.

Homemade Tzatziki

On a secondary note, I have also recommended serving the gyros with fresh salad and tzatziki. From the salad perspective, I would suggest just going with whatever you like. I served some fresh tomatoes and made pearl barley and carrot salad which can be found by clicking the link.

For homemade tzatziki, I have a recipe I made and posted some time ago. Just click the photo on the right to find the step by step guide.


2. Prepare the chicken gyros and marinate

There are 3 key stages for preparing the chicken gyros. Firstly, making the marinade itself. Secondly, preparing the chicken thighs. Finally, there is the marinating itself.

a) Prepare the marinade

The gyros marinade is a mixture of many herbs and spices along with lemon zest and juice, and minced garlic. In addition to sea salt and ground black pepper, the spices required for the gyros marinade are paprika, cumin, ground coriander, dried mint, oregano and cinnamon.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Gather the wonderful spices | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Gather the wonderful spices

With the spices gathered together, prepare the lemon by removing the zest and juice. Also, mince the garlic.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Prepare the garlic and lemon | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Prepare the garlic and lemon



Once gathered all together and prepared, the marinade ingredients should be added to a mixing bowl.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Place the marinade ingredients in a bowl | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Place the marinade ingredients in a bowl

And mixed all together.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Mix the marinade together | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Mix the marinade together



b) Prepare the chicken thighs

If you have bought skinless and boneless chicken thighs then the only preparation needed is to trim any excess fat from the thighs themselves. This is an easy job and will only take a couple of minutes. If a little nervous about preparing meat then I recommend buying the thighs prepared.

If the bought chicken thighs still have their skin on and bone in then start by pulling the skin off. This is simple and the skin should just lift away from the meat. Following this, the bone needs to be removed. Again, this is not difficult. Just be careful with the knife. The main objective is to keep as much meat off the bone and on the thigh as possible.

I’ve found this great video detailing how to remove the bone from a chicken thigh. It’s well worth a watch…

Once the skins are off and bone removed just trim away any excess fat and the thighs are ready to marinade.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Chicken thighs with skin and bones removed | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Chicken thighs with skin and bones removed

c) Marinade the chicken thighs

With the marinade made and the chicken thighs prepared simply add the thigh to the marinade and mix together such that the chicken is fully covered.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Marinate the chicken | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Marinate the chicken

Now, cover this with kitchen film and leave for at least 2 hours, and preferably overnight, or even 24 hours.


3. Prepare and cook the pitta bread

The pitta bread will take around 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours to prepare from start to finish. However, it can be kept warm when cooked and while waiting for the chicken. I recommend starting to make the pitta bread a couple of hours or so before you plan to serve the aromatic barbecue chicken gyros.

a) Gather the ingredients together

There are only 5 ingredients required for the pitta bread. Flour, yeast, sugar, oil and water.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Gather the pitta ingredients together | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Gather the pitta ingredients together

b) Mix the ingredients together and form a dough

With the ingredients all together simply mix together and form a dough. If doing this by hand then add the dry ingredients to a bowl, make a well in the middle and then add the oil and water. Then mix by hand.

If using a mixer, just add the dry ingredients to the mixer and turn on a slow speed and slowly add the dry ingredients.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Knead the dough | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Knead the dough



c) Knead the dough

The pitta bread dough needs to be kneaded for 8 minutes if doing so by hand. Otherwise, 5 minutes by a mixer. Once the dough is kneaded place in a greased mixing bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel and leave to prove for 1 hour.

After one hour the dough should have doubled in size.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Let the pitta dough prove | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Let the pitta dough prove

d) Form the pitta bread

After the dough has finished proving, take it to a workstation and split into 4 equal sized pieces for large pitta bread or 8 pieces for small pitta bread. Now, roll each piece as thin as you can.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Roll the pitta dough as thin as possible | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Roll the pitta dough as thin as possible

Cover the rolled dough with oiled kitchen film and leave for 20 minutes to rise.

e) Cook the pitta bread

With the rolled pitta bread rested heat large frying over medium heat and then add the pitta bread.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Pan fry the pitta | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Pan fry the pitta

Cook the pitta bread on each side until it starts to colour. Once cooked, place in kitchen foil and keep in an oven on low heat until you are ready to serve.



4. Prepare and barbecue the aromatic chicken gyros

With the pitta bread keeping warm and the chicken thighs fully marinated just take the thighs and skewer 4 each on both sides of each thigh i.e. two skewers in each thigh with four thighs in each pair of skewers.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Skewer the gyros chicken thighs | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Skewer the gyros chicken thighs

The aromatic chicken gyros are now ready to be barbecued. Note, however, that these beauties can equally be pan fired over a low to medium heat if you don’t have a barbecue to hand or its raining.

To barbecue, heat the barbecue to medium heat and place the chicken gyros skewers on to the barbecue.

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Keep turning the gyros chicken | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

Keep turning the gyros chicken



The chicken gyros need to be constantly turned. “Gyros” is Greek for turn after all. Bet you didn’t know that, right?

The thighs will take approximately 20 minutes to cook but check they are cooked all the way through before serving. Chicken cannot be served raw so make sure they are properly cooked through.

 

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros. Keep turning the gyros chicken | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

And that’s all there is to it my barbecue buddies. Aromatic barbecue chicken gyros. Take them off the barbecue when cooked and slice ready to be placed in the pitta bread wraps. Perfect for a small family gathering, or for a large outside party. Just serve it with any salad you fancy, homemade tzatziki and plenty of pitta bread. Oh, and a few beers or glasses of wine. Fantastic for a summers day… Yum.

 

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/

 

I do hope you enjoyed this post. If you’d like to be kept up to date with all of The Yum Yum Club’s new recipes just sign up for our newsletter at the top of this page. Otherwise, you can follow us on Facebook or Pinterest by clicking the link and then follow.



As always, many thanks for reading and until next time… Steve.

Steve Deacon | theyumyumclub.com

5. Nutritional values



6. Printable recipe

Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/24/aromatic-barbecue-chicken-gyros/
Print
Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros
Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Proving time
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
 

Aromatic barbecue chicken gyros. Healthy grilled chicken marinated in an array of spices. Serve in a homemade pitta with fresh salad and tzatziki. Yum! ????

Course: Barbecue, BBQ, Dinner
Cuisine: Greek
Keyword: chicken gyros, greek, gyros, pitta, pitta bread, tzatziki
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the Aromatic Barbecue Chicken Gyros
  • 8 chicken thighs, skin and bone removed
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried mint
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 lemon, zest and juice
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
For the Pitta Bread
  • 2 cups strong white flour Metric 250 grams
  • 1 tsp fast action yeast
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 5 fl oz room temperature water Metric 150 ml
Instructions
  1. First, the chicken must be marinaded. Gather all of the spices for the marinade. 

  2. Next, take the juice and zest from one lemon and mince the garlic.

  3. Place the ingredients in a bowl.

  4. Mix the ingredients together.

  5. If the chicken thighs have their skin on and bone in then remove the skin and bone.

  6. Add the chicken thighs to the marinade. Mix in and leave to marinate for at least 3 hours and preferably overnight.

  7. 2 hours before you plan to serve the aromatic barbecue chicken gyros gather the ingredients for the pitta bread. 

  8. Mix all of the ingredients together and form a dough. Knead the dough for 5 minutes in a mixer or 8 minutes if kneading by hand.

  9. Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Leave to prove for 1 hour.

  10. Once proved split the dough into 4 equal balls (8 if you want smaller pitta bread) and roll out as thin as you can. 

  11. Cover the rolled dough with greased kitchen film and leave to rise for 20 minutes.

  12. Once risen, and using a large frying pan, cook the pitta bread until they start to colour on both sides (turn as required). Place in foil and leave in a low heated oven until ready to serve.

  13. Once the chicken is ready, skewer the thighs on each side. 4 thighs per skewer.

  14. With the chicken skewered place on a hot barbecue and grill until cooked all the way through, turning frequently.

  15. Now server with the pitta bread, fresh salad and homemade tzatziki. Oh, and beer and wine too! Yum!




Leave a Comment

About Steve Deacon

Hi, I'm Steve, a former member of the dreaded corporate world who's decided to give it all up and do something I wanted to do for a change! My wife, Jen (and yes, I am well and truly punching above my weight) and I live in a sleepy little town in the middle of the UK and our favourite things are...food and wine!!

Previous Post: « Ricotta Prosciutto & Fig Crostini
Next Post: Parmesan & Paprika Haddock Baked in Garlic Butter »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

6 of the Best Single Pot Chicken Recipes

Creamy sherry and thyme chicken thighs. A wonderfully mouthwatering and delicious recipe. Add in wild mushrooms and you have one very special dish. Yum! | theyumyumclub.com

Creamy Sherry and Thyme Chicken Thighs

General Tso Chicken

General Tso Chicken

Top 10 Everyday Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss

Top 10 Everyday Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss

Tips for Preparing Most Delicious Roasted Chicken

Tips for Preparing Most Delicious Roasted Chicken

Top 10 Foods That Will Help You Build Lean Muscle 

Top 10 Foods That Will Help You Build Lean Muscle 

Classic coq au vin. It doesn't get much more French than this. Simple to make. Just click and follow this step by step guide and you'll be walking down the Champs Elysees in time for dinner. Yum! | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/02/02/coq-au-vin/

Classical Syrah Coq Au Vin

Kitchen Calculators

Kitchen Calculator. Convert oven temperatures | https://personalcalculator.net/oven-temperature-calculator/

Popular Recipes

Parmesan & Paprika Haddock Baked in Garlic Butter. Gather the ingredients together | https://theyumyumclub.com/2019/04/29/parmesan-paprika-haddock-garlic-butter/

Parmesan & Paprika Haddock Baked in Garlic Butter

April 29, 2019 14 Comments

This Chinese chicken thigh recipe is so simple and wonderfully tasty. A marinade of honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and sesame. Sounds fantastic right? Yum! | theyumyumclub.com

Chinese Chicken Thighs

February 22, 2019 8 Comments

This honey soy pork tenderloin recipe is a magnificent fusion of flavours from east and west. Honey, soy, thyme, rosemary, garlic. It has them all and more! Yum!

Honey Soy Pork Tenderloin

April 4, 2019 7 Comments

How to make this wonderful healthy breakfast of smoked haddock and poached eggs. Hardly any fat or carbs! A very healthy Yum!! | https://theyumyumclub.com

Smoked Haddock and Poached Eggs

November 27, 2018 6 Comments

Footer

– AMAZON AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER –

theyumyumclub.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Recent Posts

  • 8 Ways to Get Seniors With No Appetite to Eat
  • Healthy Vegetarian Recipes For Weight Loss
  • How To Package Food Products For Retail?
  • Garnishing Tips
  • can dogs eat cucumber
  • About
  • Business Diary
  • Calculators

info[at]theyumyumclub[dot]com

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Theyumyumclub.com Copyright © 2023 · Sitemap · Log in

en English
ar Arabicbs Bosnianzh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishtl Filipinofr Frenchde Germanel Greekhu Hungarianit Italianja Japanesepl Polishpt Portuguesero Romanianru Russianes Spanishth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainian