Greek Lamb Gyros

This post is in collaboration with Superior Farms American Lamb. All opinions and statements are 100% my own.

A recipe for Greek Lamb Gyros, served in a warm pita with fresh chopped veggies and garlicky tzatziki sauce. #gyros #legoflamb #lambgyros www.savoryexperiments.com


 

Whether you are at a Greek restaurant or on the run at a food truck, Greek gyros are a thing of simplicity and deliciousness. Tender meat combined with bright, crisp vegetables and cooling yogurt sauce. They are also easy to make at home as soon as you know the basics.

But first, how do you pronounce gyro? It is similar to the word “Euro”, phonetically speaking YEE-roh. Americans tend to pronounce guy-ro, which is widely accepted. The term gyro translates literally “spin” just like gyro meat on a rotisserie.

Pair this with a platter of Greek Loaded Fries and Feta Cheese Dip and you are good to go!

What goes a gyro?

An authentic gyro recipe is made up of 4 elements.

  1. Pita bread
  2. Gyro meat
  3. Veggies
  4. Yogurt sauce

Some people like a sprinkle of feta cheese. I don’t find it necessary, but feel free to add some!

Gyro Meat

Gyro can be any type of protein, but is mostly commonly lamb meat. Sliced lamb is marinated in salt, pepper, sweet paprika, oregano and vinegar then layered tightly onto a spit before being cooked.

leg of lamb on a cutting board

Using a seasoned leg of lamb from Superior Farms takes the most time consuming step right out of the equation. Already perfectly spiced, there is no need to marinate for long periods of time before popping it into the oven (or on the grill). You’ll be wafting the aromatics from the moment you remove the plastic.

The roast has a pop-up timer to let you know when it is perfectly cooked. After allowing it to rest so juices resettle, you’ll be left with moist, flavorful and tender lamb for the best homemade gyros.

pop up timer on a lamb

While I like my lamb chops rare, I prefer my gyro meat just a little more cooked to a medium doneness. This is purely personal preference.

I don’t own a fancy deli slicer, so instead if thin slices, I choose to just dice my lamb. I find it easier to get a good ration of gyro filling in each bite. You can also use a lamb breast and whip it into a gyro!

greek gyro on pita

Gyro Veggies

Diced tomato, cucumber and red onion are the typical mix of vegetables. Tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper, they are fresh, juicy and add fresh crunch to the mix.

chopped vegetables for gyros

Leftovers can also be topped on a salad.

Gyro Sauce

Gyro sauce can range from plain yogurt to an oil-based vinaigrette and even sometimes tahini or hummus, but my absolute favorite is a Tzatziki sauce.

ingredients for tzatziki

It is plain yogurt blended with diced cucumbers, grated garlic, fresh dill, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. The is a situation where fresh dill (versus dry) makes a huge difference.

Leftovers can be used on any other grilled proteins, as a salad dressing for dipping pita chips or carrot sticks. It can also be made up to 2 days ahead, however I recommend stirring well after any time sitting.

homemade tzatziki in a bowl

How to Roast Leg of Lamb

Roasting leg of lamb is super easy. Allow the roast to sit at room temperature for about 3o minutes before removing the plastic wrap, putting into a shallow roasting pan fat side up and then popping it in the oven.

Actual cooking times will vary based on the size of your roast, but at 375 degrees, you’ll want to cook it anywhere from 15-25 minutes per pound (thinner to thicker). It should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees for medium.

sliced leg of lamb

Superior Farms takes gauging temperature to a whole other level of ease by including a pop-up timer so you don’t even need to use a digital thermometer.

How to Grill Leg of Lamb

If you like char and smoky flavor, grilling is the way to go. Start by taking off the plastic and any netting (used to keep the roast intact after the bones have been removed).

Place it fat side up on indirect heat for 15-20 minutes per pound, flipping once while cooking.

For either roast, make sure you give it adequate time to rest so those juices don’t just seep out while carving.

ingredients for making lamb gyros

If you prefer your lamb to a different degree of doneness, here are the recommended temperatures.

  • Rare: 115 to 120°F
  • Medium-rare: 120 to 125°F
  • Medium: 130 to 135°F
  • Medium-well: 140 to 145°F
  • Well-done: 150 to 155°F

How to Make a Gyro

After you’ve prepared the three elements, all you have to do is assemble.

I like to start with tzatziki, then veggies, lamb and more sauce. Heating the pita bread in the oven will make it easier to work with and wrap without tearing. Enjoy!

how to make a gyro

greek lamb gyros for pinterest

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how to make a gyro for pinterest
greek lamb gyro recipe

Greek Lamb Gyros

4.46 from 11 votes
A recipe for Greek Lamb Gyros, served in a warm pita with fresh chopped veggies and garlicky tzatziki sauce.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Meat:

  • 3 pound seasoned boneless leg of lamb
  • 6 large pita breads

Vegetables:

Tzatziki:

Instructions

Meat:

  • Allow lamb to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a shallow baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Remove lamb from plastic packaging, leaving netting on.
  • For thinner roasts, cook for 15 minutes per pound, for larger roasts, 25 minutes per pound, or until the pop-up timer pops or a digital thermometer reads at 145 degrees.
  • Remove and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing or dicing, your preference.
  • Meanwhile, prepare vegetables and tzatziki sauce.

Vegetables:

  • In a mixing bowl, combine chopped tomato, cucumber and red onion.
  • Drizzle with olive oil, toss and then add Kosher salt and black pepper. Toss again.

Tzatziki:

  • In a small mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice, fresh dill, chopped cucumber, Kosher salt and grated garlic. Mix well.
  • Place back into the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • To assemble, warm pita bread in the warm (cooling) oven for 3-4 minutes. This makes it easier to roll and less likely to tear.
  • Place a dollop of tzatziki in the center, followed by diced or sliced lamb, veggies and more sauce.
  • Roll your pita bread and enjoy!
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.

Notes

If your boneless leg of lamb is not seasoned, combine 1 tablespoon coarse Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon sweet paprika in a dish. Rub liberally over lamb roast and allow to marinate for 2-24 hours in a chilled area.

Nutrition

Calories: 407 kcal, Carbohydrates: 38 g, Protein: 40 g, Fat: 10 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 94 mg, Sodium: 798 mg, Potassium: 744 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 4 g, Vitamin A: 514 IU, Vitamin C: 12 mg, Calcium: 124 mg, Iron: 4 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 407
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Keyword: gyro, gyro recipe, lamb gyros, leg of lamb
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.46 from 11 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Kick A$$. Everyone loved it, and it is a given that we will repeat many times. Thanks for such a simple yet elegant addition to my recipe folder!