The ultimate summer meal. Light your bbq! This is our favorite bonfire on the beach recipe: Chicken gyros with marinated tomato salad and tzatziki.
Mediterranean marinated chicken grilled on skewers in flat bread with tzatziki and a refreshing tomato salad. Doesn’t that scream summer!?
How I make chicken gyros with marinated tomato salad and tzatziki?
marinate the chicken
I marinate the chicken cubes by putting them and all the marinate ingredients in a (reusable) ziplock bag and massage the chicken through the bag before putting it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
If you are using wooden skewers, fill a tall glass (taller than the skewers) with water and put the skewers in it to soak. This prevents the skewers from burning while you grill them on the bbq.
make the dough for flat bread
You can use store-bought flat bread, but I always like to make my own. I use my whole wheat naan bread dough to make this flat bread. It needs some time to rise so I make sure to start in time.
marinate the tomatoes
In the meantime I marinate the tomatoes for the tomato salad. I add all the dressing ingredients and tomatoes to a mixing bowl and stir to combine. I cover the bowl and refrigerate. While the tomatoes are marinating, I thread the chicken.
thread the chicken on skewers
Now that the chicken is well marinated I thread the chicken cubes on skewers. I make sure to leave enough space to hold the skewers at the end (I usually end up adding 4-5 cubes on each skewer).
make the tomato salad
I drain the tomatoes, but make sure to catch the marinate since that is also the dressing for the salad.
The tomatoes and all other salad ingredients I add to a salad bowl. ¼ of the dressing I add as well to it and toss to combine. I set the salad aside until I am ready to serve.
optionally: make tzatziki
I really like to serve tzatziki with this dish. It is super easy to make with just a few ingredients. Here is the recipe for my tzatziki. I usually make it ahead of time and refrigerate it until I am ready to assemble.
make the flat bread
Once the dough has doubled, I punch it down and mold it back into a ball with floured hands. Then I divide it into 4 pieces and shape balls which I place on a piece of parchment paper. I cover the dough balls with a towel and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Using a bit of flour, I shape the dough balls into flat breads with a rolling pin. Lightly though so the air from the rising isn’t all squeezed out.
I heat up a bit of oil in a (cast iron/heavy bottom) skillet over medium/high heat. Carefully I transfer a flat bread to the skillet and slide it in. 1-2 minutes per side is all it takes to get nice coloring and air pockets.
grill the chicken
I bring the chicken skewers out to the heated bbq or I heat up a bit of oil in a grill pan or cast iron skillet over medium/high heat and grill the chicken until charred on all side.
Now that everything is ready, I can assemble it all together. I spread some tzatziki on a flat bread, cut the chicken off the skewer and place it on top of the tzatziki. And on top of the chicken I scoop some tomato salad. And that’s it!
Beach bbq
If we make this on the beach a lot, I prepare the flat bread ahead of time, so I only have to warm them up on the grill. The tomato salad and the tzatziki I bring in tupperware with the dressing in a separate container. The chicken skewers I bring in a cooler and grill them on the beach:
So much flavor! And so easy to make! We all love this meal. We hope you love it too. It is
mediterranean flavored – versatile – wholesome – simple & quick to prepare – easy to make ahead of time – so delicious
The perfect bbq dinner or wrapped up for a to-go lunch. You can’t go wrong here. More easy summer recipes: Niçoise salad – gado gado salad – balsamic cherry tomato tagliatelle.
Chicken gyros with marinate tomato salad
Equipment
- BBQ, grill (pan) or heavy bottom skillet
Ingredients
chicken+marinate
- 2 lbs chicken breast (cubed)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup yogurt
- 1 shallot (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin (ground or seeds)
- 1-2 tsp sea salt (to taste)
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- a squeeze of lemon juice (use lemon from the dressing)
marinated tomato salad
- 6 medium/large tomatoes (cut in 4 or 6 lengthwise) (or use cherry tomatoes cut in 2 (about 3 cups) or a combination)
- ½ cup olives (whatever type of olive you like)
- ½ medium-sized cucumbers (wedges, cubes or slices)
- ¼ cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- 1 handful fresh mint leaves
- 1 handful fresh parsley (chopped)
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 lemon (zest and 1-2 tbsp of juice)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- s+p (to taste)
Instructions
Marinate the chicken
- Marinate the chicken cubes by putting them and all marinate ingredients in a (reusable) ziplock bag. Massage the chicken through the bag before putting it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
To make homemade flat bread
- You can use store-bought flat bread, but I always like to make my own. I use my whole wheat naan bread dough to make this flat bread. It needs some time to rise so I make sure to start in time. Follow the link to make the naan bread.
Marinate the tomatoes
- In the meantime, marinate the tomatoes for the tomato salad; add all the dressing ingredients and tomatoes to a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Cover the bowl and refrigerate. While the tomatoes are marinating, thread the chicken.
Thread the chicken on skewers
- Thread the chicken cubes on skewers. Make sure to leave enough space to hold the skewers at the end (thread about 4-5 cubes on each skewer).
Make the tomato salad
- Drain the tomatoes, but make sure to catch the marinate since that is also the dressing for the salad.Add the tomatoes and all other salad ingredients to a salad bowl. Add ¼ of the dressing to it and toss to combine. Set the salad aside until you are ready to serve.
Optionally: make tzatziki
- To make tzatziki follow the link for details. Tip: make it ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to assemble.
If you make homemade flat bread yourself:
- Once the dough has doubled, punch it down and mold it back into a ball with floured hands. Divide it into 4 pieces and shape balls and place them on a piece of parchment paper. Cover the dough balls with a towel and let them sit for 10 minutes.Using a bit of flour, shape the dough balls into flat breads with a rolling pin. Lightly though so the air from the rising isn’t all squeezed out.
- I heat up a bit of oil in a (cast iron/heavy bottom) skillet over medium/high heat. Carefully I transfer a flat bread to the skillet and slide it in. 1-2 minutes per side is enough to get nice coloring and air pockets.
Grill the chicken
- I bring the chicken skewers out to the heated bbq or I heat up a bit of oil in a grill pan or cast iron skillet over medium/high heat and grill the chicken until charred on all side.
Assemble the meal
- To assemble the meal, spread some tzatziki on a flat bread, cut the chicken off the skewer and place it on top of the tzatziki. And finally scoop some tomato salad on top of the chicken.
Notes
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