Easy Gyro Rice bowl With Chicken and Tzatziki

This Gyro Rice Bowl served with succulent chicken and tantalizing tzatziki is perfect for a busy weeknight meal. Marinating the chicken with yogurt, lemon, herbs and seasonings makes it tender and flavorful. Served over a bed of rice with a side of creamy Tzatziki sauce, it’s sure to be your new favorite meal!

If you are struggling to find a new recipe to add to your weekly meal plan, look no further than Gyro Rice Bowl with Chicken and Tzatziki! This delicious and satisfying dish combines elements of Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine, featuring a bowl of fluffy rice topped with tender slices of marinated to-perfection chicken breasts and served alongside a creamy tzatziki sauce.

The marinated chicken breast fillets will fill you up with a healthy dose of protein. Tzatziki sauce, made with Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, lime juice and seasoned with salt and pepper adds a tangy and refreshing flavor to the dish and is often used as a condiment in Greek and Middle Eastern dishes.

What is a Chicken Gyro Bowl?

A gyro rice bowl with chicken is a dish that combines elements of a traditional gyro sandwich with the convenience of a rice bowl. A gyro is a Greek wrap with slices of spit-roasted meat, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce served on pita bread. A gyro rice bowl with chicken replaces the pita bread with rice and includes the same flavorful chicken and Tzatziki sauce.  

The chicken is marinated with yogurt, lemon, herbs and spices and is then grilled and sliced thin, providing a savory and slightly spicy flavor. The tzatziki sauce adds a refreshing and tangy element to the dish, while the rice provides a neutral base to balance out the flavors.

The combination of the protein from the chicken, carbs from the rice, and the healthy fats from the tzatziki sauce make this a well-rounded meal that is satisfying and full of nutrients. 

What Goes in Gyro Rice Bowl

1. Marinated Chicken
2. Rice
3. Tzatziki Sauce

What is a Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki is a classic Greek sauce made from Greek yogurt/strained yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil, dill and lime juice. It’s usually served as a dip for veggies or as a condiment for grilled meats or as a yummy topping for sandwiches and burgers.

The sauce has a creamy, tangy flavor and is refreshing and light. It is often made with Greek yogurt, which is thicker and has a higher fat content than regular yogurt, which gives the sauce a creamy consistency. Some variations may also include lemon juice or vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. Tzatziki is a healthy and tasty way to add flavor to a variety of dishes and is easy to make at home.

What ingredients you’ll need to make Gyro Rice Bowl with Chicken and Tzatziki?

Rice: The base of the gyro bowl recipe is a bowl of whole-grain fluffy rice. It is possible to use white rice, brown rice or another type of grain of your choice.

Chicken: I prefer to use chicken breasts for this gyro rice bowl recipe because of their tenderness and juicy meat. You can, however, use boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts if you prefer.

Greek Yogurt: You will need Greek yogurt for the marinade and the tzatziki sauce. Full-fat Greek yogurt yields a creamy texture of tzatziki sauce you’ll love as a dip.

Tzatziki: This sauce is made with Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, minced garlic, chopped dill, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. It adds a tangy and refreshing creamy flavor to the dish.

Seasonings: Oregano, garlic, paprika, salt and pepper, red chili flakes, cumin, turmeric, olive oil, and lemon zest are all essential ingredients to season the chicken. Mix and match these ingredients to create your signature chicken seasoning blend. Discover the perfect blend for your taste by experimenting with different combinations.

How to make Chicken for Gyro Rice Bowl

To marinate chicken, you’ll need:

• 3lb chicken breast
• 4 tbsp Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• Salt pepper
• 1 Tbsp paprika
• 1/3 Tsp red chili flakes
• ¼ tsp cumin
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon + zest

Take a large bowl and add chicken breast the bowl. Add herbs and seasonings, yogurt and lime juice on the top. Mix to coat marinade on the chicken. Let the marinade sit for 30 minutes to an hour.

Take a large skillet grill and 3 to 4 tbsp. of oil over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken breasts and cook on each side for 4 to 5 minutes until nicely browned.

How to make Tzatziki sauce

To make tzatziki sauce, you’ll need:

• 6 mini cucumbers (grated)
• Salt
• 2 cups of Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup chopped dill
• 2 Tbsp chopped mint and parsley
• 1 Tbsp garlic (minced)
• Pepper
• Lime juice

Take a bowl and grate 6 min cucumbers in it. Add salt and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then strain the grated cucumber. Add Greek yogurt, chopped dill, mint and parsley, garlic, pepper, and lime juice, and mix well. Place in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve gyro rice bowl.

How to make rice

To make rice, you’ll need:

• 3 tbsp. Olive Oil
• 3 Cloves
• 3 Cardamom
• Bay Leaf
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• 2 Cups of soaked rice
• Salt
• 3 Cups of water

Add Olive oil, cloves, cardamom, bay leaf, and turmeric to the pan over medium heat. Add 2 cups of soaked rice to the pan and the salt to your taste. Add 3 cups of water ad wait until it starts boiling. Cover the pot and reduce the flame to lo and let the rice cook for 15 minutes or until no liquid left and rice is cooked through.

Now that the rice is cooked, add grilled chicken on top. Place a piece of red coal in the center and drizzle oil over it. Do not place coal directly on the rice – use aluminum foil instead. Cover the lid so that smoky flavors infuse into the rice and chicken. Finally, cut the chicken into slices and serve over a bowl of rice alongside tzatziki sauce.

Recipe Variations:

You can make this gyro rice bowl recipe by using different types of rice, such as brown rice and by adding other ingredients to the rice bowl, such as diced bell peppers, or chopped lettuce and sliced olives on the top of the sauce. You can also use lamb or beef instead of chicken if you prefer. If you don’t have Greek yogurt on hand, you can use strained yogurt as a substitute.

Gyro Rice Bowl with Chicken and Tzatziki Sauce FAQs:

What to serve with gyro rice bowl?

Pita bread: Warm up some pita bread and serve it on the side for dipping in the tzatziki sauce.

Salad: Consider adding a simple green salad or a tomato and cucumber salad on the side for a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the gyro bowl.

Roasted veggies: Add roasted veggies for a delicious and healthy addition to the bowl.

How to store leftovers?

Storing the chicken and rice together is more convenient since when the rice is heated, it absorbs the flavors of the marinated chicken. You can reheat them in the microwave for a few minutes until they are warmed.

As for the tzatziki sauce, however, I recommend storing separately in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Cucumbers release water continuously, so you should stir the sauce before each use.

The Gyro Rice Bowl with Chicken and Tzatziki

This Chicken Gyro Rice Bowl is perfect for a busy weeknight meal. Marinating the chicken with yogurt, lemon, herbs and seasonings makes it tender and flavorful. Served over a bed of rice with a side of creamy Tzatziki sauce, it’s sure to be your new favorite meal!

Print

Ingredients

Marinated Chicken

• 3lb chicken breast
• 4 tbsp Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• Salt & pepper
• 1 Tbsp paprika
• 1/3 tsp red chili flakes
• ¼ tsp cumin
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon juice + zest

Tzatziki Sauce

• 6 mini cucumbers (grated)
• Salt
• 2 cups of Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup chopped dill
• 2 Tbsp chopped mint and parsley
• 1 Tbsp garlic (minced)
• Pepper
• Lime juice

Rice

• 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 3 Cloves
• 3 Cardamom
• Bay Leaf
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• 2 Cups of soaked rice
• Salt
• 3 Cups of water

Instructions

Marinate the Chicken

1. Take a large bowl and add chicken breast the bowl. Add herbs and seasonings, yogurt and lime juice on the top.
2. Mix to coat marinade on the chicken. Let the marinade sit for30 minutes to an hour.

Make Tzatziki Sauce

1. Take a bowl and grate 6 min cucumbers in it.
2. Add salt and let it sit for 10 minutes.
3. Squeeze the grated cucumber.
4. Add Greek yogurt, chopped dill, mint and parsley, garlic, pepper, and lime juice, and mix well.
5. Place in the refrigerator until serving time.

Cook Rice   

1. Add Olive oil, cloves, cardamom, bay leaf, and turmeric into the pan over medium
   heat.  
2. Add 2 cups of soaked rice to the pan and the salt to your taste.
3. Add 3 cups of water and wait until it starts boiling. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook on low for 15 minutes until no water left and rice is cooked.
4. After the cooking time has finished, let the rice sit for 10 minutes, then fluff it
   with a fork.
   

Cook the Marinated Chicken

1. Take a large skillet and 3 to 4 tbsp of olive oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add the marinated chicken breasts and cook on each side for 4 to 5 minutes until nicely browned.
   

Assemble the Gyro Rice Bowls

1. To assemble the bowls, fill them with rice, layer them with cooked chicken breasts, and smoke.
2. Serve alongside Tzatziki Sauce. Enjoy.