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    Home » Recipes » BBQ And Grilling

    Lamb Gyros With Greek Tzatziki Sauce

    Published: May 16, 2022 | Last Updated: May 16, 2022 | Lisa 3 Comments
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    A graphic for Greek Gyros with lamb meatballs on a pita with tomato and cucumber.

    Grill Lamb Gyros for a great summer cookout. Wrap a fluffy pita bread around grilled lamb meatballs and top with chopped tomato, cucumber, parsley, and drizzle with a cool Tzatziki Sauce.

    In Greece, gyros are usually made with pork, but other meats like chicken, lamb, or beef are also used there and in many other countries around the world.

    Homemade gyro sandwiches are sublime with the cool veggies and sauce all tucked in a pita ...

    Pin

    How To Make Gyros

    Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

    • 1 cup Greek yogurt
    • 1 garlic clove minced
    • ½ cucumber (seeded and peeled)
    • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon fresh mint minced
    • pinch salt and black pepper
    1. In a small bowl, whisk Greek yogurt, minced garlic cloves, chopped cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, chopped mint, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
    2. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, this helps the flavor pop.

    You can swap in sour cream or plain yogurt, but it really makes a difference to use real Greek yogurt.

    Pin

    Homemade Gyro Meat Lamb Kabobs

    All these ingredients for this gyro meat recipe are easily available at your local grocery store. You can swap in some ground beef or ground pork in place of lamb, or do a blended mix. I made this recipe for young adults, and they absolutely loved it the traditional way with ground lamb.

    • ¼ cup red onion (diced)
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
    • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon fresh black cracked pepper
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
    • 1 egg
    • 3 lb ground lamb
    • 8 pita wraps

    Grilling Gyros

    1. Soak wood skewers in cold water for 1 hour, or use metal skewers.
    2. In a large bowl, add diced onions, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, cinnamon, oregano, parsley, rosemary, cumin, allspice, paprika, salt, pepper, and crumbled feta.
    3. Crack in one egg and add the ground lamb. Using clean hands or a spatula, combine until and mix the lamb gyro meat well until it comes together.
    4. Use a medium-size ice cream scoop and then roll the meat mixture into almost 3" meatballs in size, as they will shrink on the grill.
    5. Push 4-5 lamb meatballs onto each skewer leaving space in between. Place them on a large rimmed baking sheet until you are ready to grill.
    6. Preheat your grill, for direct cooking on medium-high heat.
    7. Set the lamb kabobs on the wire rack of your gas or charcoal grill for 5-6 minutes per side. Turn every 5-6 minutes until nice grill marks form on the surface of the meatballs. They are done at 160 degrees f internal temperature.

    PRO TIP: To make your own ground lamb at home, slice the lamb meat into 1-inch cubes, and remove all bone and excess fat. Freeze the meat for 30 minutes. This helps "grind" it in a food processor or in a meat grinder.

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    Assemble Ground Lamb Gyros

    1. Warm each pita bread briefly on the grill for 20-30 seconds. Don't leave it there too long, you want a nice soft pita bread.
    2. Place 3 grilled meatballs onto the warm pita bread, and sprinkle on fresh toppings of chopped tomato and cucumber.
    3. Dollup on the tzatziki sauce and garnish with parsley. You can serve them with some more Greek food recipes, try a Greek salad, a tabbouleh salad, or Greek fries.
    Pin

    Gyros FAQ

    What is pita bread?

    The English word pita, comes from the Greeks. Pita bread is a round flatbread or leavened bread made with flour, water, yeast, and salt.

    The dough is rolled flat, and baked in a hot oven. It originates from the Middle East and is found all through the eastern Mediterranean and in wheat-eating areas of Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

    Is lamb meat gamey?


    No, in fact, the flavor of grass-fed lamb is actually closer to what mother nature intended because the animals only eat lush, green, and abundant pastures. Young lamb is mild and almost nutty in flavor and aroma.

    Is lamb dry?


    No, it is only dry if you over-cook it. Seared in a hot pan or grilled, lamb is more tender, flavorful, and juicy between rare and medium.

    Cuts like legs and shoulders require a longer cook time, low and slow is the best way to go.

    What temperature is lamb cooked?


    160°F for ground lamb used for kabobs or lamb kofta.

    For lamb chops and rack of lamb, you don't want to cook much past 145°F, or else it will dry out.

    How are authentic gyros made?


    In Greek, the word gyro or γύρο (pronounced YEE-roh) means "turn or revolution."

    In Greece, gyros are normally made with pork, though other meats are used in other countries. Chicken is common, and lamb or beef may be found more rarely.

    In Greek restaurants, you will often find an upright giant cone of meat turning on an upright vertical rotisserie grill. Thin slices of traditional gyro meat are carved off as it turns to make gyros.

    A gyro loaf is produced by shaping ground meat which can be lamb, chicken, beef, or most commonly pork in a round cylinder. It is frozen and sold commercially to restaurants.


    Miss Sassy sure wants one...

    A person holding a wood tray with gyros, and a small white dog looking up to try to get one. Pin

    More Grill Recipes

    For more lamb recipes, try these easy and impressive Grilled Lamb Chops, with peaches, and a parmesan mint pesto. Serve with cool drinks and a salad, and the party is on!

    An elegant easy entertaining grill recipe ready in 45 minutes, serve your guests with Cabernet Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops paired with grilled watermelon skewers.

    I have dozens of ideas for outdoor grilling and party food, here are a few more to get you inspired to at your next cookout.

    The Best Cheeseburger with sauce, and homemade relish. Oh and be sure to try the best burger seasoning plus all my tips!

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    Did you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you! If you make this recipe and love it, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Delicious Table with my free newsletter and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

    Greek gyros on parchment paper topped with lamb meatballs cucumber and tomatoes.Pin
    Print Pin Recipe

    Lamb Gyros With Greek Tzatziki Sauce

    Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce are great for summer cookouts. Wrap a pita around grilled lamb meatballs with tomato, cucumber, parsley, and sauce!
    Prep Time 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes minutes
    Servings 8 gyros wraps
    Calories 720kcal
    Author Lisa Hatfield

    Equipment

    Spring Loaded Cookie Scoops (3 Sizes)
    Grilling/Shish Kabob Stainless Skewers

    Ingredients

    Tzatziki Sauce

    • 1 cup Greek yogurt
    • 1 garlic clove minced
    • ½ cucumber (seeded and peeled)
    • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon fresh mint minced
    • pinch salt and pepper

    Gyros (Lamb Kabobs)

    • ¼ cup red onion (diced)
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
    • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
    • 1 egg
    • 3 lb ground lamb
    • 8 pita wraps

    Garnishes

    • tomatoes chopped
    • cucumber chopped
    • parsley minced
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    Instructions

    Tzatziki Sauce

    • Using a whisk, mix Greek yogurt, minced garlic, chopped cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, chopped mint, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
    • Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, this helps the flavor.

    Lamb Kabobs

    • Soak wood skewers in cold water for 1 hour, or use metal skewers.
    • In a large bowl, add diced onions, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, cinnamon, oregano, parsley, rosemary, cumin, allspice, paprika, salt, pepper, and crumbled feta.
    • Crack in one egg and add the ground lamb. Using clean hands or a spatula, combine until and mix the lamb gyro meat well until it comes together.
    • Preheat your gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat, 400 degrees.
    • Use a medium-size ice cream scoop and then roll the meat mixture into almost 3" meatballs in size, as they will shrink on the grill.
    • Push 4-5 meatballs onto each skewer leaving space in between. Place them on a large rimmed baking sheet until you are ready to grill.
    • Preheat your grill, for direct cooking on medium-high heat. Set the lamb kabobs on the wire rack of your gas or charcoal grill for 5-6 minutes per side. Turn every 5-6 minutes until nice grill marks form on the surface of the meatballs. They are done at 160 degrees internal temperature.

    Assemble Gyros

    • Warm each pita bread briefly on the grill for 20-30 seconds. Don't leave it there too long, you want a nice soft pita bread.
    • Place 3 grilled lamb meatballs onto the warm pita bread, and sprinkle on fresh toppings of chopped tomato and cucumber.
    • Dollup on the tzatziki sauce and garnish with parsley. You can serve them with some more Greek food recipes, try a Greek salad, a tabbouleh salad, or Greek fries.

    Notes

    lamb gyro meatballs

    Use a medium-size ice cream scoop and then roll the lamb meatballs to almost 3" in size, as they will shrink on the grill.
     
    All these ingredients for this gyro meat recipe are easily available at your local grocery store. You can swap in some ground beef or ground pork in place of lamb, or do a blended mix. I made this recipe for young adults, and they absolutely loved the traditional way with lamb.
     

    Greek yogurt

    You can swap in sour cream or plain yogurt, but it really makes a difference to use real Greek yogurt.
     

    ground lamb

    To make your own ground lamb at home, slice the lamb meat into 1-inch cubes, and remove all bone and excess fat. Freeze the meat for 30 minutes. This helps "grind" it in a food processor or in a meat grinder.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 720kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 839mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
    Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura says

      June 03, 2021 at 6:50 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best recipe. The gyro meat is spot on!

      Reply
    2. Suzy Barone says

      June 03, 2021 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      This has become our go-to recipe for Gyros! The lamb meatballs are so full of flavor, we really like the tzatziki sauce too!

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        June 03, 2021 at 6:06 pm

        So glad you love it too Suzy! Happy Grilling.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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