If there is such a thing as an easy gyro, it must mean that some shortcuts have been made. I’m willing to bet very few of you own a vertical gyro grill. I do not. And if you glanced at the recipe, you might notice that instead of lamb, these gyros are made with sliced deli roast beef.
If you’re a gyro purist, you may want to divert your eyes. I had a similar experience after living in Austria for over a year. I walked into a Wienerschnitzel restaurant for the first time after returning to the States and almost had a heart attack. Hot dogs are neither “Wiener” (Viennese) nor a “schnitzel” (a thin, breaded cutlet). Despite how badly I wanted to jump up and down and tell everyone how ridiculous it was, I told myself, “Just walk away, Nat. Shake it off.”
So, I get it. I really do.
These gyros don’t stray too far from the traditional, and they turned out to be fast, easy, and delicious! Even my kiddos thought so. They’re especially perfect if you don’t like lamb, can’t find lamb, or can’t afford lamb. Or don’t feel like roasting a giant slab of meat for hours and hours. Thank you, misswhit85 for your Easy and Fast Greek Gyros!
To make the meat filling, you’ll need some deli roast beef, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and spices (garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and lemon-pepper).
Slice the roast beef into 1/2-inch strips.
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add the beef strips, Worcestershire sauce and spices.
Toss it around with some tongs and let it hang out on low while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
It’s tzatziki time! I love tzatziki. And by love, I mean I’d love to get it on tap somehow. When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.
For this delectable cucumber-yogurt sauce, you’ll need yogurt, cucumbers, some onion, salt, fresh dill, and white wine vinegar. You could even use fresh lemon juice in place of the vinegar.
Dice about 1/4 of an onion, saving the remainder as a garnish for the gyros.
Then dice half of the cucumber, saving the remainder … yep. For the gyros. I started out with half of an English cucumber, so I used 1/4 for the sauce.
Add the diced vegetables to the yogurt in a medium bowl.
A splash of vinegar.
Don’t forget some minced fresh dill. And a generous pinch of salt.
Give it a good mix and resist the urge to dive in head first. Luckily the recipe makes quite a bit of tzatziki. The more leftover the better!
Gather the garnishes and slice/dice as necessary. The recipe suggested chopped tomatoes, feta, cucumbers, onions, and olives. We aren’t too fond of olives around here, so we left those out and added some fresh baby spinach. It’s almost impossible for me to make anything of this nature without throwing in a handful of greens.
Add some of the warm, seasoned beef (which tastes amazing, by the way) to the center of some flat bread, naan, or a pita.
Pile on the garnishes and dig in!
Thanks again, Whitney, for another fast and easy recipe that my whole family loved!
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Description
These gyros and incredibly easy, delicious, and very summery when smothered in cool, creamy, cucumber tzatziki sauce! While they may not be the most traditional gyro recipe they’re mighty tasty!
Ingredients
- FOR THE GYRO FILLING:
- ½ Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 4 ounces, weight Sliced Deli Roast Beef
- 3 drops Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 dashes Lemon Pepper
- 1 dash Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, Divided
- 3 dashes Black Pepper
- _____
- FOR THE TZATZIKI SAUCE:
- 1 whole Cucumber, Divided Use
- 1 container 8oz Greek Yogurt
- ½ whole Red Onion, Divided Use
- 2 dashes White Wine Vinegar
- ½ teaspoons Dill
- ½ teaspoons Salt
- _____
- FOR ASSEMBLY:
- 2 slices Naan Bread Or Any Flatbread
- 1 whole Tomato, Sliced
- 2 ounces, weight Feta Cheese, Diced
- 6 ounces, weight Canned Black Olives Sliced
Preparation Instructions
For gyro filling:
Heat olive oil in a skillet and add beef, worcestershire sauce, a dash of lemon pepper, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, black pepper, and heat the beef. Let it sit on low heat while tzatziki sauce is prepared.
For Tzatziki sauce:
Finely dice half of the cucumber and combine with yogurt, 1/4 of the red onion finely diced, vinegar, and all remaining seasonings.
Spray your flatbread with cooking spray and put it under the broiler until it is soft and warmed through. Fill it with a generous amount of roast beef, followed by lots of tzatziki sauce, feta cheese, tomato, cucumber, and black olives.
_______________________________________
Be sure to check out Natalie’s own beautiful food blog, Perrys’ Plate, where you can see her growing collection of lovely recipes. There’s always something new to see there. Go visit now!
45 Comments
Comments are closed for this recipe.
anna on 8.14.2011
Definitely need some garlic – I like mint (as well as dill) in my tzatziki. Love the quick and easy, though! We’d never go through a whole rack of lamb around here.
Rescie on 8.13.2011
I love you, Natalie. I adore Gyros (even know how to correctly pronounce them) and the place I bought them closed. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could make such an excellent one at home. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Love the recipe; now one of my favorites.
Reba's Kitchen on 8.11.2011
I made this yesterday and I did add garlic to the sauce, which I think made it great, but I love garlic :). i used Oscar Meyer carving board roast beef and it was awesome ALMOST like a home made roast beef! yum!
Janet Wright on 8.9.2011
I have made Gyros at home, but I used ground lamb meatloaf seasoned with Greek spices, sliced it thin, and found actual Greek pitas at a great store. It was really darn close to the real thing.
Natalie @ Perrys' Plate on 8.7.2011
dobes – Yes, very jealous!! It’s been way too long since I had a schnitzel! I think you should swing by Greece on the way back to the States so you can pick up a REAL gyro
dobes on 8.6.2011
This does look great. Unfortunately, there is no roast beef where I live in Slovakia, near the Austrian border, so I’ll have to wait till I get back to the States to make it. On the other hand, yesterday I had some lovely, crisp putenschnitzel and cold weissbier at a beer garden in Hainburg, Austria… Are you as jealous of that as I am of your gyros?
becky up a hill on 8.5.2011
I made this today. Oh my. It was wonderful. Thanks for the easy, yummy and beautiful recipe.
Danderson on 8.5.2011
This looks good….but it’s NOT a gyro….especially with deli roast beef….that’s just wrong.
The tzatziki sauce has got to have garlic and unless you allow that chopped cucumber to drain the sauce is going to be really watery.
I’ve made a lot of your recipes and love your site…but I’ll pass on this.
Deedee on 8.5.2011
I was seduced by the garlic, cucumbers (garden bounty) and the comment section, but never eating Greek food before, made this a leap of faith. I/we DID NOT like this recipe. I didn’t like the smells, the spice combination or the flavors. But I would never have know if I hadn’t tried
lisa on 8.5.2011
never heard of gyros before,but looks delicious and i cant wait to try it!
Antigone on 8.5.2011
Hey, hi to all! I a greek fun of your site! Such delicius receipes you suggest! But I have a comment. The greek tzatziki is traditionally made of: yogurt, vinegar, cucumber, olive oil and GARLIC. Apply to the pita some olive olive and roast it on the grill untill it gets a golden color. Then fill the pita with gyros, a great amount of tzatziki, sliced tomatoes, slised onion and some mint leaves. Try it that way too and you won’t regret it! Kisses from Greece…
Kathleen on 8.4.2011
I was looking for something to go with my cous cous salad and this fit the bill! I used leftover beef that I had shish kebabed (I don’t think that’s a word but you know what I mean) The meat had been marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and oregano. I sliced it down and threw it in the pan with your suggested seasonings. No flat bread or pita bread so I used whole wheat tortillas. It was great and I love how quick and tasty this was. I have a new favorite!
Alicia @ Treble Tart on 8.4.2011
I will definitely be making these! I LOVE Greek food!! Thanks for sharing!!
Jeanette Chaney on 8.4.2011
I am not a purist and love short cuts…especially in the kitchen. Thank you.
His Wife on 8.4.2011
You had me until you left out the olives!
Michelle on 8.4.2011
YUMMMMY!!! Guess what I’ll be makin’ for din din tonight? Thanks
Ginny on 8.4.2011
Leave the garlic out for me! I’m going to try this recipe except substitute strips of thinly sliced sirloin and saute them with the spices. The sauce looks awesome!
Kim @ Sand & Sisal on 8.4.2011
Gyros are a long time family favorite! We add lots of curry and garlic to the meat. I’ll have to try it with roast beef next time! Thanks for sharing.
Katrina on 8.4.2011
These are just what I need right now! Yum!
Ann on 8.3.2011
Natalie – these are AWESOME! I make my own worcestershire sauce, so I can have it (allergies – you know) so I can totally have this!
I got a tickle out of your Weinerschnitzel story – I was the same after living in Italy hearing restaurants say they have broo-SHetta instead of broo-sKetta! I learned to walk away….but it’s hard!
Becca on 8.3.2011
I just ate dinner, but wow this is making my mouth water and I may have to run to the grocery store! Thanks for sharing!
Ren on 8.3.2011
I was going to post a comment telling you how much I love this recipe (it’s not easy to find nicely sliced lamb in the deli section of the Bag n Save) but I just got a sudden urge for cucumbers, so I am gonna go take care of that..
Mrs B on 8.3.2011
We’ve done this for years, especially when camping. Other times I have used “sizzlelean” for the meat. And I agree you need garlic.
trishie on 8.3.2011
OMG! 7 months pregnant and know all i want is GYROS!!! (small wimper) what am i going to do????
Gloria M. on 8.3.2011
I’m definitely going to try making these!! They look so easy to make
Lisa @ Life in Green on 8.3.2011
Thank you for making gyros at home seem much less intimidating!
carlyklock on 8.3.2011
Always love an alternative that can accommodate busy schedules!
Michelle on 8.3.2011
The deli counter at my local grocery store has sliced gyro meat.
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions on 8.3.2011
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I have been craving gyros for weeks now. And since these are so easy there is no excuse for me not to make them!
Pam P on 8.3.2011
I think this sounds like an interesting rendition and up until a week ago I would have jumped right in, but I have since found authentic gyro meat, frozen, in my grocer’s freezer! what the ferdoodle?? oh my god, it is so good. I am all about making things from scratch, but to be able to get my hands on real gyro meat and then make homemade pita & tzaiki with garden tomatoes? so good. keep an eye out at the grocery store next time
ames on 8.3.2011
Looks great, but sorry, a gyro purist I am!
Katie Schultz on 8.3.2011
Our local grocery store sells packages of lamb slices that just have to be briefly warmed in a frying pan. They are super quick and very good.
Shugary Sweets on 8.3.2011
I just made gyros using beef sirloin. Posted it today! I agree with the comments too, garlic is necessary
celia on 8.3.2011
I’m all for quick and easy, but I’d like to keep the taste as authentic as possible.I’d suggest: ground lamb instead of packaged roast beef (still much quicker to cook than an authentic roast) and more traditional seasonings like oregano and cumin in place of Worcestershire and paprika. And yes, garlic in the tzatziki!!
SuthernGirl on 8.3.2011
I haven’t tried dill in my tzatziki. I always throw a little mint (okay a lotta mint!) in mine…. Yum!
Patty on 8.3.2011
Looks delious whether it has garlic or not… Love gyro’s and they are usually made with beef and lamb. And yes, they do use garlic.
Suzanne on 8.3.2011
What a great idea! I buy my meat from a rancher that comes to our farmer’s market, so I could get lamb, but this little part of me still has trouble eating things that are that cute!! LOL So I may try making a roast, slicing it, and doing this number to the leftovers. Thanks for the idea! And you’re so right; left over tzatziki is like gold! I put it on my salads as salad dressing… I do leave out the garlic, though, so that the sauce can be more versatile. I’d rather cook the garlic into the meat.
TiffH on 8.3.2011
I love me some gyros. I made some recently at home with a store bought rotisserie chicken and it was tasty. I didn’t add the spices you did, but the sauce is really what makes ‘em tasty. However I like red onion on the gyros. I’ll have to try it with the deli roast beef. Tasty.
Natalie | Perry's Plate on 8.3.2011
Joerg & Travis – You’re completely right about the garlic! That would have made the sauce even better!
Mrs C on 8.3.2011
Oh this looks delicious! Never made before but seems like the perfectsummer recipe!
Travis Cotton on 8.3.2011
I agree about the garlic. Otherwise looks awesome.
Amy | She Wears Many Hats on 8.3.2011
Looks like lunch. And dinner.
Joerg Mosthaf on 8.3.2011
What? No garlic? Tzatziki without oodles of garlic is sacrilegious!
Looks very nice otherwise
bridget {bake at 350} on 8.3.2011
Ooo….quick and easy gyros? Sign me up!!!
Heather (Heather's Dish) on 8.3.2011
i ADORE gyros and have never thought to make them at home…thanks for the simple and quick recipe!