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Greek Gyro with Homemade Gyro Meat

Enjoy flavorful Greek gyros made with homemade gyro meat, creamy Tzatziki sauce, and fresh vegetables wrapped in warm pita.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Gyro Meat
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 2 tablespoons bacon grease (or butter) Can be substituted with butter.
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
  • 6 cloves garlic (smashed and finely minced)
  • 4 teaspoons kosher salt Yes, 4 teaspoons.
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons dried cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram (optional)
For Assembly
  • 1 batch Tzatziki Sauce Needs to be made ahead and marinated.
  • 1 large red onion (sliced thin)
  • 2-4 pieces tomatoes (sliced)
  • 1-2 pieces cucumbers (sliced)
  • 8-10 rounds pita
  • Fresh dill (to garnish, optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Start by making the Tzatziki Sauce, as it needs time to marinate. Let it sit in the fridge while you prepare the rest.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  3. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and spray with nonstick spray.
  4. Finely chop the onion and garlic using a food processor or chop them by hand.
  5. In a large bowl, mix all the gyro meat ingredients: ground beef, ground lamb, bacon grease (or butter), eggs, milk, lemon juice, Panko crumbs, chopped onion, minced garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, oregano, rosemary, thyme, cumin, and marjoram (if using).
  6. Use your hands to combine the meat. Wearing disposable gloves can make this easier.
  7. Shape the mixture into about 10 oval patties and place them on the lined baking sheet, ensuring they don’t touch each other.
Cooking
  1. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from the oven and keep warm.
Assembly
  1. Prepare the toppings: thinly slice the red onion, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Warm the pita bread in the microwave or the still-warm oven.
  2. To assemble your gyro, spread a layer of Tzatziki Sauce on a warm pita. Slice a gyro patty in half lengthwise for easier handling and place it on top of the sauce.
  3. Garnish with red onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh dill. Enjoy!

Notes

Gyros are often served with French fries, roasted potatoes, or a Greek salad.