I discovered this recipe where I mixed ground lamb and beef with aromatic herbs and spices, creating a rich, satisfying flavor reminiscent of my favorite gyro spot. It’s a fresh twist on Homemade Gyro Recipe, enhanced by creamy Tzatziki sauce and crisp tomatoes. Each bite invites a memorable culinary journey.
I always loved trying to recreate restaurant flavors in my own kitchen, so when I stumbled upon this Homemade Gyros Recipe I had to give it a try. I used 1/2 lb ground lamb along with 1/2 lb ground beef to capture that authentic Greek gyro taste.
Mixing in a small yellow onion (finely grated), minced garlic, a beaten egg and some breadcrumbs, I combined dried oregano, salt, freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of ground cumin to create a robust flavor profile. This method gives a meatloaf-like texture that might not be identical to the restaurant style but it definitely packs a punch in taste.
The real star for me was the Tzatziki Sauce, made with plain Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil and red wine vinegar. Topped off with tomato slices, thinly sliced red onion and extra cucumber slices, this recipe opens up a world of American-style Greek gyro goodness that youve got to try.
Why I Like this Recipe
I really love this recipe because it mixes lamb and beef which gives it this awesome rich flavor that you don’t get with just one meat. I like that it feels super simple to make even though it tastes like something you get at a nice restaurant. The Tzatziki sauce is another reason I enjoy it, it adds a cool, creamy contrast to the savory meat that always hits the spot. Plus, I dig how you can load it up with your favorite toppings like tomatoes, onions, and extra cucumber so it feels like you’re making it just the way you like it.
Ingredients
- Ground Lamb: Rich in protein and healthy fats, it brings bold, savory flavor to the gyros.
- Ground Beef: Provides essential protein and iron for juiciness and texture in gyros.
- Onion: Adds natural sweetness, fiber, and a bit of tang that kinda balances out the flavors.
- Garlic: Offers a pungent aroma and deep spicy notes, really boosting overall taste.
- Greek Yogurt & Cucumber (Tzatziki): Creamy, tangy, and cool duo that refreshes every bite.
- Oregano: A dried herb that gives a hint of Mediterranean earthiness and zest.
- Tomatoes & Red Onions: Bring vibrant color, vitamins, and a crunchy, refreshing texture.
Ingredient Quantities
- 1/2 lb ground lamb
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely grated
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- For the Tzatziki Sauce: 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- For the Tzatziki Sauce: 1/2 cucumber, grated and well drained
- For the Tzatziki Sauce: 2 garlic cloves, minced
- For the Tzatziki Sauce: 1 tablespoon olive oil
- For the Tzatziki Sauce: 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- For the Tzatziki Sauce: Salt to taste
- Toppings: 2 tomatoes, sliced
- Toppings: 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- Toppings: Extra cucumber slices, as you like em
How to Make this
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the ground lamb and beef with the grated small yellow onion, minced garlic (3 cloves), beaten egg, breadcrumbs, oregano, salt, pepper and cumin. Mix it all up pretty well.
2. Transfer the meat mixture into a loaf pan and press it down evenly. It will have a meatloaf-like texture once cooked.
3. Bake the meat in the preheated oven for about 45 to 60 minutes until it’s cooked through. Let it cool a bit once done.
4. While the gyro meat cooks, make the Tzatziki sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, grated and well-drained cucumber (from a 1/2 cucumber), minced garlic (2 cloves), olive oil, red wine vinegar and a pinch of salt.
5. When the meat is cool enough to handle, slice it thinly. If you want more authentic texture, slicing it crosswise helps bring out those flavors.
6. Lay your gyro meat slices onto a warm flatbread or pita and top them with the Tzatziki sauce.
7. Add the tomato slices, thinly sliced red onion and extra cucumber slices on top as your toppings.
8. Serve your gyros immediately and dig in while they’re still warm. Enjoy your homemade Greek-style feast!
Equipment Needed
1. Oven (make sure it’s preheated to 350°F)
2. Large bowl (for mixing the ground meats, onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, and spices)
3. Mixing utensil (a spoon or spatula to mix the meat evenly)
4. Loaf pan (for shaping and baking the meat mixture)
5. Small bowl (for combining the Tzatziki sauce ingredients)
6. Grater (to grate the small yellow onion and the cucumber)
7. Knife (for mincing garlic and slicing the meat and toppings)
8. Cutting board (to safely cut the tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion)
9. Colander or clean towel (to help drain the excess water from the grated cucumber)
FAQ
Homemade Gyros Recipe And Gyro Meat From The Food Charlatan. Substitutions and Variations
- For the ground lamb, you can use ground turkey or mix in some ground pork if you want a leaner option
- If you dont have a small yellow onion, red onion or even some shallots can work pretty well
- Instead of breadcrumbs, try using panko or even crushed tortilla chips for some crunch
- If you dont have red wine vinegar for the Tzatziki, apple cider vinegar makes a good swap
- Alternatively, if you cant find plain Greek yogurt, strained regular yogurt can be a decent substitute
Pro Tips
1. When mixing the meat, try not to overwork it; if you stir it too much it can turn out dense and less juicy, so be gentle when combining all the spices and other stuff.
2. Let your meat cool just a bit before slicing it thin. It can be really hard to cut if it’s too hot and it may even fall apart or get messy.
3. For your tzatziki, make sure to squeeze out all that extra water from the grated cucumber. Use a clean towel or some paper towels, so your sauce doesnt end up too watery.
4. When you assemble your gyro, add the tzatziki sauce and veggies at the end, so the bread or pita doesnt get too soggy and you can still taste the fresh flavors.
Homemade Gyros Recipe And Gyro Meat From The Food Charlatan.
I discovered this recipe where I mixed ground lamb and beef with aromatic herbs and spices, creating a rich, satisfying flavor reminiscent of my favorite gyro spot. It's a fresh twist on Homemade Gyro Recipe, enhanced by creamy Tzatziki sauce and crisp tomatoes. Each bite invites a memorable culinary journey.
4
servings
400
kcal
Equipment: 1. Oven (make sure it’s preheated to 350°F)
2. Large bowl (for mixing the ground meats, onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, and spices)
3. Mixing utensil (a spoon or spatula to mix the meat evenly)
4. Loaf pan (for shaping and baking the meat mixture)
5. Small bowl (for combining the Tzatziki sauce ingredients)
6. Grater (to grate the small yellow onion and the cucumber)
7. Knife (for mincing garlic and slicing the meat and toppings)
8. Cutting board (to safely cut the tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion)
9. Colander or clean towel (to help drain the excess water from the grated cucumber)
Ingredients
-
1/2 lb ground lamb
-
1/2 lb ground beef
-
1 small yellow onion, finely grated
-
3 garlic cloves, minced
-
1 egg, beaten
-
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
-
2 teaspoons dried oregano
-
1 teaspoon salt
-
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
-
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
-
For the Tzatziki Sauce: 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
-
For the Tzatziki Sauce: 1/2 cucumber, grated and well drained
-
For the Tzatziki Sauce: 2 garlic cloves, minced
-
For the Tzatziki Sauce: 1 tablespoon olive oil
-
For the Tzatziki Sauce: 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
-
For the Tzatziki Sauce: Salt to taste
-
Toppings: 2 tomatoes, sliced
-
Toppings: 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
-
Toppings: Extra cucumber slices, as you like em
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the ground lamb and beef with the grated small yellow onion, minced garlic (3 cloves), beaten egg, breadcrumbs, oregano, salt, pepper and cumin. Mix it all up pretty well.
- Transfer the meat mixture into a loaf pan and press it down evenly. It will have a meatloaf-like texture once cooked.
- Bake the meat in the preheated oven for about 45 to 60 minutes until it's cooked through. Let it cool a bit once done.
- While the gyro meat cooks, make the Tzatziki sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, grated and well-drained cucumber (from a 1/2 cucumber), minced garlic (2 cloves), olive oil, red wine vinegar and a pinch of salt.
- When the meat is cool enough to handle, slice it thinly. If you want more authentic texture, slicing it crosswise helps bring out those flavors.
- Lay your gyro meat slices onto a warm flatbread or pita and top them with the Tzatziki sauce.
- Add the tomato slices, thinly sliced red onion and extra cucumber slices on top as your toppings.
- Serve your gyros immediately and dig in while they're still warm. Enjoy your homemade Greek-style feast!
Notes
- Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 200g
- Total number of serves: 4
- Calories: 400kcal
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Polyunsaturated: 2.5g
- Monounsaturated: 13g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
- Sodium: 500mg
- Potassium: 400mg
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Sugar: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Vitamin A: 300IU
- Vitamin C: 15mg
- Calcium: 120mg
- Iron: 3.5mg
