March 16, 2024

Greek-inspired Meatball Gyro

These Greek-inspired meatball gyros are packed full of flavor and pairs amazingly with Tzatziki sauce and Greek salad. The meatballs are stuffed with feta cheese and flavored with this gyro seasoning then served over warm pita bread.

My family and I absolutely love these meatball gyros. They are really easy to make, making them a great choice for a weeknight dinner. The ingredients are simple, made only of

Ingredients you will need to make the Greek-inspired meatballs:

Ground chicken or beef – I always use ground chicken for this recipe but you can absolutely use ground beef instead. In fact, most gyro recipes use beef or lamb, but if you haven’t noticed by now, I don’t eat much red meat so I tend to substitute it for chicken or turkey.
Panko Breadcrumbs – This is an important ingredient as it stops the meatballs from becoming too dry.
Egg – Adding an egg to your meatballs helps it to retain its shape once it is cooked.
Red onion – Be sure to grate the onion before adding to the meatball mixture by using a box grater! This will infuse your meatballs with that savory onion flavor while ensuring you do not get large chunks of onion in there. It is also way easier and faster than finely chopping all that onion!
Feta cheese – You absolutely have got to have this ingredient! This is what sets these meatballs apart from all of the others!
Gyro seasoning – You can make your own seasoning and store the leftovers in an airtight jar with a lid or a container for up to 6 months at room temperature. Here is the recipe for the best gyro seasoning! You can also purchase store-bought gyro seasoning as a time-saver!
Olive oil – You will need this for pan-frying the meatballs.

For the Gyros:

Pita Bread – This is what makes the gyro a gyro! It is best when warmed up before serving.
Greek Salad – You can make your own Greek salad to add to the top of these gyros or you can simply chop up some fresh cucumbers, tomatoes of your choice, red onion and feta cheese. You can serve them just as they are on top or dress them up by adding a bit of olive oil, red wine vinegar or lemon, oregano, salt and pepper.
Tzatziki Sauce – You can use this homemade Tzatziki sauce recipe or you can use store-bought Tzatziki sauce to save time!

How to make Gyros:

For the meatballs:

Take your block of feta cheese, place it on a clean cutting board and chop it into about 1 inch chunks. Set aside and keep them ready next to your work station.
In a large bowl, add the ground meat, egg, panko breadcrumbs, grated onion and the gyro seasoning. Mix with your hands until well combined but do not over mix.
Take a portion of the mixture, about the size of 2 tablespoons, and roll between your hands to create a ball. Once formed, make a hole in the center of the meatball using your finger and place a chunk of feta cheese inside. Use your hands and fingers to wrap the meat mixture around the feta cheese and be sure it is completely covered. Repeat this process. You can either keep the meat mixture as evenly rolled balls or you can flatten the meatball a little bit by using the palm of your hand, creating Bifteki. This is simply a “flattened meatball.”
Heat olive oil in a frying pan on medium to high heat. Add the meatballs or Bifteki to the pan and cook for about 8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Be sure to turn the meatballs on each side so they cook evenly and thoroughly. Do not overcrowd the pan. Repeat this process until the meatballs are all cooked, adding more oil to the pan if needed. Set aside on a plate.

For the Gyros:

Wash and chop the cucumbers and tomatoes. Set aside. Chop the red onion. If you want to dress them up, place them in a medium bowl and add olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Mix until combined. If you choose to make your own Tzatziki sauce, make this then set aside in the fridge to chill until you are ready to use it.
Warm up the pita bread. Spread the desired amount of Tzatziki sauce on the pita bread. Place about 3 meatballs or Bifteki on top followed by the chopped vegetables. Sprinkle with a little more feta cheese if desired. You can wrap the Gyro in foil, a piece of parchment paper or even some twine to hold it together. Serve on a plate and enjoy!

Substitutions and tips for the Gyros:

One of the many reasons I love Gyros is because they are pretty versatile! You can dress them up as you like, use what meat you prefer and choose which veggies you want to top them with! They also make a great make-ahead meal! Here are some ideas for some substitutions and tips that you can try experimenting with:

Feel free to use any type of ground meat that you prefer. Ground chicken, beef, pork, lamb or even turkey will work great.
I always like dressing up my vegetables to serve on top. I use cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion and feta cheese then toss them in olive oil, red wine vinegar and oregano. However, you can serve them plain on top! You can also serve them with lettuce instead. The options are endless!
If you choose to make your own Tzatziki sauce, you can try adding fresh parsley or mint instead of dill to give it a different flavor.
Make the meatballs a head of time. Store them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for 3-4 days and take them out as you need them throughout the week!
Not feeling the carbs from the pita? Serve the meatballs on a plate with the Tzatziki sauce and a Greek salad or the dressed up veggies with a lemon wedge on the side! Yum!