Greek Meatball Gyros

If you’ve never tried gyros before, get ready to be amazed! This Greek meatball gyros recipe has flavorful beef meatballs and a homemade tzatziki sauce; all served on warm pita bread. You’ll understand why they’re a Greek staple after trying this recipe!

Table of Contents

1. What Are Greek Meatball Gyros? 
2. Greek Meatball Gyros Ingredients and Shopping List
3. Homemade Meatball Gyros Ingredients Swaps & FAQs 
4. How to Make Greek Meatball Gyros with Tzatziki and Cucumber Tomato Salad
5. Greek Meatball Gyros Recipe Tips & Tricks
6. More Easy 30-Minute Meals from I Heart Recipes
7. Greek Meatball Gyros Recipe

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Gyros are one of those foods I don’t crave often, but when I do… ooohhh fam, it’s a must-have! Nothing beats a late-night gyro smothered with fresh tzatziki and cold tomatoes on warm, freshly made pita bread. In this version, we’re giving traditional gyros a makeover by swapping out gyro meat for flavorful Greek meatballs!

Greek meatball gyros are a flavorful, well-balanced dish that makes for an easy weeknight dinner. So, let’s get on into it, Cousins!

What Are Greek Meatball Gyros? 

If you’ve never heard of gyros before, they’re a delicious dish originating from Greece. Greek meatballs, also called Keftedes (pronounced keh-FTEH-dhes), are made with a combination of ground meat (usually ground lamb or pork), onions, garlic, and a variety of fresh herbs and spices. They’re a savory treat used in Greek cuisine as far back as the late 1600s – so you know they’ve gotta be good for a recipe like this to stick around that long!

This homemade gyros recipe differs a bit from traditional gyros since we’re using beef meatballs instead of cooked shaved meat. Traditional gyro meat is made with lamb and sliced from a cylindrical rotisserie (which you’ve probably seen in every gyro shop around the country). We keep the sauce and veggies the same – creamy, fresh tzatziki and homemade tomato and cucumber salad.

Greek Meatball Gyros Ingredients and Shopping List

So, what do you all need to make these homemade Greek meatball gyros? The good news is this recipe is packed with fresh ingredients, and the only elements that require cooking are the Greek meatballs! For the complete ingredient measurements, scroll on down to the recipe card at the end of the post. Here’s your ingredient list to take to the grocery store!

Greek Meatball Ingredients:

• Ground Beef: 1 pound of ground beef is enough to make meatballs for 4 people.  
• Breadcrumbs: finely ground breadcrumbs, preferably unseasoned.  
• Egg: one large egg to bind the meatball ingredients. 
• Parsley: fresh is best, but if you can’t get fresh, use dried. Always use 1/3 of the amount of dried herbs when a recipe calls for fresh herbs. 
• Garlic: is there such a thing as too much garlic? You’ll need a whole minced tablespoon for the meatballs.
• Cumin: an essential Greek (and global) spice. 
• Sea Salt: sea salt is less processed than table salt, meaning it retains more essential minerals and nutrients (but kosher salt is just fine, too, if that’s all you have). 
• Black Pepper: a sometimes-underappreciated spice, black pepper is a must in this recipe.

Homemade Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients:

• Plain Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is thicker and creamier than standard yogurt.  
• Grated Cucumber: this sauce is also referred to as cucumber sauce or gyro sauce. It’s light and refreshing with the savory meatballs. 
• Garlic: minced garlic adds a bit of a kick to this creamy sauce. 
• Olive Oil: while you can substitute any vegetable oil in some recipes, this recipe calls for extra virgin olive oil for flavor and texture.  
• Fresh Dill: if you only have dried dill, use 1/3 of what the recipe calls for, but fresh is best.  
• Salt & Pepper: to enhance the flavors. 
• Lemon Juice: the acid in citrus brightens the sauce, bringing out all the flavors. 

Cucumber Tomato Salad:

• Cucumbers: a staple of Greek cuisine! You’ll need a total of 1 cup diced and 1/4 cup shredded for this recipe. 
• Tomato: 1 cup of finely diced tomatoes. Variety doesn’t matter much—you can use cherry or grape tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or regular garden tomatoes.
• Red Onion: the easiest onion to eat raw—it’s mild, sweet, and perfect when mixed in with this refreshing salad.
• Parsley: fresh parsley is always best and easy to grow in a window box garden! 
• Salt & Pepper: add a bit and let your family add more to their individual gyro. 

Other Ingredients & Supplies Needed:

• Flatbread: you can use either rectangular flatbread or round pita bread. You can even make homemade pita with just a few ingredients! This recipe uses traditional, unflavored flatbreads, but you can make or buy any variety you prefer.
• Mixing Bowls: 1 large mixing bowl for the meatballs and two small mixing bowls for the tzatziki and tomato and cucumber salad.
• Measuring Cups & Spoons: to ensure even measurements (although I typically like to let my ancestors tell me what’s “enough” seasoning, you do you, boo boo 😉).
• Chef’s Knife: there’s a bit of chopping involved with all the fresh veggies in this recipe, so you’ll want to make sure you have a nice, sharp knife.
• Aluminum Foil or Parchment Paper: to line the baking sheet used to bake the Greek meatballs—easy cleanup! 

Homemade Meatball Gyros Ingredients Swaps & FAQs 

There’s a lot of room for customizing the ingredients and flavors in this recipe, so I want to cover all the bases out there for my fam. If you have any questions about different ingredients, here are some answers! 

• The fresh tzatziki sauce can be made with sour cream instead of Greek yogurt, and the flavor won’t change much at all (although Greek yogurt is a more nutritionally friendly ingredient). 
• Feta cheese is another topping option for these homemade Greek meatball gyros! It’s tangy, creamy, and adds so much flavor. Shredded lettuce or Greek olives are another great option to add. 
• If you want authentic flavor, pick up a Greek seasoning blend! You can go with an all-in-one gyros seasoning or a Mediterranean seasoning blend, which brings lemon, garlic, mint, and other Greek flavors to the mix.

Can I use other ground meat to make the meatballs? 

Yes, you can! To keep this recipe simple, I chose to go with lean ground beef. However, you can use whatever ground meat you want. You can make ground turkey meatballs, blend ground beef and pork, or go more traditional and make Greek lamb meatballs. I highly recommend making your own meatballs and NOT using frozen meatballs as an easy swap. Frozen meatballs always come pre-seasoned, and we really want to season the meatballs ourselves for that authentic Greek flavor.

Can I buy my tzatziki sauce instead of making it homemade?

Yes! If it’s faster and easier, you can find Tzatziki sauce at Walmart or pick some up from a local Greek restaurant. Make no mistake, you will taste the difference between store-bought and fresh Tzatziki. Plus, it’s so easy to make, so homemade is definitely the way to go. 

How to Make Greek Meatball Gyros with Tzatziki and Cucumber Tomato Salad

Okay, Cousins, now on to the good part: making these delicious Greek meatball gyros! Not only is this recipe perfect for a quick dinner, it’s also great for meal prep! All of the elements can be made ahead of time, store well for a few days, and are perfect for a quick lunch. The fresh cucumber and tomato salad is refreshing and healthy, the creamy tzatziki sauce is perfectly tangy, and the Greek meatballs can easily be reheated in just a few minutes.

Here’s how to make homemade Greek meatball gyros: 

1. Make the fresh tzatziki sauce. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the tzatziki sauce. Mix well, cover, and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. 
2. Next, make the cucumber tomato salad. Peel and chop the cucumbers, dice the tomatoes and red onions, and combine all the ingredients in another small bowl. Cover that bowl and store in the fridge to chill. 
3. Make the meatball mixture. Combine the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, herbs, and spices in a large bowl. Mix together until well combined. 
4. Form the meatballs. I use about 2 tablespoons of meat for one meatball. You can use a regular spoon or an ice cream scoop to form the perfect-sized meatballs. 
5. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, spray it with cooking spray, and line the meatballs up in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake the meatballs at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes. 
6. Once the meatballs are done, turn the oven to broil and toast the pita breads on each side. 
7. Assemble the gyros! Place 3-4 meatballs in the center of each pita. Top with tzatziki, cucumber tomato salad, and any other favorite toppings you prefer!

That’s it, y’all! In less than 30 minutes, you have a healthy, flavorful dinner or meal-prepped lunch for the week! You can serve these meatball gyros on their own or with your favorite sides. I love serving them with some French fries or roasted potatoes (which are great when dipped in that creamy tzatziki sauce, by the way!). 

Greek Meatball Gyros Recipe Tips & Tricks

• You can also pan-fry the meatballs rather than baking them in the oven, but the oven allows you to make more meatballs at once. To make them on the stovetop, simply heat a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the meatballs for about 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through.
• Tzatziki sauce (a.k.a. cucumber sauce or gyro sauce) is good for more than just a gyro topping! It has crunchy cucumber, fresh dill, and a zing of lemon juice, making it perfect for a salad dressing or dip for pita chips, veggies, and more.
• If you find cucumbers to be a bit too bitter, you can mitigate that by chopping the ends off first, then peeling the cucumber! The bitter flavor comes from the ends, so remove those before peeling. (And yes, the peels are edible but not nearly as refreshing in flavor as the inside of the cucumber.)

How to Store Leftovers

Every part of this recipe can be made ahead of time, and if you have leftovers, everything keeps very well! Here’s how to prep and store each part of the Greek meatball gyros: 

• Meatballs: the meatballs can be made ahead of time. Prepare them as directed, allow them to cool, and freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 4 months.
• Tzatziki Sauce: you can technically freeze tzatziki sauce, but because it’s so creamy, it’ll be very watered down when thawed, so it’s best to use it fresh. Leftover tzatziki will last in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
• Cucumber Tomato Salad: this won’t freeze well, so use it fresh! It’s best when used in 1-2 days.

More Easy 30-Minute Meals from I Heart Recipes

If you’ve tried this Greek meatball gyros recipe, leave a comment down below! Did you love it? Let me know! If you’re looking for more easy dinner ideas, I’ve got you covered. These recipes are some of my favorite quick dinners to make on a busy weeknight for minimal prep but maximum flavor!

• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
• Easy Sausage and Peppers Recipe
• Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
• Parmesan Salmon Foil Packs
• One-Pot Sloppy Joe Pasta

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Greek Meatball Gyros Recipe

The Greek gods inspired this tasty meatball gyros recipe! Tender Greek-style meatballs piled on soft pita, served with a tomato cucumber salad and fresh Tzatziki sauce.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Lunch or Dinner

Cuisine Greek

Keyword greek gyros, gyros, meatball gyros

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

• 4 Flatbreads

TZATZIKI SAUCE:

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup grated cucumber
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp fresh dill
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

MEATBALLS:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

CUCUMBER TOMATO SALAD:

• 1 cup finely diced cucumbers
• 1 cup finely diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Combine all of the tzatziki sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl, and mix until well incorporated.
  1 cup Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup grated cucumber, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp fresh dill, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Next, cover and refrigerate the tzatziki sauce until ready to serve.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients with your hands or a mixing spoon, and form into meatballs (about 2 tablespoons of the mixture per meatball).
  1 pound ground beef, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1 large egg, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• Place the meatballs on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
• While the meatballs are cooking, combine the ingredients for the cucumber tomato salad, and place into a serving dish.
  1 cup finely diced cucumbers, 1 cup finely diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup finely diced red onion, 1 tbsp chopped parsley, salt & pepper to taste
• Once the meatballs are done cooking, remove them from the oven, and set to the side.
• Now set the oven to broil, and place the flatbread on a baking sheet.
• Broil until lightly toasted on both sides.
• Place about 4 meatballs down the center of each flatbread.
  4 Flatbreads
• Spoon a generous amount of Tzatziki sauce down the center on the flatbread next to the meatballs, and top with the tomato and cucumber salad.
• Serve, and enjoy!

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