The Easiest Slow Cooker Chicken Gyros You’ll Ever Make

There are some meals that just taste like a sunny day, bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors that instantly lift your spirits. This Slow Cooker Chicken Gyro recipe is exactly that. It’s my secret weapon for a dinner that feels incredibly light and healthy, but is still packed with satisfying, delicious flavor. Imagine unbelievably tender, juicy, shredded chicken, slow-cooked in a bright, zesty marinade of lemon, garlic, and oregano, then piled high onto a warm pita with all the fresh toppings and a cool, creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. It’s a taste of the Mediterranean, made effortlessly simple in your crockpot.

Let’s be honest, the idea of a traditional gyro, with meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, is not exactly weeknight-friendly. This recipe was born from my desire to capture that iconic, beloved flavor in the easiest way possible. The slow cooker is the perfect tool. It gently poaches the chicken in the aromatic marinade until it’s so tender it shreds with a touch, absorbing every bit of that zesty, herbaceous goodness. The result is a meal that’s perfect for a busy day, requiring just a few minutes of prep for a huge flavor payoff.

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Why This Will Be Your New Go-To Healthy Dinner

You are going to fall in love with how simple, fresh, and flavorful this recipe is. It’s a true weeknight winner. Here’s why:

• Incredibly Tender and Juicy Chicken: The low-and-slow cooking process makes the chicken so moist and tender it shreds effortlessly and melts in your mouth.
• Bursting with Fresh, Vibrant Flavors: The simple, bright marinade of lemon, red wine vinegar, garlic, and oregano infuses the chicken with a delicious, zesty Mediterranean flavor.
• The Ultimate “Set It and Forget It” Meal: With just a few minutes of prep to mix the marinade, you can let the slow cooker do all the work while you go about your day.
• A Fun “Build-Your-Own” Dinner: Serving the shredded chicken with a platter of fresh toppings like tomatoes, cucumbers, and a homemade tzatziki sauce makes for a fun, interactive meal for the whole family.
• Light, Healthy, and Satisfying: Packed with lean protein from the chicken and Greek yogurt, and loaded with fresh vegetables, this is a nutritious meal that will leave you feeling great.

Recipe Snapshot

Your Shopping List for This Fresh & Easy Meal

This impressive dinner comes together with a beautiful array of fresh and powerful pantry staples.

→ For the Gyro Chicken

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts → Chicken thighs are also a fantastic, extra-juicy option!
• 3 cloves garlic → Freshly minced for the best aromatic flavor.
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice → The key to that bright, zesty flavor.
• 1 onion → Diced, to add a sweet, savory depth to the cooking liquid.
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar → For another layer of tangy brightness.
• Spices: 1 tsp oregano, ¼ tsp allspice, and 1 tsp lemon pepper for that classic gyro flavor.

→ For the Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

• 1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt → The creamy, high-protein base.
• 2 cloves minced garlic → For a pungent kick.

→ For Serving

• Pocketless pita bread, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, sliced cucumbers, and lettuce.

Let’s Get Cooking! Your Slow Cooker Guide

Ready for the easiest, most flavorful chicken gyros ever? It’s almost entirely hands-off.

Part 1: The Flavorful Slow Cook

1. Prep the Slow Cooker: Spray the inside of your slow cooker generously with nonstick cooking spray and place the chicken breasts in the bottom.
2. Make the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the remaining gyro ingredients: the minced garlic, lemon juice, diced onion, water, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, allspice, and lemon pepper.
3. Combine and Cook: Pour this vibrant marinade over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Place the lid on and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and fall-apart tender.

Part 2: The Cool, Creamy Tzatziki

4. Combine the Ingredients: While the chicken is cooking, prepare the tzatziki sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, minced garlic, grated cucumber, and chopped fresh parsley. Season with a pinch of salt to your taste.
5. Chill for Flavor: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This is a crucial step that allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully. Give it a final stir before serving.

Part 3: Shred and Serve

6. Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, use two forks to effortlessly shred the tender meat directly in the slow cooker, allowing it to soak up all the delicious juices.
7. Build Your Gyros: Serve the warm, shredded chicken with warm pita bread and a spread of all your favorite toppings—sliced tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, and a generous dollop of your homemade tzatziki sauce.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce

This Slow Cooker Chicken Gyros recipe is an easy, fresh, and healthy dinner! Tender, juicy chicken is slow-cooked in a zesty lemon and herb marinade, then shredded and served on warm pitas with a homemade creamy tzatziki sauce and fresh veggies.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Greek-Inspired

Calories: 153

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Gyros:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper

For the Tzatziki Sauce:

• 1 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 cup grated cucumber
• 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• to taste salt

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Non-stick Cooking Spray
• Mixing Bowl

Method

 

1. Spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray and place the chicken breasts inside.
2. In a bowl, mix together the minced garlic, lemon juice, diced onion, water, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, allspice, and lemon pepper.
3. Pour the mixture over the chicken breasts. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours.
4. While the chicken cooks, prepare the Tzatziki sauce. Mix all sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. Once cooked, shred the chicken in the slow cooker using two forks.
6. Serve the shredded chicken with warm pocketless pita bread, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, sliced cucumbers, lettuce, and the prepared Tzatziki sauce.

Notes

Squeeze the Cucumber: For a thick and creamy tzatziki sauce, be sure to squeeze out all the excess water from the grated cucumber before mixing it into the yogurt.

Let the Tzatziki Rest: Allowing the sauce to chill for at least an hour is crucial for the flavors to meld and the raw garlic to mellow.

Use Chicken Thighs: For even more tender and flavorful results, feel free to substitute the chicken breasts with boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for Perfect Chicken Gyros

These simple secrets will ensure your slow cooker meal is a flawless, flavorful triumph.

1. Use Chicken Thighs for Even Juicier Results. While chicken breasts work well in this recipe, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are even more forgiving in a slow cooker and will result in exceptionally moist and flavorful shredded chicken.
2. Squeeze Your Cucumber! This is the most important tip for a thick, creamy tzatziki that isn’t watery. After you grate the cucumber, place it in a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much excess liquid as you can before mixing it into the yogurt.
3. Let the Tzatziki Rest. Don’t skip the 1-hour chilling time for the sauce! This is essential for allowing the sharp flavor of the raw garlic to mellow out and meld with the other ingredients, creating a much more balanced and delicious sauce.
4. Don’t Lift the Lid! Trust the process. The slow cooker works its magic by trapping steam and heat. Lifting the lid to peek can significantly extend the cooking time.
5. Warm Your Pitas. For the best, most authentic gyro experience, take a minute to warm your pita bread before serving. You can do this in a toaster oven, a dry skillet, or by wrapping them in foil and placing them in a warm oven for a few minutes.

Keep It Fresh! Storing and Reheating

This recipe makes for fantastic leftovers and is perfect for meal prep.

• Refrigerator: Store the shredded chicken and the tzatziki sauce in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep your fresh toppings separate as well.
• Reheating: You can enjoy the chicken cold, straight from the fridge (it’s great on a salad!), or you can gently reheat it in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave until just warmed through.

FAQs: Your Slow Cooker Gyro Questions, Answered!

Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh parsley in the tzatziki?

You can in a pinch, but fresh parsley (or fresh dill, which is also classic) will provide a much brighter, more authentic flavor to the cool and creamy sauce. If you must use dried, use about 1-2 teaspoons of dried parsley or dill.

What if I don’t have red wine vinegar?

You can substitute it with another bright, acidic vinegar like apple cider vinegar or even just a little extra fresh lemon juice.

Is this recipe spicy?

No, this recipe is savory, tangy, and fresh, not spicy at all, making it very family-friendly. The allspice adds a unique, warm note, but not heat.

What is the best kind of pita to use?

For gyros, a soft, fluffy, “pocketless” Greek-style pita is the traditional and best choice. They are pliable and perfect for wrapping around the generous filling.

Final Thoughts: The Ultimate Fresh & Easy Dinner

There is nothing more satisfying than a meal that is bursting with fresh, vibrant flavor, especially when it’s this incredibly simple to prepare. This Slow Cooker Chicken Gyro recipe is the perfect combination of healthy ingredients and bold, delicious taste. It’s a dish that will transport you to a sunny Greek isle, all from the comfort of your own kitchen. I hope it becomes a new favorite for your family. Happy Cooking!