Greek Turkey Meatball Gyro with Tzatziki

Greek Turkey Meatball Gyros with Tzatziki are ready in under 30 minutes! Each pita is stuffed with juicy turkey meatballs, topped with crisp veggies and a creamy homemade tzatziki sauce! It’s the perfect weeknight dinner!

I love to serve these gyros with Mediterranean Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes or this Mediterranean Ozro Pasta Salad.

Easy & Flavorful Homemade Gyros

I have to say, everything about this recipe is amazing. The Greek turkey meatballs are packed with flavor, including red onions, spinach, and oregano. And then there’s the tzatziki sauce. I could literally eat it by the spoonful, it’s so good. (Not gonna lie, I always hope for leftover tzatziki sauce so I can dip anything and everything into it later!) Together, they create a flavor powerhouse.

Round it out with a soft flatbread and fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions…you won’t be able to get enough!

While gyros are typically made with shaved meat (usually lamb), I wanted to do something a bit different. Since lamb can be expensive and most of us don’t have the equipment to easily make shaved meat, I decided to opt for turkey meatballs instead. Meatballs have a similar texture to shaved meat, so it works well. And it all comes together in under 30 minutes! So good!

What Are Gyros?

A gyro (pronounced “YEE-ROH”) is a popular Greek dish, served in both nice, sit-down restaurants and street food stands. It’s traditionally made with lamb, beef, or pork on pita or flatbread, then topped with tomato, onion, and sometimes cucumber. Cool, creamy tzatziki sauce drizzled over the top is the final touch. Yum, yum, and yum!

What You’ll Need

Both the Greek turkey meatballs and the tzatziki sauce are made with just a handful of ingredients. Then you’ll just need the pita and toppings to pull these turkey gyros together!

For the Meatballs:

• Ground turkey – Ground turkey in general is pretty lean but if you find a package that says lean on it, grab that.
• Red onion – Red onion gives some texture to the meatballs and the flavor also complements the onion added later.
• Garlic
• Oregano – Gives the meatballs a bit of the Greek flavor.
• Chopped fresh spinach – Fresh spinach increases the nutrition in the meatballs and adds a colorful touch.
• Salt & pepper
• Avocado oil – My preferrred oil for cooking.

For The Tzatziki Sauce:

• Greek yogurt – Choose regular, plain Greek yogurt.
• Grated cucumber – Squeeze some of the moisture out so the sauce isn’t too liquidy.
• Lemon juice – Use fresh lemon juice if possible.
• Dry dill – Dill is one of the main flavors in tzatziki.
• Garlic powder
• Salt to taste

Gyro Toppings:

• Red onion
• Tomato
• Cucumber
• Whole wheat flatbreads or pita

How to Make Greek Turkey Meatball Gyro with Tzatziki

This easy gyro recipe comes together in a few simple steps – just make the meatballs, make the tzatziki, and assemble.

• Make the meatball mixture. Add the turkey, red onion, garlic, oregano, spinach, salt and pepper to a bowl. Use your hand to mix to combine until the meat sticks together.
• Form the meatballs. Form the mixture into 1″ balls.
• Cook the meatballs. Cook the meatballs in avocado oil for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned on all sides. Remove from pan and let rest.
• Make the tzatziki sauce. Add all ingredients in a small bowl. Mix together to combine.
• Assemble the gyros. Add 3 meatballs, sliced red onion, tomato, and cucumber to a flatbread or pita. Top with tzatziki and enjoy.

Tips for Success

These homemade gyros are so easy that there are not many secrets to perfecting them. But, here are a few helpful hints to keep in mind.

• How to tell when the meatballs are done. The meatballs should brown on each side. To ensure they’re done, use an instant read thermometer. They’re ready when the internal temperature has reached 165F.
• Make sure the tzatziki ingredients are cold. Tzatziki should always be served chilled and kept in the refrigerator at all times, except for when you’re using it. If you’re making it and serving it immediately, make sure the ingredients you start with are cold.
• Make the tzatziki in advance. From the most flavorful tzatziki, you can also make it a few hours in advance and place it in the fridge to chill.
• Warm the flatbread. I like to warm up my flatbread or pita in a skillet or the microwave so that they are more pliable when assembling the gyro.

Serving Suggestions

The turkey meatballs are best served immediately after preparing. I warm up the pitas so they’re more flexible then add 3 turkey meatballs to each, add the tomato, red onion, and cucumbers (all optional but recommended!), and top with a drizzle of tzatziki. The tzatziki is really what makes these gyros SO good!

You could also use these same ingredients to create a wrap and add some lettuce if desired, turn them into a salad, or just dip the meatballs in tzatziki if you’re looking for a low-carb snack!

How Long Does Tzatziki Last?

Homemade tzatziki will last for up to 4 days. After that point, it will begin to go sour and should be thrown out. Tzatziki can technically be frozen but the texture tends to change when it thaws so I recommend making it fresh each time.

Leftover tzatziki can be used on many things, including beef kabobs, lettuce wraps, grain bowls, and even Moroccan cauliflower.

How to Store Leftovers

Each element of these turkey gyros should be stored separately – the turkey meatballs, the tzatziki, and any toppings. As mentioned above, the tzatziki will last for 4 days and the meatballs will keep for about the same amount of time as well. The easiest way to reheat the turkey meatballs is in the microwave.

More 30 Minute Meals:

• Easy Baja Fish Tacos
• Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
• Whole30 Salmon in Garlic Cream Sauce
• Air Fryer Chicken Tender

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