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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!

Overhead view of three turkey meatball gyros with tomato, cucumber, and tzatziki

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!

Overhead view of two turkey meatball gyros with tzatziki

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.

tzatziki sauce ingredients in a glass bowl
  • 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.
3 turkey meatball gyros folded with tomato and tzatziki

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.
Overhead view of 2 turkey meatball gyros folded

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!

Overhead view of a turkey meatball gyro

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.

Overhead view of a Greek turkey meatball gyro with tomatoes, cucumber, and tzatziki

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.

Angled view of a Greek turkey meatball gyro with tzatziki

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Overhead view of greek turkey meatball gyros with tomatoes and cucumber

Greek Turkey Meatball Gyro with Tzatziki

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 37 reviews
  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 16 mins
  • Total Time: 26 mins
  • Yield: 4 gyros 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Greek

Description

Made with flavorful, fresh ingredients these Greek Turkey Meatball Gyros with Tzatziki are ready in under 30 minutes! It’s the perfect weeknight dinner when you’re craving some homemade gyros or just something fast and packed with flavor.


Ingredients

Scale

Greek Turkey Meatball:

  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh spinach
  • salt & pepper to season
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil

Tzatziki Sauce:

  • 5 oz. plain greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup grated cucumber (squeeze some of the moisture out)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt to taste

Gyro Components:

  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1 cup diced tomato
  • 1 cup diced cucumber
  • 4 whole wheat flatbreads or pita

Instructions

Greek Turkey Meatballs:

  1. To a large bowl add, ground turkey, diced red onion, minced garlic, oregano, fresh spinach, salt, and pepper. Using your hands mix all the ingredients together until meat forms a ball and sticks together.
  2. Then using your hands, form the meat mixture into 1″ balls. (about 12 meatballs).
  3. Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add avocado oil to the pan, and then add the meatballs. Cook each side for 3-4 minutes until they are browned on all sides and the internal temperature has reached 165°F. Remove from the pan and let rest.

Tzatziki Sauce:

  1. To a small bowl add greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, dill, garlic powder, and salt to taste. Mix together until everything is combined.

Assemble Gyros:

  1. To a flatbread (I like to warm mine up so they are more pliable) add 3 meatballs, sliced red onion, tomato, and cucumber. Then top with Tzatziki sauce.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 flatbread + 3 meatballs
  • Calories: 429
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 630 mg
  • Fat: 19 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 38 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 91 mg

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130 comments on “Greek Turkey Meatball Gyro with Tzatziki”

  1. Really good! I used ground chicken as I’m not really a fan of ground turkey. Also used yellow onion as I didn’t have any red on hand. I added 1 cup of feta to the meatball mix (doubled) and batch-cooked 2 lbs in the air fryer @ 400 for 10-12 mins. I rolled some much smaller balls for an Italian wedding soup I will be making in a few days and just cooked for 6 mins in air fryer.

    Super easy and versatile protein recipe. Can’t wait to smother them in tzatziki in a keto wrap!!






  2. I came across your site a few weeks ago. Your recipes look great! I made this tonight for dinner and it was YUMMY!! I doubled the meatball recipe because I wanted to have extra for lunches. I used a combination of ground turkey breast and lean dark, also baked them. They were so flavorful! Your tzatziki sauce is quite good as well, I have tried other recipes in the past. Served with a Greek orzo pasta salad. This recipe will definitely be in my rotation.






      1. You can bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

  3. Made these last night and they were a HIT! So delicious. I plan on prepping the meatballs ahead next time and freezing for quick, easy dinners and lunches in the future.

  4. This is by far the best meatball recipe. No bread and still holds together…. and oh so moist. For a change, I’ll add basil and thyme with my oregano. Put with marinara, now it’s Italian!






  5. Hello,
    I made it for my Sunshine ☀️ 16th bday… 5 stars, if I could give it 10 stars, I would definitely… 😂
    Thank you! I didn’t tasted, bc I’m vegetarian for medical reasons!
    Sincerely, CF






    1. Made these last night. Absolutely loved it.

      I read through some of the comments before I started, so I did add about a teaspoon of lemon juice to the meatball mixture. I used lean ground turkey because that is all they had at the store. And I baked them at 350 for roughly 35 minutes.

      Thank you for the delicious and easy recipe. I already shared it with my sister and a friend. I am bookmarking your website because I already saw a few other things I would like to try.

      Keep up the good work!






  6. This recipe is sooooo good! I love gyros and this one was lighter and healthier than the ones you buy in the restaurants. Also, it was very quick and easy to make. I will be making this again, thank you!!






  7. These were absolutely delicious! I didn’t add the red onion to the meatballs, and added a little olive oil to the tzatziki. Wonderful recipe!






  8. Avatar photo
    Beck & Bulow

    Hi, I tried it this morning for the first time…what could i say: delicious!! thanks for sharing mike!!






  9. Can you freeze them? And would you freeze after you cook the meatballs or freeze uncooked and defrost and than cook?

  10. This was delicious!! I was worried the meatballs might be dry, but they were perfect! We added feta to our gyros, but other than that followed recipe exactly!






    1. thanks and thanks, sometimes when I’m writing the recipe I just assume people know that poultry needs to be 165°F but always good to remind them. 🙂 Edited.

  11. Avatar photo
    Kimberly Conner

    I have made these meatballs twice now, and I really love them! The tzatziki sauce is easy and delish too! I have made my own Naan bread the first time and the last time with homemade Pita (whole wheat) bread. The flavors are so fresh and delish! Love, Love, Love!

  12. This recipe is GOLD. Next time I’m probably going to cut the spinach up even smaller and add a handful of bread crumbs to help them hold together a bit and soak up the moisture in the meatballs.
    Otherwise, Hands down one the most delicious and flavorful recipes I’ve pulled from Pinterest. Will absolutely make again! ❤️

  13. Can I bake the meatballs? Looks delicious and I want to try but want to avoid frying them. Or maybe make in the airfryer? Thanks

    1. Yes, bake at 350 degrees. I would guess it cook time would be 20-30 minutes, depending on your oven. You want to cook until the internal temperature has reached 165°F.

  14. Really good and easy with some healthy veggies like spinach mixed in. I added some of the plain Greek yogurt and a little of the lemon juice to my meatballs to keep them from being dry because the turkey i use is extra lean. Was a hit worth the family. Thanks.






  15. I did have to add oil to the pan due to sticking, but otherwise this was a pretty quick and healthful meal to put together at the end of a long day. Thank you!






    1. Yes, you definitely want to add oil to your hot pan. If you have a lot of sticking, it could be a sign that your pan isn’t hot enough. I am glad it was a good meal at the end of the long day!

  16. Tasty! I didn’t have spinach so I used 1/4 cup parsley. My Greek mama always put parsley in keftethes (meatballs). Greeks never put tomatoes in tzatziki sauce, but to each their own. I ended up using a simpler recipe with Fage yogurt, lemon, garlic, dill and salt. Came out great.






    1. So glad you enjoyed it! I agree, no tomatoes in the tzatziki – I use the sliced onion, tomato, and cucumber as toppings for the Gyro!

    1. haha… well there is a “jump to recipe” button at the top of the post if you choose not to read it.

    2. Adam,
      You made my families day, I died laughing from your comment and ended up screen shotting and sending to the family who all laughed as well. As a guy I just want to see the recipe and dont care about what the weather was like the day they came up with the recipe or what their dog thinks of it. Glad Krista has a “skip to recipe” button. Excited to try it out! Keep up the great recipes Krista!

      1. haha…. thanks guys! I’m actually working on cleaning up some of the “girl chat” apparently google doesn’t like that anymore. Shocker 🙂

  17. Avatar photo
    Kelly Larocque

    Your meatballs look much more browned than mine. The water from the spinach created a lot of liquid in the pan. I kept draining midway, but never achieved as much browning. The meatballs were still tasty. I doubled the recipe and froze half of the meatballs for another meal (will brown them again to heat them up) loved the recipe, but would love suggestions on getting the meatballs to brown. Should I have cooked the spinach first before adding to the meat?

    1. Hey Kelly, did you use frozen or fresh spinach? I usually have the opposite problem, a dry pan so I need to add oil to the pan sometimes.

      1. I love this recipe! It’s so flavorful and fresh. I add minced jalapeño and red pepper flakes to the meatballs for extra kick, but they are packed with flavor from the jump. This is a crowd pleaser that is great to have in my back pocket for a quick and easy dinner.






    1. My family’s go-to quick and easy gyro recipe! We always add feta on top too and I ring out the grated cucumber in a towel before adding to my Greek yogurt. Delicious!






  18. I have to say I’ve made this about five times and about to make it tonight. So delicious, so fresh tasting and healthy! One of my favs!






  19. Avatar photo
    Janet Ohrberg

    Made this for dinner tonight.. This was awesome! They were so quick and easy. Will be making them again.






  20. I love this! Serve with feta, lettuce, tazitki and fresh onions on weight watcher nann bread (home maid). A family favorite






  21. The flavors in the meatball and sauce were delicious! My only complaint is that the meatballs were pretty dry. Next time I’ll try ground turkey that’s less lean or ground lamb.






    1. OH that’s a bummer. Yes you could try a fattier ground turkey, ground lamb (but that can also be lean) or ground beef.

      1. Ohhh that’s interesting. I haven’t tried that yet. I’m curious to see if anyone has as well.

      2. When cooking for more than 4 people I always triple the recipe and use a 9×13 glass baking dish. Leaner is better with the turkey to avoid excess liquid. You will need to drain halfway through regardless, but it works out and is still delicious. (Thin slices and throw some home-made fries on it if you’re not counting carbs). I’ve tried baking it in a loaf pan as well but when it’s too thick it just doesn’t come out right. Favorite way is to shape the meat into meatball size pucks, brown on each side and quarter. I also like to split the tzatziki into 2 portions and add Sriracha to one. Huge thanks to you Krista for what is easily one my favorite recipes!






  22. I’m Greek and I LOVE gyros but I don’t care for lamb which is how it’s traditionally made, so when I saw this recipe I was excited to give it a try. It was DELISH! After shopping for ingredients I realized that I didn’t have any dill in the pantry and I was too lazy to go back out to the store so I swapped McCormack Greek Seasoning in lieu of dill where the recipe called for it. It came out great! I also crumbled some feta onto my gyro which made it even more delicious. This is a recipe I will for sure make again- and I might even double it next time so that there are plenty of leftovers! I also liked that it was very inexpensive to make. Thanks!






  23. Yea Krista what a transition into this delicious recipe! Haha! But I love Gyros so its okay haha, I’m a mom too, been there too quite a few times! 🙂 This definitely will go into the recipe file! Hmm. actually you just inspired me to try and make a Mexican Gyro recipe! Haha! Thanks!

  24. This was excellent. I cook a ton, use Pinterest on the daily, and have never left a review before but feel compelled. Super easy, super healthy and delicious! I used the extra lean ground turkey so my meatballs were a bit “sticky” and very soft; 15 minutes in the freezer before cooking keep them from falling apart. My house loves sauces of all kinds so I doubled that part. One wrap was plenty for me and hubs could barely finish his second so I think this could easily serve 2 adults and 2 kids (I did make 2 sides). Thanks for the excellent recipe!






  25. Highly delicious! I made this recipe for dinner with authentic pita bread from the market and my husband loved the flavors! Especially the tzatziki sauce! Thank you!






  26. Making this later this week but I’m going to use chicken with pineapple for the meat balls. I’m hoping it turns out as good as yours!






  27. Holy moly, you can COOK! Followed the recipe to the note, my family devoured the whole meal. And we’re a tough crowd! Can’t wait to taste more of your work!






  28. I found a new recipe today. I love gyros. The meatballs and sauce were delicious. The only thing I did differently was I baked the meatballs. Glad I came across your recipe.






  29. Made this recipe tonight trying to cut back on beef and use more turkey so looking for recipes. This was delish and will be making it again. Love my gyros and it was very easy to make. Two thumbs up.

  30. If I wanted to bake these vs. pan fry will I need to add bread crumbs and eggs? I noticed that you didn’t use them in the original recipe and I am afraid that they will fall apart in the oven.

  31. This is a delicious recipe! I have made it many times and have shared it with others who have had equal success. Thank you so much for sharing!

  32. Avatar photo
    Devra Brucker

    This is a delicious recipe! The meatballs were very moist, so when I tried to roll them they were not staying together so I
    added 1/3 cup of panko crumbs. What a flavorful and yummy meal! Thank you.

  33. Avatar photo
    susanne daniels

    I loved the throw-up story lol! I had a slide on my bed when I was little too and it was most definitely the best thing ever!!
    Anyway, I will be trying this recipe at the end of the week and I’m super excited!!






  34. I love this recipe! It’s become a staple at our house. One thing that I feel is a must…Feta cheese sprinkled on the top! Thanks for the great recipe!

    1. ohhh totally get it that feta completely goes with it. I’m honored that it’s a staple at your house! So cool!

  35. This was SO. GOOD. This squashed my gyro craving and was healthy. Win win. Can’t wait to make this again. I made the sauce early in the day and let it melt in the fridge. Loved it all.

    1. Woohoo! I definitely have those gyro cravings… like once a month and this one is a winner. So glad you love the recipe Morgan!

  36. These were amazing! I’d been craving gyros for weeks but there’s no where near me to get any. Whipped these up in no time flat and they tasted just like my favorite place and were loads healthier too! My husband loved these as well, totally going into meal rotation. Easy and cheap, can’t be beat! Can’t wait for leftovers today.

    1. I know. My mom use to make them all time growing up, they use to sell shaved lamb meat in the grocery store and tzatziki sauce. It was my favorite weeknight meal growing up. This recipe is a great substitute and totally fills that gyro craving! So glad you liked it Morgan!

  37. Well, idk what a vomit story had to do with this recipe, it was unnecessary….but I will be trying out the meatballs! PS, if you don’t want your tzaziki to be watery, you can let it AND the cucumber drain/strain in a seive lined with coffee filter for a couple of hours before mixing it up. And if you can, make it the day before, tzaziki is better the next day!

    1. haha… it had nothing to do with it. Just talking about life, the ups and downs.

      I hope you enjoy the recipe Lisa. And you are right, tzatziki is always better the next day! 🙂

  38. Hi Keisha

    I’m so excited to make this. I’m on a new. Journey in my life. No more diets. Just eating healthy and being fit. Sadly, I let my self get 50+ lbs. Overweight. I’ve been trying to cook dishes I like to eat, but w lean proteins, low sodium, fresh veggies etc…. This recipe is exactly what I look for, especially since I’m a huge gyros fan and haven’t had one since this journey began. I’m going to start following you on Instagram, I’m sure you have more yummy ideas I can try.

    Thanks 😀

  39. Looks fabulous! love Gyros and this is a much healthier version. i have the meatballs in the oven right now. Turkey Gyros for dinner! 🙂






  40. Avatar photo
    Ashley Johnson

    I made these earlier this week and they turned out great! Super easy! It was my first time ever making meat balls so I was bit nervous but I was pleasantly surprised with how these turned out. This is definitely going to be on repeat in my kitchen. Also that tzatziki sauce is AMAZING. Thank you so much for a great recipe!

    1. haha.. i’m straight up addicted to the tzatziki and I love how moist these meatballs are. So glad you enjoyed this recipe Ashley!

  41. Is the oregano in the meatballs fresh or dried? Can’t wait to try them! Gathering the ingredients up tomorrow at the store.

  42. Avatar photo
    Katy Harrsion

    This is an amazing recipe that is quick, easy and delicious! My kids scarffed this down. It is a rare occasion that I don’t have to fight with my 5 year old to eat his supper. Definitely making this again!






    1. hurray! So glad to hear it Katy, my 4 year old loved it too, especially the tzatziki sauce, I usually have to double that! 🙂

  43. This sounds yummy! Can you bake the meatballs instead? If so, how long at what temp? Can’t wait to try this!

  44. Just finished eating this for dinner. Love the flavors! I did cheat and bought the tzatziki because of time.
    I was so craving Greek food. Thanks.

  45. This recipe is AMAZING!!! I made this tonight and got rave reviews. Thank you so much for sharing this!!!!

  46. Avatar photo
    KATHY HASWELL

    Hi Krista,
    Once again, your recipe was amazing! I look forward to your new creations every week and have yet to be disappointed.
    ..Thanks!
    Kathy from CT

  47. Avatar photo
    Katerina @ Diethood

    OH MAN! 🙁 I am sorry he wasn’t feeling well!! I always just wish we could magically take it away from our kids and have it all happen to us, instead.

    That gyro looks sooo good, friend! I’m anxious to try it!

  48. Avatar photo
    Amanda | The Chunky Chef

    I’m so going to have to make these for my brother… he’s a Greek gyro fanatic!






  49. Avatar photo
    Heather Kinnaird

    sick kids is NO fun at all, I remember my “first “like it was yesterday, YUCK, but this meatball gyro is yum for sure. LOVE that sauce

    1. Agreed! It just breaks your heart not being able to take it away.

      Woohoo for tasty gyros with tzatziki sauce though. 🙂