Best 8 Beef Gyro Recipes

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**Beef Gyro: A Culinary Journey into Mediterranean Delights**

Embark on a culinary adventure with the enticing flavors of the beef gyro, a delectable dish that seamlessly blends the rich traditions of Greece and the Middle East. Picture tender slices of seasoned beef, expertly grilled and nestled within warm, fluffy pita bread. The symphony of flavors continues with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and thinly sliced onions, each adding a layer of texture and freshness. A drizzle of tangy tzatziki sauce brings it all together, creating a harmonious balance of tangy, creamy, and savory notes.

This comprehensive guide offers a collection of beef gyro recipes, each promising a unique taste experience. From the classic Greek version to modern fusion takes, these recipes cater to every palate and skill level. Discover the secrets to creating the perfect gyro meat, with detailed instructions and tips for achieving that mouthwatering char. Learn how to make authentic tzatziki sauce from scratch, ensuring a creamy and flavorful condiment that elevates the entire dish.

Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, these beef gyro recipes will guide you through every step of the process. Indulge in the authentic flavors of Greece and the Middle East, right in your own kitchen. Gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and let's embark on this delicious adventure together.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

BEEF GYRO



Beef Gyro image

Gyros is a Greek dish consisting of meat, tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce and is served with pita bread. YUM!

Provided by jennifer_russell

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Greek

Time 20m

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 (8 ounce) containers plain yogurt
2 cucumbers - peeled, seeded, and diced
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
½ lemon, juiced
3 cloves garlic, peeled
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (1 pound) beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin strips
5 pita bread rounds
1 tomato, chopped
½ small onion, thinly sliced
1 (4 ounce) package crumbled feta cheese
½ cup shredded lettuce
1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained

Steps:

  • Blend yogurt, cucumbers, 2 tablespoons olive oil, dill, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender until tzatziki sauce is evenly combined.
  • Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir beef in the hot oil until no longer pink, 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Layer half of each pita with steak, tomato, onion, feta cheese, lettuce, olives, and tzatziki sauce. Bring edge of each pita over the filling and secure with a toothpick.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 496.7 calories, Carbohydrate 41.5 g, Cholesterol 74 mg, Fat 24.1 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 28.9 g, SaturatedFat 8.7 g, Sodium 732.5 mg, Sugar 9 g

STEAK GYROS WITH TZATZIKI CUCUMBER SAUCE



Steak Gyros with Tzatziki Cucumber Sauce image

Easy and tasty flank steak gyros with tzatziki cucumber sauce are bursting with hearty flavor. A simple marinade and quick-sear yields super juicy and flavorful beef for the best homemade gyros!

Provided by Tiffany

Categories     Main Course

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 pound flank steak
⅓ cup olive oil
3 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons dried oregano (or 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano)
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
juice of ½ lemon (plus additional wedges for squeezing)
4 white or wheat pitas
½ red onion (thinly sliced)
1 tomato (thinly sliced)
romaine lettuce
1 medium cucumber + ½ teaspoon salt (peeled and sliced )
2 cups cold plain Greek yogurt
4 teaspoons minced garlic
⅓ cup chopped dill (fresh or frozen, (may sub 2 tablespoons dried dill))
1 ½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
⅛ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

Steps:

  • Place steak, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and juice from 1/2 lemon in a large resealable bag. Press excess air out and seal bag. Refrigerate for 1-8 hours.
  • Spread cucumber slices out on a paper towel. Sprinkle generously with salt on both sides and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Wrap cucumber slices in paper towels, squeeze excess liquid out, and transfer to a food processor or blender.
  • Add remaining sauce ingredients to blender and pulse until smooth and creamy. Cover and chill until ready to use.
  • Preheat grill, grill pan, or cast iron skillet, to medium-high heat. Use tongs to transfer steak to grill and discard excess marinade. Cook steak for 6-8 minutes on each side until desired doneness (I recommend leaving just a hint of pink in the center for super juicy, tender meat with lots of flavor!)
  • Transfer steak to a cutting board and allow meat to rest for a few minutes before slicing very thinly across the grain.
  • Assemble gyros with lettuce, sliced onions and cucumbers, and steak. Drizzle with tzatziki sauce, top with black pepper and fresh squeezed lemon and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 427 kcal, Carbohydrate 10 g, Protein 37 g, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Sodium 983 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving

GYRO MEAT WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE



Gyro Meat with Tzatziki Sauce image

Follow Alton Brown's Food Network recipe to make Gyro Meat with Tzatziki Sauce at home; the creamy cucumber-yogurt sauce goes perfectly with ground lamb.

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h45m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 medium onion, finely chopped or shredded
2 pounds ground lamb
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon dried ground rosemary
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Tzatziki Sauce, recipe follows
16 ounces plain yogurt
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
Pinch kosher salt
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
5 to 6 mint leaves, finely minced

Steps:

  • Process the onion in a food processor for 10 to 15 seconds and turn out into the center of a tea towel. Gather up the ends of the towel and squeeze until almost all of the juice is removed. Discard juice.
  • Return the onion to the food processor and add the lamb, garlic, marjoram, rosemary, salt, and pepper and process until it is a fine paste, approximately 1 minute. Stop the processor as needed to scrape down sides of bowl.
  • To cook in the oven as a meatloaf, proceed as follows:
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  • Place the mixture into a loaf pan, making sure to press into the sides of the pan. Place the loaf pan into a water bath and bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until the mixture reaches 165 to 170 degrees F. Remove from the oven and drain off any fat. Place the loaf pan on a cooling rack and place a brick wrapped in aluminum foil directly on the surface of the meat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees F. Slice and serve on pita bread with tzatziki sauce, chopped onion, tomatoes and feta cheese.
  • To cook on a rotisserie, proceed as follows:
  • Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape and place on top of 2 overlapping pieces of plastic wrap that are at least 18 inches long. Roll the mixture in the plastic wrap tightly, making sure to remove any air pockets. Once the meat is completely rolled in the wrap, twist the ends of the plastic wrap until the surface of the wrap is tight. Store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to overnight, to allow the mixture to firm up.
  • Preheat the grill to high.
  • Place the meat onto the rotisserie skewer. Place a double-thick piece of aluminum foil folded into a tray directly under the meat to catch any drippings. Cook on high for 15 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium and continue to cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165 degrees F. Turn off the heat and allow to continue to spin for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees. Slice and serve on pita bread with tzatziki sauce, chopped onion, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
  • Place the yogurt in a tea towel, gather up the edges, suspend over a bowl, and drain for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
  • Place the chopped cucumber in a tea towel and squeeze to remove the liquid; discard liquid. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the drained yogurt, cucumber, salt, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and mint. Serve as a sauce for gyros. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
  • Yield: 1 1/2 cups

BEEF GYROS



Beef Gyros image

Going out to restaurants got to be expensive for our family, so I came up with this homemade beef gyro. Usually, I set out the fixings so everyone can assemble their own. My husband and our two busy teens request them often. -Sheri Scheerhorn, Hills, Minnesota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 5 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup chopped seeded peeled cucumber
1 pound beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin strips
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 whole pita breads, warmed
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
2-1/2 cups shredded lettuce

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine salad dressing and cucumber; set aside. In a large skillet, cook beef in oil over medium heat until no longer pink. , Layer half of each pita with steak, tomato, olives, onion, cheese, lettuce and dressing mixture. Fold each pita over filling; secure with toothpicks.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 654 calories, Fat 41g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 57mg cholesterol, Sodium 1086mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 30g protein.

GROUND BEEF GYROS



Ground Beef Gyros image

If your family likes gyros as much as mine, they'll love this easy version that's made with ground beef instead of lamb. I found the recipe in a newspaper and adapted it to fit our tastes. They're very much like the ones served at a local restaurant. A cucumber yogurt sauce adds an authentic finishing touch. -Ruth Stahl, Shepherd, Montana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup chopped seeded cucumber
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
GYROS:
1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt, optional
3/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound ground beef
4 pita pocket halves
3 cups shredded lettuce
1 large tomato, chopped
1 small onion, sliced

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Chill. In a large bowl, combine seasonings; crumble beef over mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 4 patties. , Grill, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 6-7 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160°. Cut patties into thin slices; stuff into pita halves. Add lettuce, tomato and onion. Serve with the yogurt sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 357 calories, Fat 16g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 78mg cholesterol, Sodium 257mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 26g protein.

MARINATED BEEF GYROS



Marinated Beef Gyros image

"I came across this Greek-style recipe many years ago. When I changed a couple of ingredients, I knew I had a tasty and good-for-you meal," writes Didi Trowbridge of Wilkesport, Ontario.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 20m

Yield 5 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/2 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
1 pound beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin strips
2/3 cup reduced-fat cucumber ranch salad dressing
1 teaspoon sugar
5 whole pita breads, warmed
2 cups chopped lettuce
1 cup chopped tomato
1 small cucumber, peeled and sliced
1 small red onion, sliced

Steps:

  • In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first six ingredients; add beef. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for up to 24 hours., In a small bowl, combine salad dressing and sugar; refrigerate until serving. Drain and discard marinade. , In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, saute beef for 3-4 minutes or until no longer pink. Serve on pitas with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion; drizzle with dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 396 calories, Fat 14g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 51mg cholesterol, Sodium 1046mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 24g protein.

FAVORITE MEAT LOAF GYROS



Favorite Meat Loaf Gyros image

This is definitely a different gyro meat recipe, yet it is so good! I slice leftover meat in individual portions and freeze for any time I crave a gyro. -Sharon Rawlings, Tampa, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 large egg, lightly beaten
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons dried oregano
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 pound ground lamb
1 pound ground beef
TZATZIKI SAUCE:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
GYROS:
8 whole pita breads
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
16 slices tomato
8 slices sweet onion, halved

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the egg, garlic, oregano, kosher salt and pepper. Crumble lamb and beef over mixture; mix well. , Pat into an ungreased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 60-70 minutes or until no pink remains and a thermometer reads 160°. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours., For sauce, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until serving. , Brush pita breads with 1 tablespoon oil; heat on a lightly greased griddle for 1 minute on each side. Keep warm. Cut meat loaf into very thin slices. In a large skillet, fry meat loaf in remaining oil in batches until crisp. , On each pita bread, layer the tomato, onion and meat loaf slices; top with some tzatziki sauce. Carefully fold pitas in half. Serve with remaining sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 475 calories, Fat 22g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 100mg cholesterol, Sodium 918mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 28g protein.

TRADITIONAL GYRO MEAT



Traditional Gyro Meat image

This Greek/Lebanese style meatloaf is sliced and served with pita bread, tzatziki, and tomatoes for a delicious gyro that is the closest I've come to emulating my favorite Mediterranean restaurant. The preparation time seems long, but most of it is resting time, so you can be doing other stuff! You can substitute pork or chicken for the ground lamb and beef if you prefer.

Provided by The Dread Pirate Paramour

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Lamb     Ground

Time 2h

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 11

½ onion, cut into chunks
1 pound ground lamb
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon ground dried rosemary
1 teaspoon ground dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Steps:

  • Place the onion in a food processor, and process until finely chopped. Scoop the onions onto the center of a towel, gather up the ends of the towel, and squeeze out the liquid from the onions. Place the onions into a mixing bowl along with the lamb and beef. Season with the garlic, oregano, cumin, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, black pepper, and salt. Mix well with your hands until well combined. Cover, and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Place the meat mixture into the food processor, and pulse for about a minute until finely chopped and the mixture feels tacky. Pack the meat mixture into a 7x4 inch loaf pan, making sure there are no air pockets. Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place the loaf pan on the towel, inside the roasting pan, and place into the preheated oven. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the loaf pan.
  • Bake until the gyro meat is no longer pink in the center, and the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) on a meat thermometer, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Pour off any accumulated fat, and allow to cool slightly before slicing thinly and serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 179.1 calories, Carbohydrate 1.9 g, Cholesterol 58.7 mg, Fat 11.7 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 15.7 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 96.7 mg, Sugar 0.5 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of beef: Chuck roast or flank steak are great options for gyros, as they are flavorful and relatively inexpensive.
  • Marinate the beef: Marinating the beef in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, and thyme helps tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor.
  • Cook the beef properly: Beef for gyros should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare, or 160 degrees Fahrenheit for medium.
  • Slice the beef thinly: Thinly sliced beef is essential for gyros, as it makes them easier to eat and more enjoyable.
  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will directly impact the taste of your gyros, so be sure to use fresh, high-quality ingredients whenever possible.

Conclusion:

Beef gyros are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or even as a snack. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily make beef gyros at home that are just as good as, if not better than, the ones you get from your favorite Greek restaurant. So next time you're craving gyros, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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