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25 Minute Tzatziki Gyro Rice Bowls – street food inspired! These bowls are made using ground lamb (or beef/chicken) and served over bowls of rice with fresh pitas and all the “extras”. Add delicious creamy tzatziki sauce, homemade lemon harissa, and all of the desired toppings you love. This Greek-inspired loaded gyro bowl is SO GOOD. It’s a quick, fun, delicious, and different weeknight meal that’s perfect any night of the week. Serve with homemade fries + ketchup to complete!
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I’ve been so excited to share this recipe. It’s early in the month, but I can see this being one of my personal favorites for February!
I read a quote the other week that said something like “making simple things actually takes the most time”. That’s not the quote exactly, but the meaning behind it was that creating something that’s meant to be simple actually takes a lot of time and effort. I’ve found this to be so true for my recipe development process. The simplest recipe can take the most time to create because making delicious, fast, and easy recipes is such a challenge!
But they’re worth it in the end! When the final tested recipe is easy, simple, and quick, it’s just what we’re all looking for!
It took a while to create this recipe. I’m not sure why it took me so long to embrace the idea of using ground lamb to create a gyro bowl. But I started out with a recipe that was much more time-intensive, so I’m so happy this worked out!
These bowls are fast to make, and they don’t lack flavor, so delicious! My oldest brother, Creighton, has now said that this might be his favorite meal. He was very excited I was using lamb!
Ok, let’s talk about the details
Ingredients – for the meat
- Ground lamb – while lamb is a traditional gyro meat, you could also use ground beef or chicken. I think they all would work great!
- Yellow onion
- Salted butter
- Garlic
- Paprika – you can use sweet or smoked paprika, but we prefer smoked
- Cumin
- Dried oregano
- Dried thyme
- Chipotle chili powder
- Freshly cooked hot rice
For serving (these are all optional, use what you love most
- Shredded lettuce
- Pickled red onions
- Fresh chopped herbs – we like cilantro, dill, and parsley
- Tzatziki sauce – I make mine at home, but Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods both have great in-store Tzatziki sauces
Ingredients – for the harissa sauce
- Red harissa
- Melted butter
- Lemon juice
- Paprika
- Chili flakes
Special Tools
Nothing much is needed here, just a skillet to cook the meat and a bowl to mix the sauce.
Steps
Step 1: cook the meat
This is as simple as making ground beef tacos. Cook the meat, lamb, beef, chicken – whatever you love most – together with an onion. Start browning the meat, then add some butter, garlic, and the dry seasonings: paprika, cumin, oregano, and thyme. Then season everything with salt.
Now add a little water to help keep the meat from getting too dry and cook until the water has mostly cooked out of the skillet.
At this point, the meat is ready.
Step 2: make the lemon harissa sauce
For this, you need red harissa sauce, melted butter, lemon juice, paprika, chili flakes, and some salt. Mix everything together. This is the harissa sauce.
Step 3: gather the toppings
This is where most of your time will be spent because there is some chopping. I love to add lettuce and lots of fresh herbs, and sometimes I’ll do pickled red onions. Then always Tzatziki sauce. My family loves Tzatziki!
Step 4: creating the bowls
I like to start with a warm piece of naan. You can also use traditional pita bread. I then spoon some rice over the naan. Next, I add the meats and all of the toppings and sauces!
The bowls come out looking so colorful and fresh!
My favorite is to add some fries on the side! You don’t have to make them, but they sure make dinner even more delicious!
Looking for other easy dinners? Here are some favorites:
Easy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes
30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken
Sheet Pan Sticky Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sheet Pan Chicken Gyros with Feta Tzatziki
Lastly, if you make these 25 Minute Tzatziki Gyro Rice Bowls, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
25 Minute Tzatziki Gyro Rice Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb, beef, or chicken
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sweet/smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- salt
- 6 fresh pitas or naan, warmed
- 3-4 cups cooked rice
- pickled red onion, lettuce, and fresh herbs for serving
- Tzatziki, for serving
Lemon Harrisa
- 1/2 cup red harissa sauce
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- chili flakes
Instructions
- 1. In a large skillet, combine the ground meat and onions. Cook over medium heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the butter, garlic, paprika, cumin, oregano, thyme, and salt. Pour over 1/2 cup water. Cook for 2-5 minutes, until the water has cooked out. 2. Meanwhile, make the Harissa sauce. In a bowl, mix the harissa, melted butter, lemon juice, and paprika. Season with chili flakes and salt. 3. Arrange the warm pitas in a bowl. Spoon over some rice, add a couple spoonful of meat, then top with lettuce, herbs, onions, and lots of Tzatziki. Add the harissa sauce to taste. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Fyi this recipe is not 25 minutes unless you have the rice cooked and are using store bought pita and tzatziki. Would you consider doing future recipes including accurate prep time for all steps, not just the main one of cooking the meat?
Hi Sara,
Thanks for sharing your feedback. This recipe took me 25 minutes to make, as always it depends on each and every cook. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xx
Why do you suggest having fries with ketchup on the side? Seems odd lol
Hi Kelly,
You do not have to have fries on the side, it’s just what my family enjoys:) Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
FYI fries are traditionally served in Greece with gyros (pita sandwiches) so totally makes sense here
I’m in Canada and tried to print, no issues at all. I was not asked for a postal code/zip code or to join/create a Jupiter account. It could be a setting you have with your computer/browser, or you could be clicking on an ad.
Hey there,
Thanks so much for sharing this! We got the issue all sorted out, so I am glad you didn’t have any issues:) xT
I do not have a zip code as I live in Canada to print your recipes anymore. I have bought all your cookbooks and get your weekly recipes to my inbox.
Am I no longer able to print? How disappointing.
Hi Donna,
So sorry to hear you are having issues printing. I just tested printing this recipe myself and didn’t have any issues. You do not need to enter a zip code. Maybe is has something to do with being in Canada? I can’t say for sure as I am not there, but I am so sorry for any frustrations. Please let me know if I can help in any other way. We are working to figure out why this might be happening for you. xx
Three options if the print option button in the recipe doesn’t work: one, use the Print option in your web browser. You may need to adjust what pages are printed so it’s just the recipe and not all the intro text and pictures and comments. Two, copy and paste the recipe to Word or other similar program and print from there. Three, take a screenshot of the recipe or use a image snipping tool, paste the picture into Paint or other similar image editing program and print from there.
Hi Donna. I tried highlighting the text for the recipe and copying it into a word document. It worked. I’ve never seen the Jupiter pop-up before.
These look really good – would definitely try them with chicken.
Thanks so much, Aline! Let me know if you give the recipe a try! xx
Why can’t I just print recipes anymore? I need a zip code or a Jupiter account now? I’m in Canada, I have all your cook books and love them but this is frustrating. I don’t need more accounts and other nonsense. Don’t like this at all.
Hi Jarmila,
So sorry to hear you are having issues printing. I just tested this recipe myself and didn’t have any issues. You do not need to enter a zip code or have an account. Maybe is has something to do with being in Canada? I can’t say for sure as I am not there, but I am so sorry for any frustrations. Please let me know if I can help in any other way. xx
Ma’am, that is chicken wrapped in naan.
Is the rice in the room with us??
Hey Amber,
So sorry about that! I accidentally posted the wrong set of photos this morning, it’s all correct now. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xx
What makes this “street food inspired”? Have you visited the Mediterranean and ate this?
The recipe says ground meat, but what’s in the pictures is not ground meat.
Hey Hannah,
My apologies, the wrong photos were posted, I corrected them now:) I used ground meat for this dish. I hope you have a great week! xxT
Can’t wait to try this! Thanks for posting a lamb-based recipe. Keep them coming! My family has a regenerative farm in Pennsylvania, and lamb is one of our products. Would love to see lamb recipes more often!
Thanks so much, Katie! That is so cool, I hope you love this recipe! Let me know if you give it a try:) xx
Are these pictures for a different recipe? Recipe says to use ground meat and cook in a skillet with onions, but the pictures show cut up chicken on a sheet pan. You also say to put the pita it in a bowl, fill with rice and meat, but the pictures are all of gyros with no rice and they are not bowls.
Hi Jordan,
Yes, you are right…I accidentally posted the wrong set of photos. The correct ones are up now and match the recipe:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Okay I’m confused! You say to cook the ground lamb on a skillet, but from your photos it looks like you baked it on a sheet pan.. and that doesn’t look like ground meat? And are those sesame seeds on the fries? I don’t see that in the ingredient list! I love the idea of this recipe, so please clarify!
Hey Chloe,
I am so sorry for any confusion here! I posted the wrong set of photos, the correct ones are posted now:) Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xxT
Hi, the photos look delicious, I am wondering though why they show pieces of meat rather than ground meat? I think I would prefer a version with meat pieces rather than the ground meat version.
Thanks Elisabeth:) I accidentally posted the wrong set of photos, the correct ones are up now with ground meat! Have a great day! xx
Sounds tasty – but the pictures don’t match the write up/recipe. Pictured is chicken on a sheet pan, not ground lamb in a skillet, and the final product is wraps with sweet potato fries. Looks good though!
Hey Leah,
You are totally correct, I posted the wrong set of photos. So sorry!! The photos are correct now:) Have a great week! xT
hello Tieghan,
I see sweet potato on the majority of your pictures but no mention of it in the recipe?
Dis you replace the rice with the potatoes?
Thanx!
Hey Gwen,
I am so sorry about that! I posted the wrong set of photos this morning, the photos now are the correct ones for this recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Hi Tiegan, one thing I’m confused by is that the picture seems to show pieces of meat (looks like chicken) rather than ground meat, which I believe is what we in the UK call minced meat, like you’d use for bolognese or lasagne?
Hey Lisa,
So sorry for any confusion here! I posted the wrong set of photos…you are going to use ground meat for this recipe. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx