Some of my favorite food memories involve a warm, messy gyro from a street cart, loaded with savory chicken and creamy sauce. But recreating that magic at home? It always felt like a project I just didn’t have time for on a busy weeknight. Then I discovered the genius of the sheet pan.
This is how you get all those classic, vibrant gyro flavors—the zesty lemon-herb chicken, the crispy chickpeas, the cool yogurt sauce—with about ten minutes of active work and only one pan to wash. It’s my absolute favorite Mediterranean diet chicken recipe because it feels like a total indulgence but is secretly, effortlessly wholesome.
Why This is My Go-To Mediterranean Diet Chicken Recipe
When a recipe is this good and this easy, you know it’s a keeper. These gyros check all the boxes for a perfect weeknight meal that you can feel great about serving.
- A One-Pan Wonder: Cleanup is an absolute breeze! The chicken and chickpeas roast together on a single pan, which means fewer dishes and more time to enjoy your evening. This is the beauty of a great sheet pan Mediterranean chicken and vegetables meal.
- Bursting with Fresh Flavor: The marinade does all the heavy lifting here, infusing the chicken with bright, zesty flavor from the lemon, garlic, and oregano. It tastes like sunshine on a plate!
- Healthy & Heartfelt: This meal is packed with lean protein, fiber-rich chickpeas, and heart-healthy fats from extra virgin olive oil. It’s a dish that loves you back.
- Perfectly Balanced: With protein, veggies, and whole grains all in one wrap, it’s a complete and satisfying meal that will keep you full and energized for hours.
The Fresh Flavors That Make This Dish Shine
The magic of Mediterranean cooking lies in using high-quality ingredients and letting them sing. While every component here plays a part, a couple of them are true superstars of the dish and the diet.
Liquid Gold: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
If there’s one ingredient that defines Mediterranean cooking, it’s a good bottle of extra virgin olive oil. We use it here to add richness to the marinade and help the chickpeas get beautifully crisp. It’s packed with healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, making it a cornerstone of a heart-healthy lifestyle.
The Humble Powerhouse: Chickpeas
I love adding chickpeas to my meals for a boost of plant-based protein and fiber. Roasting them on the sheet pan alongside the chicken gives them a fantastic, slightly crispy texture that’s an amazing contrast to the tender chicken. They make this lemon herb chicken with chickpeas dish extra satisfying and nourishing.
How to Build the Perfect Mediterranean Plate
While these gyros are a fantastic all-in-one meal, I sometimes like to serve them with a simple side to round out the plate, especially if we have guests.
All you need is a crisp side salad. I usually toss together some chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, and a few extra cucumber slices with a light lemon vinaigrette. It adds a bit of extra freshness and makes the whole meal feel like a beautiful, leisurely feast. Many classic Greek diet recipes follow this model of a standout main with simple, fresh sides.
Okay, are you ready to see just how easy it is to bring these incredible flavors to your own kitchen? Let’s get cooking!
Sheet-Pan Lemon Herb Chicken & Chickpea Gyros
Ingredients
For the Lemon-Herb Chicken & Chickpeas:
- 1 ½ cups plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 large lemon zested and juiced (about ¼ cup juice)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
- 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry
For the Dill-Cucumber Yogurt Sauce:
- 1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- ½ English cucumber finely grated and squeezed of excess water
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
For Assembly:
- 6 large 6-inch 100% whole-wheat pita breads
- 2 Roma tomatoes thinly sliced
- 1 large red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives halved
- 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the non-fat Greek yogurt, lemon zest and juice, 2 tablespoons of the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, black pepper, and optional cayenne.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken strips to the bowl with the marinade, tossing thoroughly to ensure every piece is coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Prep the Sheet Pan: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a separate small bowl, toss the rinsed and dried chickpeas with the remaining 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Spread the marinated chicken strips in a single layer on one side of a large, rimmed baking sheet. Spread the oiled chickpeas on the other side.
- Roast the Chicken and Chickpeas: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping the chicken strips halfway through. The chicken is done when it's cooked through and lightly browned (internal temperature of 165°F / 74°C), and the chickpeas are slightly crisped.
- Make the Sauce: While the chicken roasts, prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for the Dill-Cucumber Yogurt Sauce: yogurt, grated cucumber, fresh dill, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth, then stir in the olive oil.
- Assemble the Gyros: Warm the whole-wheat pitas in the oven for the last 1-2 minutes of cooking or warm them in a dry skillet. To assemble, lay a warm pita flat, spread a generous layer of the yogurt sauce down the middle, top with several strips of roasted chicken, a spoonful of crispy chickpeas, and finish with sliced tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, and shredded lettuce. Fold and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Information
(per gyro)- Calories: 654 kcal
- Protein: 69 g
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Total Sugars: 6 g (0 g added)
- Sodium: 610 mg
A Delicious Path to Healthy Eating
I truly believe that the best way to stick to a healthy lifestyle is to find food you genuinely love to eat, and this recipe is proof that you never have to choose between healthy and delicious. It’s all about celebrating fresh, wonderful ingredients. I hope you and your family love this Mediterranean diet chicken recipe as much as we do.
Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think in the comments below!
