How to Make Venison Gyros at Home with Tzatziki Sauce

Learn How to Make Gyros at Home with Tzatziki Sauce. This Venison Gyros Recipe is quick and simple and comes together in just 30 minutes.

Gyros At Home

If you’ve ever tried a gyro (pronounced “YEE-roh,” not “JAI-roh” - you’re welcome for saving you from a Greek tragedy), you know how magical this handheld delight can be.

The combination of amazingly delicious gyro meat, fresh veggies, and creamy tzatziki sauce wrapped in warm pita bread is hard to beat. And here’s the best part: you don’t need to hunt down a Greek restaurant to enjoy it. Although, if you're ever in Fargo be sure and visit GP's Greek Kitchen.

If you happen to be a waterfowl hunter and have some duck or geese in your freezer, than you should also check out my recipe for Greek Nachos!

Today, I’ll show you how to make gyros at home using ground venison, a lean and healthy alternative that’s perfect for busy families looking for a quick, wholesome dinner.

A Brief Dive Into Greek Cuisine

Gyros are a staple of Greek street food, traditionally made with stacked, marinated meats cooked on a vertical rotisserie. The word “gyro” means “turn” in Greek, referencing the spinning rotisserie. While lamb and pork are common gyro meats in Greece, you’ll also find chicken and beef variations around the world. Making gyros at home is simpler than you think, especially with ground venison - no rotisserie required!

And if you’ve ever wondered how gyros differ from shawarma, here’s the scoop: shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish featuring similar stacked meat but with different seasonings like turmeric and cardamom. Both are delicious, but gyros boast that unique Mediterranean flair thanks to herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano.

Why Choose Venison For This Gyro Meat Recipe?

Venison is a fantastic choice for making gyros at home. It’s lean, healthy, and packed with more protein than beef, and has a great flavor that pairs beautifully with classic gyro spices. Plus, ground venison cooks quickly, making it a lifesaver for weeknight dinners.

Instead of forming the venison into a mini meatloaf like most gryo recipes have you do, I just browned the meat like you would for tacos. A faster and simpler version of homemade gyros, and it tastes the same as a traditional Greek gyro recipe.

Ingredients You'll Need for Gyros At Home

Ready to learn how to make gyros at home? Let’s dive into this easy and delicious recipe.

Tzatziki Sauce:

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup cucumber, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 4 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped

Gyro Meat and Vegetables:

• 8 ounces ground venison
• 1 teaspoon Za’atar seasoning
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• 4 pocketless pitas
• 1 large tomato, sliced
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup cucumber, seeded and finely chopped

How To Make Gyros At Home

Step 1: Make the Tzatziki Sauce
In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, olive oil, ¼ cup diced cucumber, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, and mint leaves. Stir until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. This step can be done a day ahead of time if you’re planning ahead.

Step 2: Cook the Venison
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground venison and cook until fully browned, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks.

Once the meat is cooked, remove from heat and stir in Za’atar seasoning, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, thyme, and cumin.

Step 3: Warm the Pitas
Using the same skillet, warm each pita for about one minute on each side. This helps soften the bread and brings out its natural flavor.

Step 4: Assemble the Gyros
Lay a warm pita flat on a plate. Spread a generous amount of tzatziki sauce on the pita. Add a portion of the seasoned venison, followed by sliced tomato, red onion, and the remaining diced cucumber. Top with more tzatziki sauce if desired. Repeat with the remaining pitas and serve immediately.

Tips For Success

• Prep in Advance: Tzatziki sauce tastes even better after resting in the fridge for an hour or two, giving the flavors time to meld.
• Customize Your Veggies: If your kids aren’t fans of tomatoes or cucumbers, swap them out for shredded lettuce or bell peppers.
• Experiment with Spices: Don’t have Za’atar seasoning on hand? A mix of oregano, thyme, paprika, and sesame seeds makes a great substitute.

Why This Gyro Recipe Is Kid-Friendly

As a parent of a 9-year-old daughter, I know how important it is to find meals that are both nutritious and kid-approved. And this venison gyros recipe was most definitely tested and approved by our daughter. Both she and my wife love them!

The seasoned ground venison is mild enough for most picky eaters. And if you’re trying to get your kids to eat more veggies, this gyro recipe does the trick by sneaking fresh tomatoes and cucumbers into every bite. Plus, it’s a fun, interactive meal. Let your kids assemble their own venison gyros and watch them devour every bite.

Venison Gyros

Learning how to make gyros at home will help out when you are trying to save money and go out to eat less often. This is especially true when you have a freezer stocked with venison.

This venison gryo recipe brings the flavors of Greece straight to your kitchen, offering a healthy, delicious meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes. Whether you’re introducing your family to Greek cuisine for the first time, or simply looking for a new way to enjoy ground venison, these venison gyros are sure to be a hit.

Don’t forget to share your creations and tag us on social media - we love seeing how you bring our recipes to life. Kali orexi! (That’s Greek for “enjoy your meal.”)

More Venison Recipes

I have a delicious and easy-to-make Shawarma Spiced Deer Shank Recipe and a Venison Steak Souvlaki with Tzatziki Sauce Recipe if you want to try another venison recipe with pita bread.

I hope you and your family now know how to pronounce gyro and that you enjoy this venison gyro recipe. It's one of our family's favorite ways to use more venison!

If you are looking for another great venison sandwich, check out my Venison Banh Mi Vietnamese Sandwich.

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DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE

If you learn how to make gyros at home and make this Venison Gyros Recipe, tag @wildgameandfish so I can share it on my Instagram stories.

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