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Gyro Meat

September 5, 2024

If you have a loaf pan, you can make the most juicy, deliciously flavorful gyro meat at home — no rotisserie needed!

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Homemade gyro meat sliced on a platter with cucumbers, feta, tomatoes, onions

A Flavorful, Juicy Gyro Meat Recipe

Traditionally cooked on a vertical rotisserie, gyro meat is a juicy, extremely flavorful cone-of-meat (usually lamb, or lamb and beef) that’s seasoned with salt, herbs and spices and then sliced to order. Our gyro meat recipe is all about classic Greek seasonings and the magical flavor-bursting sharpness of grated onion. Once the meat is seasoned, you’ll bake it in a loaf pan (no vertical rotisseries required!). Perfect for meal prepping or freezing, serve it in pita topped with Greek Tzatziki Sauce or Muhammara alongside a fresh Mediterranean Wedge Salad, or make a healthy Gyro Bowl by serving it over bright Lemon Rice. For more Greek meal inspo, try our Greek Grilled Chicken with Salad or Chicken Gyros!

ground lamb and ground beef on parchment paper, a plate of spices, onion cut into quarters, garlic and olive oil

Homemade Gyro Meat Ingredients

  • Ground lamb

  • Ground beef

  • Onion

  • Gyro meat seasonings: garlic, oregano, cumin, garlic powder, thyme, marjoram

  • Salt & pepper

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

onion being diced in the base of a food processor
grated onions in a thin kitchen towel over a colander
spices, ground beef, ground lamb, grated onions in a bowl for homemade gyro meat.
homemade gyro meat ingredients mixed together in a bowl

How To Make Gyro Meat At Home

  1. Grate an onion. You can do this with a box grater, but it will be much easier in a food processor. Wrap the grated onion in a kitchen towel and squeeze out as much of the liquid as you possibly can.

  2. Mix the onion with the lamb, beef and all of the gyro meat seasonings.

  3. Time to use that food processor again! Our gyro meat recipe gets the classic gyro meat texture by mixing the meat mixture in a food processor until it looks like a coarse paste. Processing it like this also helps the meat to bind together into a sliceable loaf.

  4. Press the gyro meat mixture into a loaf pan.

  5. Bake your gyro meat! It’ll take about an hour for it to reach 165° F on an instant-read thermometer. When it does, the gyro meat is done!

  6. Cool, slice and enjoy! Serve with Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower, a Greek-inspired Cucumber Salad, Whipped Feta Dip and a hearty Antipasto Salad.
Homemade gyro meat in the base of a food processor made with ground beef, ground lamb, minced onion and spices
Homemade gyro meat in a loaf pan made with ground beef, ground lamb, minced onion and spices
Homemade baked gyro meat in a loaf pan made with ground beef, ground lamb, minced onion and spices
homemade gyro meat made with ground beef, ground lamb, minced onion and spices being sliced on a cutting board

How To Freeze Gyro Meat

  • Cool the baked loaf completely.

  • Wrap it tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap.

  • Label it clearly with the date.

  • Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

  • To defrost and serve: Defrost the loaf of gyro meat in the fridge for 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve it, slice the meat and pan-fry it until crispy.

Homemade gyro meat sliced on a platter with cucumbers, feta, tomatoes, onions

Tips For The Best Gyro Meat

  • Let the gyro meat cool completely before you slice it.

  • Leftover gyro meat will be delicious! You can keep it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

  • The gyro meat will release some excess juices as it bakes. To make the gyro meat extra delicious, pan-fry the sliced meat until crispy in those excess pan juices before serving. Yum!

Homemade gyro meat sliced on a platter with cucumbers, feta, tomatoes, onions
Homemade gyro meat sliced on a platter with cucumbers, feta, tomatoes, onions

Zero to Gyro!

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Gyro Meat

  • Serves:  8
  • Prep Time:  20 min
  • Cook Time:  1 hr
  • Calories:  252

Ingredients

  • ½ yellow onion, grated
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground thyme
  • ½ tablespoon ground marjoram
  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center position.

    ground lamb and ground beef on parchment paper, a plate of spices, onion cut into quarters, garlic and olive oil
  2. Place the onion in the center of a clean kitchen towel and wring it out. Transfer the onion to a large bowl and add the lamb, beef, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, garlic powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mix well with wet hands.

    spices, ground beef, ground lamb, grated onions in a bowl for homemade gyro meat.
  3. Transfer the meat mixture to the base of a food processor and pulse until a paste forms, about 2 minutes.

    Homemade gyro meat in the base of a food processor made with ground beef, ground lamb, minced onion and spices
  4. Press the meat mixture firmly into a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Bake until the internal temperature reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 50-60 minutes.

    Homemade gyro meat in a loaf pan made with ground beef, ground lamb, minced onion and spices
  5. Let the meat cool for 20-30 minutes, then slice very thinly.

    homemade gyro meat made with ground beef, ground lamb, minced onion and spices being sliced on a cutting board

Notes

Want extra crispy gyro meat? Heat a little of the reserved pan juices in a large skillet over medium heat, then fry the meat slices until crispy.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories 252
  • Protein 23 g
  • Carbohydrates 3 g
  • Total Fat 17 g
  • Dietary Fiber 1 g
  • Cholesterol 35 mg
  • sodium 209 mg
  • Total Sugars 0 g

Gyro Meat

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • Tom

    If you eliminate the beef will the mixture turn out ok?

    You will need to replace it with more lamb.

  • Lisa

    Could this be done in the pressure cooker somehow?

    Not sure. I assume it can, but I'd have to play around with it, because pressure cookers create a lot of moisture.

  • A

    Do you think I can prep in the morning, place in the fridge and cook later in the day?

    Sure!

  • Tasnima

    Usually which part of the meat do you need to make gyro meat?

    Our recipe uses a mixture of ground lamb and ground beef.

  • Bernie

    It didn't say how to assemble in the peta bread..how to serve

    We have a gyro bowl recipe using this meat or if you want it in the pita you can just layer the gyro meat, hummus, tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, and feta cheese on a large pita bread. Hope you enjoy Bernie!

  • Almeera

    I just love this recipe thanks so much..

    Thanks Almeera, we are so glad you love it!

  • Jason

    Solid recipe. Great flavor. Pretty spot on really. For not having a standing spit roaster, the oven did a great job.

    Thanks Jason, so happy you enjoyed it!

  • Megan

    I like the flavor but it seems to be missing something savory to me. Perhaps after it sits for a day it will have a better flavor.

    Thanks Megan! Glad you liked it!

  • Sherrie

    Absolutely the best recipe! We are so critical going out to eat greek and I came upon this recipe and it's authentically crazy awesome! Thankyou!

    Oh my goodness! That's the best news. Thanks for the review. Glad you liked it.

  • Cheryl

    OMG. This recipe is the best. Made it for my family - Our house is now the best Greek restaurant in town!!! Thank you! Cheryl

    Yay! That is wonderful to hear!