How to Make Homemade Gyro Meat! (With ground lamb or ground beef, your choice!)
How to Make Homemade Gyro Meat! (With ground lamb or ground beef, your choice!) is a medium Greek recipe that serves 4. 350 calories per serving. Recipe by Pinch and Swirl on YouTube.
Prep: 1 hr 30 min | Cook: 50 min | Total: 2 hrs 35 min
Cost: $16.05 total, $4.01 per serving
Ingredients
- 2 lb Ground Beef (can be mixed with ground lamb for authentic flavor)
- 4 oz Bacon (cut into small pieces before blending)
- 1 medium Onion (peeled and roughly chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic (peeled)
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt (use a couple teaspoons as shown in the video)
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 0.5 tsp Ground Cumin
- 4 pieces Pita Bread (warm before serving)
- 1 large Tomato (sliced)
- 1 small Red Onion (thinly sliced)
- 0.5 cup Tzatziki Sauce (store‑bought or homemade)
Instructions
Season the Meat
Combine the ground meat with 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp dried oregano, and ½ tsp ground cumin. Use your hands to work the spices evenly throughout the meat.
Time: PT15M
Chill the Seasoned Meat
Cover the seasoned meat with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, to let the flavors develop.
Time: PT1H
Prep Onion and Garlic
Place the peeled onion and garlic cloves in the food processor and pulse a few times until coarsely chopped.
Time: PT2M
Blend Meat, Bacon, and Aromatics
Add the chilled meat mixture and the cut bacon to the processor. Puree until the mixture is completely smooth, about 1 minute.
Time: PT1M
Shape the Gyro Loaf
Turn the smooth meat mixture onto a foil‑lined baking sheet. Wet your hands slightly and shape it into an 8‑inch by 5‑inch rectangle.
Time: PT5M
Bake Low and Slow
Place the sheet in a pre‑heated oven at 300°F. Bake until an instant‑read thermometer registers 155°F in the center.
Time: PT45M
Temperature: 300°F
Rest the Meat
Remove the gyro loaf from the oven and let it rest on the sheet for 15 minutes before slicing.
Time: PT15M
Slice the Gyro
Using a sharp knife, slice the rested loaf into pieces 1/8‑to‑1/4 inch thick.
Time: PT5M
Broil for Crispy Edges
Arrange the slices on another foil‑lined baking sheet and broil until the edges turn crisp and golden, about 5 minutes.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: Broil
Assemble Gyro Sandwiches
Warm the pita breads, then fill each with gyro slices, sliced tomato, red onion, and a generous drizzle of tzatziki sauce.
Time: PT5M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 350
- Protein
- 25 g
- Carbohydrates
- 30 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
Dietary info: Contains gluten, Contains pork, Not vegetarian
Allergens: Wheat, Dairy, Pork
Last updated: April 19, 2026






