25 Minute Tzatziki Gyro Rice Bowls.

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!

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!