These Greek tacos are everything you love about a gyro—wrapped up in an easy, weeknight-friendly taco. Fresh, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Quick Overview: Greek Tacos at a Glance
- Step 1: Make the cucumber tomato relish (1 hour ahead or up to 1 day)
- Step 2: Prepare the feta mint tzatziki (1 hour ahead or up to 1 day)
- Step 3: Cook the seasoned meat in a skillet
- Step 4: Warm the pitas
- Step 5: Assemble tacos with meat, relish, tzatziki, and feta
Tip: Making the relish and tzatziki ahead of time gives the best flavor and makes dinner come together fast.
These Greek tacos are a fun twist on taco night, combining the bold flavors of a classic gyro with an easy, weeknight-friendly taco format. Seasoned ground meat, cool tzatziki, fresh tomato-cucumber relish, and feta all come together in warm pitas for a fresh, satisfying dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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It’s a fun Mediterranean twist on taco night. All the best flavors of a Greek gyro—tangy feta, cool tzatziki, warm spices—wrapped up in soft, toasty pitas for an easy weeknight win.
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Layers of fresh, vibrant texture. The crisp cucumber-tomato relish, creamy feta-mint tzatziki, and savory meat mixture give every bite a perfect balance of crunch, coolness, and richness.
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Choose your favorite protein. This recipe works beautifully with ground lamb, turkey, or beef, so you can make it classic, lighter, or whatever fits your mood (and freezer) that night.
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Make-ahead friendly. Both the relish and tzatziki can be prepared hours—or even a full day—before serving, which makes dinner assembly fast and stress-free.
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Customizable for casual or company. Serve everything buffet-style for family taco night or build gorgeous, gyro-style tacos for entertaining. A sprinkle of extra feta and a pinch of za’atar (optional but delicious!) takes them over the top.
Customize your own condiments if you like, but the Mint Tzatziki and Tomato-Cucumber Relish are essential to the Grecian vibe in this sure-to-be-a-regular on your go-to menu.
FAQ
Are Greek tacos the same as gyros?
Greek tacos are inspired by gyros but served a little differently. Traditional gyros are typically made with sliced meat and wrapped in pita with tzatziki and toppings. Greek tacos take those same flavors—seasoned meat, cucumber, tomato, and tzatziki—and layer them taco-style for an easier, more casual meal.
What’s the difference between Greek tacos and Mediterranean tacos?
Greek tacos focus on classic Greek flavors like oregano, feta, tzatziki, and fresh vegetables. Mediterranean tacos can be broader and may include flavors from other regions like the Middle East or North Africa. This recipe leans more Greek, with a gyro-style flavor profile.
Can I make Greek tacos ahead of time?
Yes—this recipe is perfect for making ahead. The cucumber tomato relish and tzatziki can be prepared up to a day in advance, and the meat can be cooked earlier and reheated. When you’re ready to serve, simply warm the pitas and assemble.
What kind of bread is best for Greek tacos?
Soft Greek-style pitas work best because they’re sturdy enough to hold the fillings while still being easy to fold. You can also use pocket pita, flatbread, or even tortillas if that’s what you have on hand.
These Greek tacos will be perfect at a buffet-style party. The entire meal can be made ahead. Just reheat the meat (this could be done in the crockpot so it stays warm during multiple trips to the buffet line), griddle the pitas quick and set it all out for your guests to pile everything together. As written, the recipe serves four and we were able to make the tacos into extra generous portions with lunch leftovers. Cook’s update: I just made these for a very large crowd and here is a tip to follow for the best flavor. Have the meat ready at least 4 hours before the party. Place in a crockpot on low for 4 hours and the juices/flavors will just increase until when it’s time to serve. I made both condiments the morning of the party also for optimum flavor.
What to Serve with Greek Tacos
These Greek tacos are fresh and flavorful on their own, but a few simple sides can turn them into a complete Mediterranean-inspired meal:
- Simple green salad with lemon vinaigrette for something light and crisp
- Roasted potatoes or lemon potatoes for a hearty, comforting side
- Fresh fruit salad to balance the savory flavors
- Rice or orzo salad with herbs and olive oil for a simple, make-ahead option
The recipe can be made with ground beef (our favorite), lamb or turkey.
And, as if the tacos aren’t delicious enough, look what you can do with leftovers. A healthier alternative to corned-beef hash.
Make-Ahead Tips
This recipe is perfect for prepping ahead, which makes it ideal for busy weeknights or entertaining:
- Relish: Can be made up to 1 day ahead and actually improves in flavor as it sits
- Tzatziki: Best made at least a few hours ahead so the flavors can develop
- Meat: Can be cooked earlier in the day and gently reheated before serving
- Full meal prep: Set everything out buffet-style and let everyone build their own tacos
These My Big Fat Greek Tacos bring the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean straight to your dinner table with almost no fuss. Between the cool tzatziki, bright relish, and perfectly seasoned meat, every bite feels fresh, fun, and a little bit unexpected—in the best way. Whether you’re hosting friends or shaking up your usual taco night, this recipe is one you’ll come back to again and again. Enjoy!
Greek Tacos (Gyro-Style with Tzatziki and Feta)
Ingredients
For the Cucumber Tomato Relish
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 firm tomatoes seeded and diced
- 1 English cucumber seeded and diced
- ½ red onion diced
- sea salt to taste
- fresh ground black pepper to taste
For the Feta Mint Tzatziki:
- 1 English cucumber
- sea salt
- 1 cup whole-milk plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese plus extra ½ cup or so for serving
- 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
- 2 Tbsps minced fresh mint
For the Lamb or Turkey Filling:
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef, lamb, or turkey
- Sea salt to taste
- fresh ground black pepper to taste
- ½ red onion minced
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 4 Tbsp dry red wine or cooking wine or red wine vinegar
For the pitas:
- 4-6 Greek pitas
Instructions
- At least one hour or as early as one day before you prepare the meat, prepare the relish and tzatziki:
Make the Cucumber Tomato Relish (ahead)
- In a medium bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, diced tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 1 day) to let the flavors develop.1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar, 2 firm tomatoes, 1 English cucumber, ½ red onion, fresh ground black pepper, sea salt
Make the Feta Mint Tzatziki (ahead)
- Finely dice the cucumber and place in a strainer or cheesecloth over a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 10 minutes. Squeeze out as much moisture as possible.sea salt, 1 English cucumber
- In a bowl, combine the drained cucumber, Greek yogurt, feta, garlic, and mint. Stir well and adjust salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.1 cup whole-milk plain Greek yogurt, ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, 1 clove garlic,, 2 Tbsps minced fresh mint
Cook the Meat
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground meat, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned and slightly crispy, about 10–12 minutes. **See note below regarding optional Zaatar1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 ½ pounds ground beef, lamb, or turkey, Sea salt, fresh ground black pepper
- Remove meat with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, cook minced red onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add oregano and garlic and cook until fragrant. **See note below regarding optional Zaatar½ red onion, 2 tsp dried oregano, 4 cloves garlic
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes until slightly caramelized. Add red wine and scrape up any browned bits.2 Tbsp tomato paste, 4 Tbsp dry red wine or cooking wine or red wine vinegar
- Return the meat to the skillet, stir to combine, and keep warm.
Warm the pitas
- Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Warm each pita for about 20 seconds per side until soft and lightly toasted.4-6 Greek pitas
Assemble the Greek Tacos
- Fill warm pitas with the seasoned meat, cucumber tomato relish, and tzatziki. Top with extra feta, fresh herbs, or a sprinkle of za’atar if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
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Notes & Tips
- Drain the cucumber well: This keeps your tzatziki thick and creamy, not watery
- Brown the meat well: Let it get a little crispy for the best flavor
- Warm your pitas: Even 20 seconds per side makes a big difference in texture
- Taste and adjust: Feta adds saltiness, so season gradually
- Make ahead for best flavor: Both the relish and tzatziki improve as they sit
- ZAATAR: Optional but if you happen to have Za'atar seasoning, add 1-2 teaspoons when adding oregano in the pan. It will add even more Greek gyro flavor.
Recipe adapted from The Sandwich King
These are so tasty, fresh, and easy! Thank you for the terrific recipe.
Thanks so much, Mina!
Very good. I love the “sauce” for the meat.
I would only change one thing and that’s to use a pocket pita if possible. It specifically calls for the non pocket pita and I think it would be good to try putting the goodies inside.
Hi Ruth, you have a good point! I can’t even remember why I recommended “no pocket”, it’s been so long. I’ll change the recipe because I agree with you, this would be delicious in pocket pitas. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
10 stars!!! This was so good! I used ground beef, store bought tzatziki, red cooking wine, a little bit of shawarma seasoning (couldn’t find Za’atar), and some Greek dressing in my tomato, cucumber, and feta salad. What a wonderful recipe, so much flavor!
Crissy, your comment is awesome. You can’t go wrong with shawarma seasoning. Thanks so much for taking the time to reach out. It means a lot! 🙂
I made this with my homemade pitas. It was tummy satisfying 🙂 I am definitely going to make this again! Thank you for all that you do Sally!
Very, Very good! The tomato relish and Tzatziki sauce combination is spectacular. Whole family recommend I make these more often. Thank you Sally.
Sally,
We are meatfree and mostly dairy free over here. Do you think this recipe would convert well? Maybe crumbled tofu or tempeh? Chickpeas? My husband has been craving Greek food and this looks delicious!
Thanks!!
Hi Malinda! My son is meat free and lactose intolerant, and the whole family is mostly meat free these days so I can relate to your needs. This would be fabulous with tofu crumbles, crumbled Beyond Meat or similar. Also would be good but different with jackfruit. You could definitely use chickpeas but that wouldn’t be my first option. However, speaking of chickpeas, when you want a taco dinner, be sure to check out my BBQ Cauliflower Tacos with Chickpeas. I just made those again last night. But back to the Greek Tacos, you won’t be disappointed. Let me know how they turn out for you!
I already love the BBQ cauliflower toac is which is why I knew you would have a meet free solution! Thanks Sally! I have them on the menu to try with tofu, I can’t wait to try it!
Malinda, what a great idea! 🙂
My husband and I have made this recipe three times in as many weeks and it’s just fantastic! We sub za’atar for all of the oregano (might be a bit strong for some) and serve on couscous, so easy to throw together bowls of this on weekdays after work. Just delicious, thank you!
Maria, this comment made my day! Thanks so much for taking the time to drop a note and I’m so glad you liked the recipe as much as we do. 🙂
This was delicious! Kids said it tasted just like a Gryo. I thought I made enough for two days, I am going to have to double the recipe next time. I also had enough to make a hash for breakfast. Yes, this is definitely a winner!
Thanks Meril! So glad you all liked it. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment, it means a lot.
Made this last night for a christmas party, it was delicious. The Za’atar seasoning really puts it over the top. I used red wine vinegar and it turned out amazing. I threw the yogurt sauce in the blender because of picky eaters and it was fantastic blended up (I added extra yogurt and it still worked great). This is a great meal and we’ll be repeating it. Family requested I remake it tonight 🙂 Thanks!
Molly, I love that idea about blending the yogurt mixture to smooth it out. I’m definitely going to do that next time. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
Made this tonight w/ lean Ground Turkey. I may have added a bit more of this or that, but nothing essential. The recipe is excellent. I’ll make it again. I calculated one Gyro w/ wheat pita (6 1/2 round), 1/2 cup turkey, 3 T. Tzatziki sauce and fresh veg topping is approx. 465 calories. So, I think I’ll put it on a bed of lettuce tomorrow to save on the pita calories. 😀
Thanks so much for sharing~
Hi Kay! We make it a lot without the pita and top everything on a lettuce and like it just as much. Thanks for the calorie calculations for our friends who need that information. 🙂
SO. good. I usually try to get most ingredients as called for but we recently retired and cooking for 2 so I try to use up what’s on hand. I used sour cream for Tzatziiki and not as much cucumber and it worked great but I had fresh mint and that was well worth it. Also used tortillas in place of pitas and it was fantastic!! Will definitely make again
Great way to make it simple and adaptable, Leslie! I’m going to add your “stand ins” to the recipe because sometimes we don’t have everything on hand or sometimes we just want to make things easier. Thanks so much for making the recipe and for stopping by to comment. It means a lot.
This is my family’s favorite meal 🙂 We’re making them (again!) for New Years Eve dinner. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!
Stacia, you just made my day! Thanks so much for letting me know how much your family likes the Greek Tacos. Happy New Year to you all. 🙂
I used red wine vinegar instead of red wine in the meat as the recipe suggested and it was terrible. So acidic! I had to add some sweetness to balance it out. Also finely dicing the cucumber for the tzatziki did not work, grated would be better. I definitely want to try it again but this time I will use red wine, grate the cucumber, and try out the Za’atar seasoning.
Make these often for our family but usually use the soft “taco boats” for this. Sometimes it’s a “bowl/salad” recipe. As a former food prep teacher, I am particular about blog recipes.? Thanks for sharing!
Hilda, I am honored that you feel my recipe is worthy of your time. I too am picky about the blog recipes I seek out. Thanks so much and I’m glad you like it. I’ll have to try the “bowl/salad” myself.
Great recipe, you should credit Food Network though:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jeff-mauro/greek-taco-recipe.html
Done. Thanks for catching that. As you can see by my other recipes, I always give outbound links. I must have missed the link up in my credit at bottom of recipe.
I LOVE Greek food, and these tacos are making my mouth water!!
These were fabulous. I never heard so za’atar so I bought some just for this recipe. I also made my own pita bread since I was never crazy about the dry, tasteless store bought things. Happy to say those turned out great, too. I’ll be making these again next week. Thanks for a great recipe.
My husband and I just made these tonight. I made homemade pitas because I find the store bought are always too dry. This recipe is absolutely amazing and delicious. We decided it’s becoming a staple in our house!!
Moira, Thank you so much for this wonderful comment. I’m sitting here in the kitchen after a family Valentine’s Dinner with my son and husband and just read this to them (while they clean up the dinner I made). We all loved that you took the time to let me know about the recipe. I’m so glad you liked it. Homemade pitas sounds amazing. Thanks again! 🙂
I LOVE this recipe! These tacos look so creative and delicious. I’m happy I found you on Pinterest 🙂
Thanks Andi, we love these greek tacos and I hope you do too!
We looooooooved these, Sally! Awesome recipe! Thanks so much for answering all my questions today too. You’re the best!
Tiffany, I am honored that you made them and so glad you liked them! 🙂
Just made these for dinner, and they were absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Emily, thank you for visiting my blog and I’m glad you liked the Big Fat Greek Tacos! 🙂
I just made the tzatziki and the relish both already taste amazing. I am making this for dinner tonight but I am making the pitas myself as well. Cannot wait to try the whole meal!
Homemade pitas!! You are my kind of gal, Karlette!
I’m so excited to have found your site as you seem to have similar healthy eating goals as we strive for and your recipes look amazing! I can’t wait to try this one soon as we love Mediterranean-inspired foods. Thanks for sharing!
These look amazing, I will be trying these for sure!!