Chicken Pita Wraps: Quick and Easy Recipe

Nothing says summer like firing up the grill. As the Chief Food Officer (otherwise known as the family CFO), I’m always on the lookout for easy meal ideas that make the most of grilling season. Chicken pita wraps are one of my go-to recipes thanks to their mild prep work and satisfying flavors.

Chicken Pita Wraps

Once you understand the basic ingredients and preparation methods, chicken pita wraps are easily assembled to enjoy on busy weeknights or relaxed weekends. Their light and flavorful fillings also make them a perfect portable snack or meal for warm summer days spent outdoors.

Why Grill Season Is Chill Season

I start by slicing a couple chicken breasts into thin strips. While the grill heats up, I marinate the chicken in your basic olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano mixture. This simple marinade seriously changed lives – it makes chicken that’s juicy, tender and packed with flavor. Once the coals are ready, the chicken only takes a few minutes per side to cook through. Meanwhile, veggies like zucchini, peppers and onions get tossed with oil and sent over direct heat of the grill as well. Chopping is the most intensive part of the cooking tasks.

Once the ingredients are grilled, it’s just a matter of assembling round pita breads with the warm meats and veggies. Joe is lucky – as CFO, his only contribution is helping with the dishes after we indulge in our wraps outdoors. Grilling season is a time we all benefit from the division of grill-related labor!

Being able to grill dinner also provides a SERIOUS bonus – it lets us enjoy our meals outside in the fresh air rather than being cooped up inside the kitchen. Nothing beats eating on the back porch on a summer evening. With temperatures in the 90s and high humidity that makes it feel like a sauna most days in Nashville, cooking outside provides a much cooler alternative.

I love that grilling minimizes the heat being dumped into our house from indoor cooking as well. Any way, we can keep the inside temperatures lower and reduce energy bills is a plus in my book. All it takes is firing up the grill, cleaning the grates, then letting the flames to the work. Within 20 minutes or so, depending on the BTUs, our din-din is ready. All that’s left is a quick cleanup and we can really relax and make the most of long summer nights. Being able to grill makes me feel lucky every time I hear the sizzle of chicken or veggies hitting the hot grates.

For folks without outdoor space or direct access to a grill, do not worry – this chicken pita wrap recipe can easily be made on the stove top as well. If I’m grilling for a small group, sometimes I’ll use my cast iron grill pan to get those distinctive char grill marks on whatever protein I’m cooking. Heating it over medium-high heat on the stove, it provides a similar effect as the real thing without as much effort and cleanup.

Once the pan is properly seasoned, it doesn’t take long to get nice grill marks without all the hassle of using a full-sized grill. Simply laying chicken, shrimp or vegetables in the scorching hot pan is enough to impart smoky grill flavor. Within 10 minutes most items are perfectly cooked, saving valuable time and effort versus using multiple pots and pans. Whether cooking on the porch or stovetop, these chicken pita wraps are a delicious way to enjoy summer’s bounty.

Why You’ll Love This Pita Wrap Recipe

This chicken pita wrap recipe is ideal for those nights when you want a fresh, delicious dinner without a lot of effort. As the self-proclaimed president of the lazy home-cook club, I’m all about recipes like this that taste like you worked harder than you actually did. Between grilling the chicken and veggies and simply tossing everything in a warm pita, you’ve got the building blocks of a semi-Greek wrap, gyros or souvlaki without nearly as much fuss.

All it takes is popping a package of chicken in a basic marinade while you’re out running errands. Then in 10 minutes you can trade your car keys for some store-bought dressing like a tzatziki sauce and feta cheese to make it feel fresh and wholesome. The combination of warm grilled proteins and cold pre-made sauces makes for an easy and mediterannean holiday – worthy end result perfect for busy weeknights. No need to waste time driving around searching for takeout when you can enjoy a similar flavor experience at home.

Quick & Easy

This chicken pita wrap recipe couldn’t get much simpler to prepare. After just 15 minutes of active time spent marinating the chicken thighs and prepping a few veggies, another 15 minutes by the grill or stove is all it takes to cook everything. All that’s left is waiting patiently as the salad dressing infuses the meat and veggies with flavor.

Requires Minimal Clean-Up

Once dinner is assembled and devoured, cleanup is a total breeze. Just toss the leftover marinating container, wipe down your cutting board and knife, and wash the pair of tongs used for prep. Within five minutes the kitchen is restored to its original state.

Made With Just 10 Ingredients

Keeping things streamlined is key for a quick weeknight meal. With only 10 ingredients including the prepared salad dressing, tzatziki sauce and some basic grocery list staples, you’ve got everything you need without over-shopping from a minimum list.

Totally Customizable

While the basic template uses grilled chicken as the protein, feel free to fully customize it for any diet or taste. Grilled halloumi cheese would satisfy vegetarians , or pile on extra grilled veggies for something lighter. Tzatziki, protein-packed hummus or your favorite sauce can take it in new directions too. You can easily add or omit different veggies to suit your family’s standards. In the end, you call all the shots on making each dinner your own.

Budget-Friendly

As someone perpetually on the hunt to trim my spending, I appreciate recipes that allow me to replicate restaurant quality meals for a fraction of the cost. While one of my favorite gyro or souvlaki wrap spots downtown is certainly convenient, the average bill of nearly $13 per person including tax and tip quickly gets pricey. By locking in at $2.50 per serving of this chicken pita wrap recipe, you save a whopping 5 times what you’d normally pay to eat out. Add in the gas needed to get there along with other expenses, and dining at home is clearly the way to go if you’re looking to really budget.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Thighs – Dark meat chicken is more forgiving than breasts which can easily overcook and become dry. Thighs are also typically cheaper. If using breasts, consider butterflying or pounding them to an even 1⁄2 inch thickness.

Vinegar-Based Salad Dressing – Any homemade white, red or apple cider vinegar and oil blend would work beautiful here too. Look for refrigerated options like white balsamic vinaigrette, regular balsamic vinaigrette, Girard’s Champagne Vinaigrette, or Newman’s Own Italian in a pinch. Budget brands like Aldi’s Apple Thyme Vinaigrette also get the job done.

Pitas – Feel free to use flatbreads, Mediterranean or traditional pita, naan, a flatbread of choice, or even Gluten-free options like Egglife egg white wraps if making a chicken gyro wrap at home.

English Cucumber – Long, skinny cukes are my typical go-to for their thin-skinned, seedless convenience, but conventional cukes work fine with an extra step of peeling the thick, waxy skin and de-seeding.

Cherry Tomatoes – Sweet, bite-sized beauties if you can find them, but grape or quartered regular tomatoes are a nice swap.

Arugula – Feel free to use mixed greens, spinach, romaine or butter lettuce for a milder salad base instead.

Red Onion Pickles – Consider adding plain sliced red onion, pickled banana pepper slices, or using white, yellow or shallot onions as a tangy, crunchy flavor swap.

Avocado – Not essential but adds lush buttery goodness if you find an inexpensive, ripe gem like I did last week at Aldi for only $0.49 each. Feel lucky!

Tzatziki – The convenience of store-bought usually outweighs the slight cost difference vs homemade for this 16 oz tub that runs around Aldi’s $2.49 price point.

Crumbled Feta – Use a block of feta packed in brine and crumble it yourself for the most cost-effective option. Pre-crumbled works in a pinch too for marinating the chicken or adding to the wrap.

Kosher Salt & Freshly Cracked Black Pepper – Essential seasonings to taste as needed.

How To Make Chicken Pita Wraps ( 4 Steps)

Step 1

Generously season the chicken thighs all over with kosher salt and pepper. Place in a shallow dish and pour the chosen salad dressing over top, ensuring all pieces are liberally coated. Let marinate for 15 minutes to an hour to allow the flavors to soak in.

Step 2

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the marinated chicken thighs until fully cooked through to an internal temp of 165°F, flipping occasionally, about 10-15 minutes total.

Step 3

Transfer the grilled chicken to a plate and tent with aluminum foil to rest for 10 minutes while you chop it into bite-sized pieces.

Step 4

Warm the pitas either directly on the grill or in the oven. Assemble each pita by spreading 2 tablespoons tzatziki inside, then divvying up the remaining ingredients such as chicken, veggies more or less depending on personal preferences. Serve and enjoy your easy chicken pita wraps!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

I love that this Greek wrap recipe encourages all sorts of customizations to suit your tastes. Some weeks I’m all about taking it up a notch with an essential piece of fried potatoes to mimic that crispy exterior of a gyro wrap. Whether your mood calls for a handcut and air fried batch of frozen french fries or homemade skillet spuds, stuffing them into the pits along with the other fillings adds maximum carby goodness.

For Vegetarians

Simply swap out the chicken for other high-protein stars. Chickpeas turned into homemade or store-bought falafel make a tasty AF stand-in. Grilled veggies like bell peppers, zucchini and summer squash can become the star when marinated in salad dressing. Grilled halloumi bread cheese also makes an umami-packed primary protein. However you decide to customize, these pita wraps are utterly tasty and satisfying for all.

For those wanting a light meat-free meal, Trader Joe’s Greek Chickpeas warmed on the stovetop make a flavorful substitute. Their briny marinade of lemon and cumin pairs perfectly with fresh grilled veggies. Serve atop a bed of greens with a generous dollop of tzatziki or garlicky hummus as the creamy sauce of choice.

Those avoiding gluten can wrap their ingredients in egg wraps or any brand of packaged gluten-free pitas and flatbreads. For a carb-light take, try assembling the filling into a Greek chopped salad bowl and omit the bread entirely. Serve alongside spicy green rice or a pot of lemony Greek potatoes for more grains and starches if desired. No matter your dietary needs, tweaks like these ensure everyone can enjoy!

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Expert Tips

1- Don’t over-marinate the chicken. In an ideal world, you don’t want to leave acidic ingredients like a vinegar-based vinaigrette on proteins for longer than 24–48 hours or the texture can become mushy and unappetizing.

2- Prep ahead for marinating chicken. You can get a head start by placing chicken thighs in a freezer-safe bag and popping it in the freezer for up to 6-9 months. Some folks will tell you it’s best to leave the chicken no longer than 24 hours, but the truth is the frozen marinating process stops, so the chicken won’t turn mushy.

3- Prep veggies a few days in advance. It’s easy to prep ingredients like cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions up to a few days ahead and store in separate containers in the fridge. Keep tomatoes at room temp until serving for maximum flavor.

4- Make your own pita bread. Weirdly enough, pita bread can often cost more than some Aldi purchases from the prepared bread section. Try making easy 2-ingredient pita bread instead to potentially save $2-3 per recipe as a more budget- and whole-friendly alternative.

Serving Suggestions

These chicken pita wraps make for an easy and portable picnic meal. Assemble individual wraps and place in a woven basket lined with a checkered napkin for easy clean-up. Include small containers of tzatziki sauce and chopped veggies like cherry tomatoes and cucumbers for dipping. Store everything in an insulated lunch bag along with a Thermos of iced tea to enjoy on your destination picnic blanket.

For casual weeknight dinners, serve the wraps simply on a platter with the tzatziki in a small bowl for dipping. Accompany them with a fresh Bibb lettuce salad tossed with lemony vinaigrette and crisp cucumber slices. Have paper napkins on hand for easy clean-up so you can relax with a glass of wine on the backyard patio and enjoy the warm summer evening.

When hosting an outdoor barbecue, go all out with a Mediterranean-inspired spread. Fill a woven basket with pita bread, display hummus, tabbouleh and other mezze salads on a round platter, and grill vegetables like colorful peppers and sweet onion wedges. Guests can build their own wraps, sampling multiple dishes for an interactive dining experience on your patio under string lights. Provide napkins and wet wipes for hands-free eating!

Storage Instructions 

Be sure to store any leftover ingredients from the chicken pita wraps properly in the refrigerator to prevent sogginess. Transfer veggies and cooked chicken to separate airtight containers as they can make the bread soggy if stored together for too long. Pre-assembled wraps may last up to 2-3 days when tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or foil to protect from moisture and prevent drying out.

For maximum freshness, it’s best to only assemble the wraps as you plan to eat them within a day or two. Keep the pita bread in its original packaging or wrapped until ready to use. This prevents the bread from becoming soggier over multiple days in the fridge. You can keep unassembled ingredients like grilled chicken and sliced veggies refrigerated separately for up to a few days , then put it all together fresh before serving.

The tzatziki sauce is best if stored separately from the wraps as well. After serving, prevent the leftover sauce from becoming watery by transferring it to an airtight container. It can be safely stored in the fridge for a longer period than the assembled wraps.

For future meals, you can also freeze individual components of the chicken pita wraps for convenient reheating down the road. Individually wrap leftover proteins and veggies tightly in plastic wrap or foil before sealing in a labelled freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 2–3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight by transferring to the refrigerator one day ahead of time before using.

Nutrition

Conclusion

Chicken pita wraps make a healthy and satisfying meal choice as they provide protein, healthy fats and nutrients from the chicken and fresh ingredients. Whether made at home or purchased prepared, pitas are a versatile way to enjoy grilled chicken and vegetables on the go or as part of a well-balanced diet. These Greek-inspired sandwiches offer flavour and nutrition to keep you fuelled for the day’s activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make store-bought pita bread soft?

There are a few options – you can microwave it with a towel sprinkled with a little water on the surface for 10–15 seconds until warm and soft. Using a microwaveable tortilla warmer can also soften the pita without drying it out. You can steam pitas for 1–2 minutes by placing them in a steamer basket with the lid covered to moisten the bread and make it soft and pliable. Another option is to warm pitas on the top shelf of the oven while the chicken grills on a higher shelf, preheating the oven to 350° F (176 °C) and wrapping the pita bread in aluminium foil for 5–10 minutes.

What’s the best way to warm pita bread?

The options listed above like microwaving, using a steamer, or warming in the oven or on the grill all work great. Choose whichever makes the most sense based on the equipment you have on hand.

Are pita wraps healthy?

Whether a meal is considered healthy can mean a lot of different things to different people. It’s best for a licensed diet professional to refrain from deeming any one meal outright healthy or unhealthy. While loaded with protein, veggies and probiotic-packed yogurt sauce, you can happily eat pita wraps all summer long with zero shame or regret. Joe lost 45 pounds (ca. 20 kg) on his fit diet and is feeling good.

How do you use Pita wraps?

To make Greek chicken pita wraps, start with opening the pita pocket by gently cutting the top and separating the bottom to create an opening. Then gently slide your finger inside the pita to further separate it and form the pocket for filling with chicken and other ingredients.

How many calories are in Greek Pita wrap?

521 calories.

Is Greek pita healthy?

Greek Chicken pitas can be considered part of a healthy diet as they provide protein and healthy fats from the chicken along with greens, fresh herbs and spices. This makes a complete, well-rounded meal.

What is chicken pita made of?

Rather than a predictable sandwich with deli meat on white bread, chicken pita is made with chicken breasts that have been marinated in olive oil, garlic, lemon, salt and pepper then grilled. It is sliced and served warm in a pita pocket along with tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and thinly sliced red onion.

What’s the difference between a pita and a wrap?

While both pitas and wraps enclose fillings, pitas are made from thicker bread dough compared to wraps which can include thinner flatbreads or even a slice of bread. In general, pitas have a higher fat and protein content versus wraps which typically have a higher calcium, iron and carbohydrate content since they often use whole wheat flatbreads. Wraps also tend to be lower in sodium than pitas.