After discovering and subsequently eating far too many roasted chickpeas yesterday, I wanted to find a way to make these flavor bombs into an actual, sustainable meal. And at this point, “meal” really means anything that doesn’t involve just eating a bowl full of roasted chickpeas. I suppose as I get closer and closer to moving and really begin whittling away at my pantry stock, I’ll have to become more lenient in what I consider a “meal”…but for now I can still justify buying some fresh veggies and flatbreads to make these Roasted Chickpea Gyros!
It’s really simple actually. Season and roast up some chickpeas, throw together the World’s Best Tzatziki, and put it all on a pita with some lettuce, tomatoes, and red onions. We won’t roast the chickpeas for quite as long today, just 20 minutes, until they’re cooked but not hard. This’ll give them a hearty texture, replacing any desire you may have had for putting meat into this samich. We don’t need no meats up in here! (And yes, I did watch an anti-animal agriculture documentary last night that has pushed my fluctuating vegetarianism towards the veggie side today).
- 1 15 oz can (425 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed (1 ½ cup soaked chickpeas if starting from dry)
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
- 1 Tbsp (6.8 g) paprika*
- 1 tsp (3 g) ground black pepper
- ½ tsp (1.5 g) cayenne pepper
- ¼ tsp (1.4 g) salt
- 4 pita flatbreads
- 1 cup (250 g) tzatziki (click here for recipe, use ⅓ recipe if you're just making it for these gyros)
- ¼ red onion, cut into strips
- 2 lettuce leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tomato, sliced
- Pat dry chickpeas with paper towel, removing any skins that may come off.
- Gently toss chickpeas with oil, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt.
- Spread chickpeas onto a greased rimmed baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees F (200 C) for about 20 minutes, until lightly browned but not hard.
- Spread some tzatziki onto one side of the pita, then sprinkle in ¼ of the chickpeas and add veggies. Fold in half and enjoy!
If your pita breads crack when you fold them, cover them with a moist paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Assemble your sandwich immediately after microwaving.
If you liked these gyros, you may also like these Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Avocados!
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This looks soooo yummy Sarah!! I am all for making roasted chickpeas into substantiated meals. I’ve made a gyro like wrap before too, because why not! I love to snack on them too, but whenever I do Logan just devours them all in one sitting. So, I try to have a plan on hand for them and repeatedly tell Logan that they are not for snacking. So mad chickpea love here too 🙂
Well I’m probably just like Logan then…I can’t just eat one at a time, it’s handfuls of roasted chickpeas until the whole batch is gone. Which is exactly why meal-ifying it was very necessary. Glad to hear you share the same love!!
Wow! My husband is the pickiest eater, but he absolutely LOVED this. THANK YOU SARAH! Amazing, as always.
Ah success!! Thanks so much for commenting, Britney. This means so much to me! I’m so happy I could help you get your picky eater to eat 🙂
Oh my goodness these look amazing! Thanks for sharing! I’m about to move and have tons of chickpeas to eat. I think I know how I’m going to do that now 🙂
Thanks, Aryn! Haha I could honestly eat these everyday, and it looks like you just might for the next few days. Good luck with the move and happy cooking! 🙂
What’s the best way to store the left over chickpeas?
Hi Emily! Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay good for 1 to 2 weeks 🙂
This sounds absolutely delicious and really unusual, beautiful pictures too 🙂
Thanks so much, Brian!
I love roasted chickpeas, putting them in gyros is perfect! Gorgeous photos too, makes me wanna dive right in!
Yesss aren’t roasted chickpeas such an undiscovered treasure? Thanks so much for stopping by, Michelle!
These look so simple AND so delicious…perfect! Can’t wait to make them, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sarah! I hope you like them! 🙂
I am loving this veggie version of gyros! Roasted chickpeas are a fave and I don’t make them nearly enough. I like how you’ve created a meal out of them here – I’m definitely serving these up for a yummy lunch one day soon. Especially with that tzatziki sauce – swoon!
Yea with bread and veggies they become SO filling! Maybe make extra to snack on too so you don’t run out 😉 Happy cooking!
Roasted chickpeas are just fantastic. Great ideas as gyros.
Thanks, Mark!
What you made, although it looks delicious, can’t be called gyros! This is souvlaki!! Gyros in Greek means literally something that spins and it is referred to the meat we put in the souvlaki. 🙂
Hey Ioanna! Thanks for sharing your knowledge 🙂 My understanding is that souvlaki is skewered pieces of meat, while gyro meat is just as you described. And while some people call the whole sandwich souvlaki, where I grew up all the Greek restaurants called it gyro. But regardless of what you call it, this is just a healthy vegetarian take on a Mediterranean classic 🙂
This looks amazing! I’d like to make it one night this week for dinner. Do you have any side suggestions?
Hi Melanie! I think a Greek salad of sorts would be perfect with these. This recipe for Greek Orzo Salad looks mighty tasty (I’ve been on an orzo kick lately!). If you’re wanting to keep with the street food style of the gyros, potato wedges would also be nice. Here is a recipe for Crispy Greek Lemon Potatoes. Happy cooking and enjoy! 🙂
These were delicious! I cheated and bought my tzatziki, but I’m sure the’d be even better with the homemade stuff. Really yummy. Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you liked them, Kelsey! And hey, we can’t always homemake everything 😉
Hi, I was wondering if you had the measurements right.. 1 tbsp of paprika and 1/2 tbsp of pepper is ALOT! I followed this and mine came out terrible. It was way too spicy! I would think you meant 1 tsp instead of tbsp. I’ll make again but definitely not with all these spices!
Hi Karissa, sorry to hear you didn’t like the gyros! The measurements are correct, and yes it has a kick to it, but the tzatziki works to balance that out (heck, my boyfriend even put hot sauce on it!) If you’re not a fan of spicy flavors, I’d suggest cutting the paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in half next time, then taste the chickpeas before you cook them and adjust as needed. I hope you’ll give it another go! 🙂
wow, this recipe is incredible
I used to make vegan gyros with souflaki-style seitan but they stopped making it. But this works perfectly. I really really love it.
thank you for this fantastic recipe
So happy to hear, Karine! I’ve never actually tried seitan, but it’s on my list of foods I’d like to explore in my ingredient spotlights. I’m happy to hear chickpeas make a good substitute! With the spices and roasting they take on a really great, hearty texture. Happy cooking! 🙂
Oh my goodness, I decided last night to gradually stop eating meat. I’m going to be having at least 3 meatless days a week and work toward going completely vegetarian and possibly vegan. This is the first meal I made on my first official meatless day and I am in LOVE. I replaced the tzatziki with pumpkin and kumara (NZ word for Sweet Potato) hummus and used garlic infused pita bread warmed in the oven. I wish I’d roasted the chickpeas for a little longer but I know for next time! Thanks for the recipe, it was a delicious welcome into my new healthier and more ethical life style 😀 Can’t wait to try more!!!
So happy to hear, Dee Jee!! I think you’re starting off your new lifestyle really well by gradually tapering into a new pattern. I once tried to go vegan cold turkey and after 4 days caved (I was having INTENSE Cheeto cheese crisp cravings!) I’m posting a new bulgur falafel recipe with homemade garlic flatbreads today if you’re interested in keeping the vegetarian sandwich train rolling. It’ll be up in a few hours! Thanks so much for dropping by 🙂
This is just what I am in the mood for lately! Spicy chickpeas! Yum!!
Just made these for dinner and they are SO good!
I’m happy I found your blog 🙂
So happy to hear, Justeen! Thanks so much for dropping a note 🙂
So, I made these for dinner tonight and …Wow!…they are fantastic. So easy. So filling. So healthy. I will definitely be making these again. Thanks for such a unique and delicious dinner!
So happy to hear, Anna! I always underestimate just how filling they are. Those chickpeas can pack a punch!
BEST dinner EVER!!! Makes me feel like I can actually become a vegetarian… just as good as a gyro with chicken! The spice matching would impress any chef : )
Aw thanks so much, Karen! Aren’t the chickpeas so hearty? You forget you ever even would have wanted meat on it!
Hi Sarah!
I found your recipe through Pinterest. I’m so excited to try it. It looks delicious. Thanks for sharing it!
Diane Lynn
http://www.thegratitudeletters.com/
Thanks so much, Diane! 🙂
I just made this for my vegetarian daughter. She’s enjoying it (minus the cucumber haha). I think I have your problem, though. I can’t stop eating the chickpeas! Yum! I’ll make this for the whole family soon.
So happy to hear she liked it, Cathy! I’m like her in that usually I despise cucumbers. But for some reason in tzatziki I can tolerate ’em. Thanks so much for dropping by! 🙂
These look so yummy and so pretty! What a great idea with the chickpeas…looks like a great lunch for the weekend. I’ll probably make up a vegan tzatkiki-inspired sauce for these but otherwise they look perfect! Thanks for sharing! Oh, first time on your blog, super cute! I’ll have a look around..
I’ve had a lot of readers make these with their version of a vegan tzatziki and they say it works! Thanks so much for swinging by, Deryn 🙂
Sooooo…how do you keep the chickpeas from exploding in the oven. Mine kept popping up and bursting open.
Hey Meredith! So weird that’s never happened to me, but after doing some research it looks like that is a common problem with chickpeas…who knew?! Everything I’m reading says it’s totally fine though. If you’re worried about them flying all over the place you can loosely cover them with aluminum foil.
I have a feeling the exploding has something to do with the skins though. If you didn’t remove all the chickpea skins this time, perhaps try that next time, and be sure to dry them well. And if it still happens, I’d reduce the heat of your oven. 🙂
I’m making these for dinner right now and the chickpeas smell amazing!!! I also found out tonight my son likes tzatziki sauce, so there’s that. I deconstructed a gyro for him to eat. I’m dying waiting for the chickpeas to roast, but I’m so excited! We’ve been trying more vegetarian recipes simply for budgetary reasons so I’m all for inexpensive tasty ones like this:)
These turned out delicious!! My husband was impressed by how filling they were and everyone cleared their plate. Definitely making them again.
Thanks for sharing!
So happy to hear, Casey!! I’m always so surprised by how filling the chickpeas are. I’ve made this probably a dozen times and still each time my eyes are bigger than my belly.
Hi. Gyros looks very good and i will make them very soon. I know i will like it. 🙂
Awesome recipe. I am a lover of chickpeas and I would love to try this recipe. Gyros have always been a quick filling meal. I haven;t come across a lot of people who haven’t enjoyed Gyros.
These look amazing, I am full on stalking your blog right now and going through so many posts! I love all your recipes!
These were so, so good! I used smoked paprika but everything else was as per the recipe. The tzatziki absolutely make the dish, and is the best tzatziki recipe I’ve ever tried. I stuck mostly to the recipe for that too, but d didn’t have white wine vinegar so I used red wine vinegar instead. Yum!
I’ve used smoked paprika a few times and it works just as well 🙂 So happy to hear you loved the tzatziki, I make it all the time in these summer months for slathering on EVERYTHING! 🙂
I’m so sorry please delete my previous post…I clearly have no sleep Mama brain and confused your yummy recipe with a homemade flat bread recipe that did not turn out well. I’m sorry for the trouble. Take care!
Hey Alaina! Haha no problem! Did you try out the gyros? As far as your flatbread fail, I think the problem was in swapping the flour. From my experience, whole wheat flour makes baked goods a good bit denser, so I usually mix it with all-purpose flour in recipes. Thanks for stopping by and get some sleep! 🙂
I just made these for lunch, and they are DELICIOUS! Would make a great packed lunch for work too, thank you for the awesome recipe!
I came across your blog a few days ago, and I honestly think it is fantastic. Keep doing what you are doing!
Thanks so much, Plamena, your comment means so much to me! I’m so happy to hear you liked the gyros! You could also throw the leftover chickpeas on a salad for lunch if you fear a messy sandwich at work 😉
The leftover chickpeas? What leftovers? 😀 I had to make a 2nd batch the same day, and there were no leftovers from that one either 🙂
I also made your Tropical Granola, Mozzarella Avocado Toast and Orange Dreamsicle Smoothie since then. All of those are copied in my recipe book now and your blog is in my favorites!
I will be making this again and I will definitely take your advice about halving the black pepper, cayenne, and paprika. I normally like my food spicy, but this had sweat pouring down my face. Aside from the heat, the taste and texture of the roasted chick peas were fantastic. I added a little hummus to the pita in addition to the tzatziki and subbed arugula for the lettuce. Thankyou for posting!
Yea they definitely have some heat, but I love that when combined with the cool cucumber tatziki 🙂 The hummus sounds like a really great addition! Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving a comment, Dominic!
This was delicious! Unfortunately, all my stores were out of pita bread so I chose Medeterrian Bread which was too thick and split when folded. Otherwise, this was delicious!
So happy to hear, Phyllis! When I can’t find pita in the store I like to make my own flatbreads. They’re actually really easy to make! I use this recipe from Minimalist Baker, sometimes nixing the garlic and herbs.
These were amazingly delicious! So easy to make and assemble. A huge hit in our home. Thank you for a great quick simple recipe.
These were delicious! Super fast to make. They were a perfect lunch last winter. I was able to make up the chick peas and other ingredients and then just throw them together in the morning before work. Thanks so much for this recipe!
These look INCREDIBLE! I am working on a round-up for my blog and would LOVE to feature this with a link back and photo!! My readers would love this recipe.
Hi Melissa, feel free to use this in your roundup!! 🙂
Hi Sarah,
I’m planning to make these for a baby shower. How far ahead of time do you think I can assemble them? (Do the chickpeas need to be hot when the sandwich is served?) Thanks!
Hi Karen! I wouldn’t recommend preparing them anymore than 30 minutes prior to serving. The chickpeas are best when they’re hot and the tzatziki tends to make the pita soggy after too long. Depending on how many people are attending, it could be fun to set out all the ingredients (tomatoes, onions, maybe some feta and olives) and let attendees make their own? Enjoy the baby shower! So happy to hear my chickpeas gyros will be attending such a happy event 🙂
Looks great…chickpeas in a roll is new for me.
Will try soon. thanks for sharing this. You have great recipe collection
Thanks so much, Anukampa! I’d love to hear how it turns out for ya! 🙂
So excited to be sharing this recipe and you on my blog on Friday! This is one of my favorites ever since I found it and I can’t wait to share it with my readers – of course, all credit to you!
Thanks so much for sharing this, Samantha!! 🙂