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These roasted chickpea gyros are an easy protein-forward vegetarian dinner, perfect for feeding the whole family on busy weeknights. Originally created in 2015, this recipe has since been devoured by thousands of readers who love it. It’s a fan favorite!

Serve it with this Mediterranean quinoa kale salad or this tahini cucumber salad!

Two pita wraps filled with roasted chickpeas, fresh greens, tomato slices, red onion, and a creamy white sauce, served on parchment paper with extra chickpeas scattered around.
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Best Veggie Gyros…Ever

As a seasoned gyro enthusiast and fanatic of chickpea recipes, I’m here to tell you this roasted chickpea gyro recipe is the BEST!

You get all the deliciousness of classic gyros with a feel-good, plant-based twist—roasted chickpeas, fresh veggies, and creamy tzatziki, all wrapped in pillowy-soft pitas.

Reader rating

★★★★★

“I made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was the absolute best. It is so incredibly simple and it tastes so good. This recipe will be a regular in my life from now on. I wish I had tried it sooner.” —Christina K

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A hand holds a chickpea gyros pita stuffed with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, spiced roasted chickpeas, and a creamy white sauce.
Serve them on a folded or stuffed pita flatbread (everyone at the table can assemble their own).
A glass container holds pita bread, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, roasted chickpeas, and a portion of creamy white dip—perfect for assembling fresh chickpea gyros.
Or meal prep it for a vegetarian lunch worth looking forward to! Makes 4 meal prep lunches.

Key Ingredients

These chickpea gyro wraps are made with easy-to-find, budget-friendly ingredients. Jump to the recipe card for all the measurements – this is just an overview.

  • Chickpeas: Chickpeas bring protein, fiber, and a satisfying texture to your gyros. You can use canned chickpeas for convenience or try cooking your own chickpeas from dry for the creamiest texture.
  • Spices: To create a classic gyro taste, we’ll use paprika for smokiness and color, black pepper and cayenne for a kick, and salt.
  • Pita Flatbreads: If you’re gluten-free, try using gluten-free wraps or lettuce leaves as an alternative.
  • Tzatziki: This creamy, tangy sauce is a must for traditional gyros! Find it pre-made near the hummus and dips section, or easily make your own tzatziki. If you’re dairy-free, try vegan yogurt for a dairy-free tzatziki.
Ingredients for a pita sandwich laid out on a green surface: pita bread, chickpeas, oil, sliced onion, seasonings, tomato slices, chopped lettuce, and tzatziki sauce.

Making vegetarian gyros is So Easy

Jump to the recipe for the full printable recipe – this is just an overview.

  1. Prep the oven and pat the chickpeas dry before tossing them with spices.
  2. Roast the chickpeas on a greased-rimmed baking sheet.
  3. Assemble the pitas with chickpeas, veggies, and sauce!
A flatbread with chickpeas, tomato slices, red onion, lettuce, and white sauce on parchment paper, surrounded by ingredients on a green surface.
We won’t roast the chickpeas for too long—just until they’re cooked but not hard. This will give them a hearty texture, replacing any desire you may have for putting meat into this vegetarian sandwich.

roast Or Air Fry

You can roast the chickpeas in the oven at 400°F (204°C) for 20 minutes. Or, if you have one, you can also roast chickpeas in the air fryer. (It’s much quicker!)

Two pita wraps filled with roasted chickpeas, fresh tomato slices, red onions, greens, and a creamy white sauce, served on a tray.
A pita wrap filled with lettuce, tomato, red onion, seasoned chickpeas, and a creamy spread—these delicious chickpea gyros are tied with twine and partially wrapped in paper for the perfect handheld meal.
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Roasted Chickpea Gyros

4.81 from 192 ratings
By: Sarah Bond
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
These roasted chickpea gyros are an easy, family-friendly vegetarian dinner–perfect for busy weeknights. A fan-favorite recipe loved by thousands since 2015!

Ingredients 

  • 1 15-oz can chickpeas, 425 g, 1 ½ cup soaked chickpeas if starting from dry, drained and rinsed
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil, 15 mL
  • 1 Tbsp paprika*
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 4 pita flatbreads
  • 1 cup tzatziki (click for recipe), 250 g, 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
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Instructions 

  • Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Drain and pat dry 1 15-oz can chickpeas with paper towel, removing any skins that may come off.
    Cooked chickpeas spread out on a white paper towel for drying, placed on a light green surface.
  • Flavor: In a medium bowl, toss chickpeas with 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp paprika*, 1 tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, and ¼ tsp salt.
    A glass bowl filled with chickpeas topped with various spices, including paprika and salt, on a light green textured surface.
  • Roast: Spread chickpeas on a greased rimmed baking sheet and roast for about 20 minutes until lightly browned but not hard.
    Seasoned roasted chickpeas are spread evenly on a baking sheet, showing a golden-brown color and scattered spices.
  • Assemble: Spread some tzatziki onto one side of the pita, then sprinkle in chickpeas and add veggies. Fold in half and enjoy!
    Two flatbreads filled with roasted chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and creamy sauce, served on parchment paper with a spoonful of sauce and veggie slices nearby.

Notes

*If you don’t like spicy foods, halve the amount of paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Taste a chickpea before baking and adjust flavors as needed.
If your pita bread cracks when you fold it, cover the rest with a moist paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Assemble your sandwiches immediately after microwaving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gyro | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 11.5g | Fat: 12.6g | Sodium: 575mg | Fiber: 7.5g

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

Mediterranean PAIRINGS

P.S. For another vegetarian sandwich you’ll love, try my easy veggies wraps with hummus! Or make my infamous Marry Me Chickpeas recipe for another easy chickpea dinner.

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4.81 from 192 votes (91 ratings without comment)

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258 Comments

  1. Kat says:

    4 stars
    NOT VEGAN!!! It’s labeled as vegan on the top, though, possibly a mistake? It’s easy to make it vegan by substituting the Greek yogurt with a nut yogurt. The first time I tried it with vegan mayo, but it’s not the same. Then I found kite hill almond yogurt (plain, Greek-style) and it was really good! I served them to friends and they thought I had cheated and used dairy! I also added black olives and highly recommend others do the same

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      Hi Kat! I usually categorize it as vegan if it is very easy to make it vegan, in this instance, using soy or nut-based yogurt (don’t want to deprive vegans of something so tasty!). Happy you found a tasty substitute and your friends liked them! 😀

  2. Regina says:

    5 stars
    Just made these, and they were really good! Will definitely make them again!

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      So happy to hear, Regina! 😀

  3. Kris says:

    5 stars
    Made this for my vegan and non vegan family and EVERYONE loved it! Skipped the tzatziki as an ingredient and used only as a topping for the non vegans. Instead, I spread roasted garlic hummus on the pitas and heated them up in the oven. Then everyone added the toppings they wanted. SO GOOD! Added this recipe to my favorites so I could make it often! Thanks for your awesome recipe!

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      It sounds great with garlic hummus, Kris! Also loving your idea of letting everyone pick their own topping. So happy you (and your vegan + non-vegan friends) enjoyed them! 😀

  4. helena houston says:

    very interesting article!

    Reply
  5. Luc says:

    5 stars
    So glad I stumbled upon this page right before I went to the store! They were absolutely amazing. Can’t wait to make them again. Thanks for the wonderful recipe! And that tzatziki sauce was delish.

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      So happy you liked them, Luc! 😀 Isn’t tzatziki just the greatest sauce ever?

  6. Abigail says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe! Very easy, budget friendly, and makes tons of leftovers! Cooking for one can be difficult, but this makes it very easy (and I don’t have to cook for like 4 days!!!! bonus). This has been my staple dinner since going vegetarian!

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      So happy to hear, Abigail! I LIVED on these things when I lived alone. You could also play around with different sauces and spices if you start getting bored of the flavor (not that anyone could get bored with tzatziki). One variation I really like is with herby chickpeas (garlic, dried basil/dill/parsley) and hummus as the sauce. 😀

  7. Amanda says:

    5 stars
    These are crazy easy and so good!! I even went with plain yogurt instead of tzatziki because I was pressed for time, and they were still delicious. Recommend 10/10 for super quick, easy, tasty and wholesome meal! Thank you!!

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      So happy to hear, Amanda!! 😀

  8. Janine says:

    This recipe isn’t vegan.

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      Hi Janine! I will list a recipe as vegan if it is very easy to make it vegan (in this case, by simply using dairy-free yogurt).

  9. Donna says:

    I am making this tonight. Looks fantastic. New vegetarian lifestyle for the last 3 months and this fits perfectly. I will get back to you on the taste. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      Hope you liked it, Donna! I think you’ll find chickpeas to be a saving grace as you get more into the vegetarian lifestyle 😀

  10. Sandra says:

    5 stars
    I made it and it’s absolutely delicious. I did not miss the lamb meat at all.

    Reply
    1. Sarah says:

      So happy to hear, Sandra! 😀