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Overhead view of a pita wrap with colorful vegetables and creamy sauce.

Grilled Chicken Pita

Grilled chicken pitas layered with feta, tomatoes, bacon, olives, crisp lettuce, and a tangy yogurt-walnut sauce. A Mediterranean-inspired handheld meal packed with bold flavor and satisfying texture.
Servings

Ingredients

For the Chicken and Marinade:

  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1½ pounds)
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

For the Tomato-Feta Topping:

  • 2 small ripe tomatoes finely chopped
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

For the Yogurt-Walnut Sauce:

  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ¼ cup walnuts finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

For Grilling and Assembly:

  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • 1 large red onion thinly sliced into rings
  • 6 pita breads
  • ½ head romaine lettuce finely chopped
  • 1 10.6 oz jar kalamata olives, drained, halved, and pitted
  • 12 slices cooked bacon crisped
  • Alfalfa sprouts optional
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Prepare the Chicken Marinade

  1. In a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish, combine 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, soy sauce, minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon of oregano. Add the chicken breasts and coat thoroughly. Seal the bag or cover the dish, and allow the chicken to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes, or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor.

Prepare the Tomato-Feta Topping

  1. In a small bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, olive oil, and the remaining teaspoon of oregano. Stir gently to combine, and let it sit at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Make the Yogurt-Walnut Sauce

  1. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, garlic, chopped walnuts, and olive oil until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Grill the Chicken and Onions

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat. Lightly spray the grates with olive oil spray to prevent sticking. Grill the marinated chicken breasts for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the meat is no longer pink. Simultaneously, place the red onion rings on the grill and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until softened and lightly charred.

Toast the Pita Bread

  1. Once the chicken and onions are cooked, place the pita breads directly on the grill grates. Toast each side for approximately 2 minutes, or until warm with visible grill marks. Remove from the grill.

Slice the Chicken and Assemble the Pitas

  1. Allow the chicken to rest for several minutes, then slice thinly across the grain. To assemble each pita, layer several slices of grilled chicken, a few grilled onion rings, one tablespoon of the tomato-feta mixture, chopped romaine lettuce, kalamata olives, one to two slices of crispy bacon, a spoonful of yogurt-walnut sauce, and alfalfa sprouts if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fold the pita and serve warm.

Notes

To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute traditional pita bread with gluten-free pita or flatbread (several brands are now widely available). Additionally, verify that the soy sauce used is gluten-free—most standard versions contain wheat, but gluten-free tamari is an excellent substitute. Double-check labels for bacon and yogurt to ensure no gluten-based additives are included. With these adjustments, this vibrant and satisfying dish remains just as flavorful and completely gluten-free.
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