Cooking and Meal Prep Recipes Healthy (and Kid-Friendly) Turkey Gyro By Natalie Monson, RD Natalie Monson, RD Natalie Monson, RD, is a registered dietitian and owner of Super Healthy Kids, a website dedicated to teaching children healthy lifelong habits. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 10, 2022 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN Reviewed by Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN LinkedIn Twitter Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate. Learn about our Review Board Print arfo / Getty Images (35 ratings) Total Time: 35 min Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 25 min Servings: 6 (1 pita) Nutrition Highlights (per serving) 273 calories 6g fat 29g carbs 29g protein Show Nutrition Label Hide Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings: 6 (1 pita) Amount per serving Calories 273 % Daily Value* Total Fat 6g 8% Saturated Fat 3g 15% Cholesterol 51mg 17% Sodium 591mg 26% Total Carbohydrate 29g 11% Dietary Fiber 5g 18% Total Sugars 3g Includes 0g Added Sugars 0% Protein 29g Vitamin D 0mcg 0% Calcium 175mg 13% Iron 3mg 17% Potassium 462mg 10% *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. These healthy Greek gyros are delicious and nutritious and could easily take up a spot on your family’s regular dinner rotation. Made with lean ground turkey, these kid-friendly gyros are packed with protein to promote cellular growth and repair and support children's fast-growing bodies. The best part about this recipe is you can make it ahead of time. Simply mix all of the ingredients for the meat mixture and freeze until you're ready to defrost and cook on another night. Just take the mixture out of the freezer 2–3 days prior to serving so that it can defrost in the refrigerator. Then all you have to do is shape it into a meatloaf or divide it into muffin tin cups and cook. Ingredients 1 lb ground turkey (lean) 10 oz. spinach (frozen package; thawed and squeezed) 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 tsp + 3/4 tsp cumin, divided 1 tbsp chili powder 1 tbsp coriander 1 tsp dried oregano 2 pinches ground cinnamon 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt 1/4 cucumber, grated and pressed in a kitchen towel to remove extra moisture 1 lemon, juiced 1 clove garlic, minced 6 whole-wheat pitas Preparation Pre-heat oven to 425F. Place all ingredients for the meat—turkey, spinach, salt, pepper, cumin (2 tsp), chili powder, coriander, oregano, cinnamon, and feta cheese—into a large bowl and mix together. Shape into a loaf or divide evenly between 12 greased muffin cups. Bake at 425F for about 25 to 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center registers 165F. If you're using the muffin tins, cook for about 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center registers 165F. While the turkey is cooking, make your tzatziki sauce. Mix the yogurt, cucumber, lemon, garlic, and remaining cumin together then refrigerate. Wrap the pitas in foil and place in the oven with your baking turkey for a few minutes to warm. When the turkey is done, slice it. Add the sliced turkey to your pita. Then add any optional ingredients that your family would enjoy and top with tzatziki sauce. Variations and Substitutions Optional ingredients for topping your gyro include: TomatoesCucumberRed onionRomaine lettuce If your ground turkey comes in a 1 1/4-pound package, you can use the whole package without adjusting the other ingredients. Cooking and Serving Tips If you plan to freeze your meat mixture for cooking on another day, add all the meat ingredients to a labeled freezer-safe food storage bag and mix. Remove as much air as you can, and freeze it as flat as possible for quicker defrosting. It’s best to use the meal within three months. Some kids like to enjoy this dish as a "turkey meatloaf" muffin or sliced in a pita with mayonnaise, and others enjoy it as part of a Greek salad. You can also cut the meat into bite-sized pieces, add some torn fresh spinach, feta, and cherry tomatoes, and then top it with the tzatziki sauce. Rate this Recipe You've already rated this recipe. Thanks for your rating! 1 Source Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Jen V, Karagounis LG, Jaddoe VWV, Franco OH, Voortman T. Dietary protein intake in school-age children and detailed measures of body composition: The Generation R Study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2018;42(10):1715-1723. doi:10.1038/s41366-018-0098-x By Natalie Monson, RD Natalie Monson, RD, is a registered dietitian and owner of Super Healthy Kids, a website dedicated to teaching children healthy lifelong habits. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from companies that partner with and compensate Verywell Fit for displaying their offer. These partnerships do not impact our editorial choices or otherwise influence our editorial content.