# 25 Minute Tzatziki Gyro Rice Bowls

Spiced ground lamb or beef over fluffy rice, topped with cool homemade tzatziki, crisp cucumber, and ripe tomato — all the flavors of a gyro, no pita required.

_Dinner · Greek-American_

Prep: 10 min · Cook: 15 min · Total: 25 min · Yields: 4 servings

## Ingredients

- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice (rinsed)
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (full-fat)
- ½ cup cucumber (grated and squeezed dry, plus more sliced for topping)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced, divided)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh dill (chopped, or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 lb ground lamb (or ground beef)
- 1 small yellow onion (finely diced)
- 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ tsp kosher salt (divided, plus more to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium roma tomatoes (diced)
- ¼ cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- ¼ cup kalamata olives (halved, optional)
- 2 oz feta cheese (crumbled)

## Instructions

1. Combine the 1.5 cups rinsed white rice and 3 cups water in a medium saucepan with a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 5 minutes.
2. While the rice cooks, make the tzatziki: combine the 1 cup Greek yogurt, 0.5 cup grated and squeezed cucumber, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp fresh dill, and 0.25 tsp kosher salt in a bowl. Stir well and refrigerate until serving.
3. Heat the 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 1 small diced yellow onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until softened.
4. Add the remaining 1 clove minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Add the 1 lb ground lamb to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 5–6 minutes until browned and cooked through, draining excess fat if needed.
6. Season the meat with the 1.5 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp ground cumin, 0.5 tsp smoked paprika, 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon, 0.5 tsp kosher salt, and 0.25 tsp black pepper. Stir to coat evenly and cook for 1 more minute.
7. Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and divide it evenly among 4 bowls.
8. Top each bowl with a generous portion of the spiced lamb, then spoon the tzatziki over the top.
9. Finish each bowl with the 2 diced roma tomatoes, 0.25 cup sliced red onion, sliced cucumber, 0.25 cup kalamata olives (if using), and 2 oz crumbled feta cheese. Serve immediately.

## Tip

> Squeeze the grated cucumber for the tzatziki in a clean kitchen towel until it feels almost dry — skipping this step leaves the sauce watery within minutes of sitting.

Tags: weeknight, 30-minute, one-pan, comfort-food, mediterranean

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Canonical: https://just-recipes.io/recipes/25-minute-tzatziki-gyro-rice-bowls