Keto-Perfect Gyro Meat: Pairing With Homemade Low Carb Pita Bread

You might be curious about whether gyro meat is keto-friendly and the status of the pita bread it’s typically served on.¹

Luckily for low carb dieters gyro meat can be eaten without remorse because it is low carb, high fat, and high protein — i.e. the perfect combo for keto.

With that said, this guide covers the carb content of gyro meat, whether the pita bread it’s served on is keto-approved, and a simple homemade pita bread recipe made with just 4 ingredients!

What Is the Carb Content of Gyro Meat? (Content of Carbs in Gyro Meat Only)

Looking at the type of gyro meat that is most commonly found in the U.S.A. which is made of both ground beef and ground lamb there are only 1.6 grams of net carbohydrates for a 4 oz serving size of gyro meat.

From this information, it’s evident that gyro meat is definitely keto-friendly!

Gyro meat is prepared by stacking the meat on a vertical rotisserie and slicing meat off as it cooks.² This method of preparing meat was first developed in Turkey in the 19th century.

Because gyro meat has become popular across the world it’s important to note that there are variations in what type of meat is used. In Greece, gyros are most commonly made from pork or chicken.

In the U.S.A gyros are made from ground beef mixed with lamb. Chicken, lamb, pork, and beef are all variations of gyro meat.

Does Gyro Meat Fit Keto Diets?

According to MyFitnessPal, there are only 2 grams of total carbohydrates in 4 ounces of gyro meat and because of that gyro meat would be something that could fit into a keto meal plan.

The basics of the keto diet are depriving the body of carbohydrates and significantly limiting carb intake.³ Because of this, the body begins using ketone bodies for energy.

Source: wellphoto via Canva.com⁴

Ketone bodies are produced in the liver from stored fat. This is done by keeping carbohydrate consumption to a minimum with most recommendations being between 20 and 50 grams per day.⁵

While restricting carbs is a huge part of the keto diet, another important aspect of the meal plan is consuming a high amount of fat, specifically aiming for between 70-80% of total calories coming from fat. It’s because of this that gyro meat is a great fat source to add while following keto because per the 4-ounce serving size, there are 18 grams of fat.

Is Gyro Meat, Particularly Lamb Gyro Meat, Healthy?

Gyro meat is not only keto-friendly but also offers impressive health benefits. While there are a few different varieties of gyro meat we will continue to look at the most popular variety in the U.S. which is a mix of beef and lamb.

Below shows a breakdown of the top 3 health benefits of these meats.

1. Nutrient Dense: Lamb meat specifically is known to be highly nutritious and filled with essential amino acids and a variety of nutrients such as iron, zinc, and fatty acids.⁶ Additionally, lamb also has a lower amount of saturated fats compared to other meats which make it a great option to improve heart health.
2. High in Protein: Per 1 serving size of gyro meat there are almost 30 grams of protein making it an excellent, high-protein option.
3. Keto-Approved: Not only is gyro meat high in protein, but it is also a fantastic meat choice for those on a keto diet because, for 4 ounces of meat, there are only 1.6 grams of net carbohydrates.
4. High in Iron: Most gyros in the U.S. are made with beef meat which has high levels of iron and can prevent anemia.⁷ It is important to note that it is important to consume in moderation for heart health and to help prevent chronic illnesses.

Furthermore, gyro meat is not considered to be processed meat and instead is large cuts of lamb, beef, pork, or chicken. Gyro meat is packed with protein, is low carb, and high fat making it an excellent protein source for the keto diet.

Gyro Meat Nutrition

While there are a few different varieties of gyro meat based on what area of the world someone is in, for the nutrition breakdown we will look at the type that is most commonly found in the United States, which is a mix of ground beef and ground lamb.

Source: urbazon via Canva.com⁸

This breakdown will look at 1 serving size which is 4 ounces of gyro meat that is a mix of ground beef and ground lamb.

• Calories: 292
• Total Fat: 18.8 grams
• Saturated Fat: 7.6 grams
• Trans Fat: 0.4 grams
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 gram
• Monounsaturated Fat: 8 grams
• Sodium: 184 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 2.2 grams
• Fiber: 0.6 grams
• Net Carbohydrates: 1.6 grams
• Sugar: 0.4 grams
• Protein: 26.8 grams

Additionally, there is also 404 mg of potassium, 96 mg of cholesterol, and 10% of iron in 1 serving size. Potassium and iron are both crucial essential minerals that contribute to overall health which again are extra reasons why gyro meat is a healthy meat option.

3 Tasty Recipes for Low Carb Gyro Sandwiches & Pita Bread

One of the most noteworthy ways gyro meat is eaten is in a sandwich with pita bread. Look below to see the best low carb pita bread option someone can find from the grocery store, what low carb pita bread gyro sandwich is best eaten while on keto, and how to make tasty keto-friendly homemade pita bread.

1. Low Carb Pita Bread Gyro Sandwich

Most often gyro meat is served on pita bread with veggies such as tomatoes and lettuce which make up a gyro sandwich. Commonly, tzatziki sauce, which is a cucumber and yogurt-based dressing, is also served in a gyro sandwich, especially in a greek gyro.

According to the University of Illinois recipe breakdown, there are 445 calories in a greek gyro.

To make a delicious tasty keto-friendly gyro it would be recommended to make homemade pita bread or find a low-carb option. We found the best low-carb pita bread that can be found in the grocery store is the Toufayan Bakeries Keto Pita.

Enjoy the low-carb pita bread with gyro meat, tomatoes, lettuce, and feta cheese, topped with tzatziki sauce.

2. Best Low Carb Pita Bread

Gyro meat is keto-friendly, and there are also low-carb pita bread options available at the grocery store. We found one that would be the best option because most pita bread from the grocery store would not be keto-approved as some brands have as many as 20 grams of carbohydrates for 1 bread.

It’s important to note that with the rise in popularity of the keto diet, many brands are now creating keto versions of foods that would typically need to be avoided on keto.

When following a keto diet, it’s crucial to not rely solely on the marketing of individual items that state a product is keto-certified or keto-approved and instead always check the ingredients and nutritional facts to ensure the product would be able to fit into someone’s specific keto plan.

While gyro meat could also be enjoyed with carb balance tortillas, there are some low-carb pita bread options too! After browsing through a variety of different store-bought pita bread options, we found one that would make the best low-carb option that could also be found in a variety of different grocery stores.

• Toufayan Bakeries Keto Pita: This would be a good keto option at only 5 grams of net carbohydrates per 1 pita bread. Additionally, there is no sugar, 4.5 grams of fat, and 140 calories.

Source: nitrub via Canva.com⁹

Here is a full nutritional breakdown for 1 piece of bread of Toufayan Bakeries Keto Pita bread.

• Calories: 140
• Total Fat: 4.5 grams
• Saturated Fat: 1 grams
• Trans Fat: 0 grams
• Sodium: 310 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 18 grams
• Fiber: 13 grams
• Net Carbohydrates: 5 grams
• Sugar: 0 grams
• Protein: 7 grams

3. Homemade Pita Bread Recipe

Because traditional pita bread would unfortunately not be keto-friendly because the bread is typically made with white or wheat flour which is best avoided while following keto here is the best homemade pita bread recipe that could definitely fit on a keto diet.

A huge bonus when choosing to make different food items homemade is having 100% control of the ingredients present. By doing this, it ensures the food item truly is low-carb and keto-approved.

Here is the best homemade pita bread recipe that would make for a tasty, low-carb keto-friendly gyro sandwich.

This homemade keto pita bread is incredibly easy to make and only has 4 ingredients. Furthermore, it does have a pretty high-fat content, which is another factor that makes this a great choice for those on keto.

Below is a breakdown of the ingredients needed to make this tasty side dish, appetizer, or bread for a gyro sandwich.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese (or for a spicy kick swap out for pepper jack cheese as it’s another keto-approved cheese)
• 3 tablespoons cream cheese
• 2 eggs beaten (for a lower calorie and cholesterol option this can be subbed for ½ cup of liquid eggs like “Egg Beaters”
• ⅔ cup almond flour (or for another keto-friendly flour option check out the list on is cassava flour keto)

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350. While the oven is preheating spray or line with parchment paper 2 8×10 baking sheets.
2. Mix the cream cheese and cheese together in a medium pot over medium-low heat. Once everything is fully melted and mixed set aside to allow the cheese mixture to cool.
3. In a separate medium-sized bowl mix together the eggs and flour. Slowly add the cheese mixture to the flour and eggs and combine until dough-like and fully mixed.
4. Divide the dough into 10 pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Once on the baking sheet push the dough balls into a round flatbread shape. At this point, someone could add seasonings to the dough such as garlic powder or everything but the bagel seasoning.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the flatbreads are golden brown.
6. Enjoy immediately! This pita bread can be enjoyed on its own, as part of a gyro sandwich, or try it with keto-friendly hummus!

Nutritional Information:

The above recipe makes 10 pitas. The serving size is 1 pita bread so this nutrition breakdown will look at the macros for just one.

At only 1.85 grams of net carbohydrates, It is clear to see that this is a fantastic low-carb pita bread option for someone on a keto diet to be able to enjoy a tasty gyro meat sandwich.

• Calories: 170
• Total Fat: 13.2 grams
• Sodium: 210.5 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 2.85 grams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Net Carbohydrates: 1.85 grams
• Sugar: 0.65 grams
• Protein: 11.5 grams

Gyro meat, pita bread, and tzatziki sauce are all delicious foods that can definitely fit into a keto diet plan. It is important to be picky and specific in what brands someone buys and the best option would be to stick to a homemade recipe for pita bread to ensure daily carb content stays low so someone isn’t kicked out of ketosis.

So, if you’re wondering whether gyro meat is keto-friendly, the answer is yes!

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