Why Make This Recipe

Chicken Shawarma is a delicious and popular Middle Eastern dish known for its bold flavors and juicy chicken. Making it at home allows you to control the ingredients, ensuring a fresh meal that’s perfect for family dinners, casual lunches, or even special occasions. The addition of a creamy garlic sauce elevates the dish, making every bite even more enjoyable.

How to Make Chicken Shawarma

Ingredients:

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper, to taste
Pita bread
Fresh veggies (optional)

Directions:

Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, mix together the olive oil, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Coat the chicken thighs with this marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or, for best results, overnight.
Cook the Chicken: You can grill, bake, or pan-sear the marinated chicken until it’s fully cooked and lightly charred. This usually takes about 6-8 minutes per side on medium-high heat.
Make the Sauce: In another bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Assemble the Wraps: Take some pita bread and layer it with the cooked chicken. You can add fresh veggies if you like. Drizzle the creamy garlic sauce over the top and fold the pita tightly to hold everything in place.
Enjoy Your Meal: Marinating the chicken overnight enhances the flavor, and feel free to customize your wraps with toppings like pickled vegetables or hot sauce for an added kick!

How to Serve Chicken Shawarma

Serve Chicken Shawarma in pita wraps with extra garlic sauce on the side. You can pair it with a fresh salad, fries, or rice for a complete meal. Adding fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers makes it even more nutritious and colorful.

How to Store Chicken Shawarma

If you have leftovers, store the cooked chicken and sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The chicken can last for up to 3-4 days, while the sauce is best used within 2 days. To reheat the chicken, simply warm it in a skillet or microwave before serving again.

Tips to Make Chicken Shawarma

For enhanced flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
If you want a spicier shawarma, add chili powder or hot sauce to the marinade.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.

Variation

You can easily switch up this recipe by using different proteins such as beef or lamb. You can also create a vegetarian version using grilled vegetables or chickpeas.

FAQs

1. Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, chicken breasts can be used, but they may require a shorter cooking time and might be less juicy than thighs.

2. Is there a vegetarian version of Chicken Shawarma?
Absolutely! You can use grilled vegetables or marinated tofu instead of chicken for a delicious vegetarian alternative.

3. How spicy is the garlic sauce?
The garlic sauce is mild, but you can add cayenne pepper or hot sauce if you prefer a spicier kick!

Chicken Shawarma

A delicious Middle Eastern dish with bold flavors featuring juicy marinated chicken served in pita wraps with a creamy garlic sauce and fresh vegetables.

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Prep Time 1

Cook Time 15

Total Time 1 15

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Calories: 520

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

For the Marinade

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Garlic Sauce

1/2 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper, to taste

For Serving

Pita bread
Fresh veggies (optional)

Method

Preparation

In a bowl, mix together the olive oil, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Coat the chicken thighs with this marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or, for best results, overnight.

Cooking

Grill, bake, or pan-sear the marinated chicken until it’s fully cooked and lightly charred, about 6-8 minutes per side on medium-high heat.

Making the Sauce

In another bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Assembling the Wraps

Take some pita bread and layer it with the cooked chicken. You can add fresh veggies if you like. Drizzle the creamy garlic sauce over the top and fold the pita tightly to hold everything in place.

Serving