Chicken Shawarma Recipe (2024)

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (1)

In This Article

  • The Best Homemade Chicken Shawarma
  • Watch Chicken Shawarma in Action
  • How to make irresistible chicken shawarma
  • Key Ingredients
  • Pro Tips for the best chicken shawarma
  • Chicken ShawarmaCommonly Asked Questions
  • More to Cook and Eat

The Best Homemade Chicken Shawarma

This chicken shawarma fascination might have started with my first dreamy bite at our local Middle Eastern restaurant. That adoration was further was cemented with the amazing Mediterranean street food I sunk deeply into while eating my way through NYC.

Chicken Shawarma became an irrevocable obsession with the realization that I could recreate similar flavors at home. With only the ingredients we love and want; nothing else. And it wasn’t even hard.

I’m not sure how it started precisely, but it’s here to stay: my undeniable infatuation with healthy, tender, ultra flavorful chicken shawarma.

This is a contagious kind of shawarma fondness, as the rest of my family and food-loving friends can’t seem to get enough of this chicken shawarma recipe, which has since been frequently shared and re-shared.

Watch Chicken Shawarma in Action

How to make irresistible chicken shawarma

Chicken Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish that’s loaded with aromatic spices that make your mouth water. Traditionally, shawarma consists of paper-thin slices of meat from a vertical rotating slow-roaster. The result is a deliciously tender, flavorful plate of chicken, beef, or other protein.

Wild guess: most of us don’t own a monster-sized rotating spit at home. Despite that tidbit, you can absolutely make tantalizing homemade chicken shawarma. All you need is a great dry rub for your chicken to marinade in, an oven that reaches 400F and doubles as a broiler for the great finish.

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Key Ingredients

  • Chicken thighs are essential here; boneless, skinless thighs are your friend when it comes to tender and flavorful shawarma
  • Extra-virgin olive oil is used to bind seasonings to the chicken. You can opt to use a bit more oil if needed, but don’t omit it
  • Dry rub seasonings are what makes all the difference in this chicken shawarma’s big bold flavors. As always, use the freshest seasonings/spices because you probably already know that the older those pantry spices are, they less flavor they hold.
  • Smoked paprika, cumin, allspice, cayenne, garlic and onion powders, ground tumeric, and cinnamon are all included in this powerhouse dry rub mixture. Skip nothing, if at all possible, as each spice adds its own unique flavor profile to the finished dish.
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Pro Tips for the best chicken shawarma

Giant cone-shaped spit aside, we home cooks can still make some outrageously rockin’chicken shawarma at home.

  • Even if you’re normally a die-hard white meat cooker, go with chicken thighs here. Skinless, boneless chicken thighs are actually quite lean and turn out so much more tender (translation: they’re harder to mess up.)
  • Rest the chicken in an aromatic dry rub marinade at least 3-4 hours, preferably overnight in fridge.
  • Speaking of which, double check that all your spices/seasonings are fresh and haven’t lost their zing.
  • Be sure the oven is well preheated to 400F when ready to cook. Use the preheat time to let your chicken come close to room temperature. Better results will happen if your chicken isn’t super cold. Roast the chicken in a single layer for even browning.
  • Slice just-cooked chicken as thinly as you can, arrange slices in a single layer on sheet pan, and broil to perfection.

Note: Using the grill or skillet for cooking chicken is always an option, but oven-roasting is by far the easiest.

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Chicken Shawarma
Commonly Asked Questions

What ethnicity of food is Chicken Shawarma?

Chicken Shawarma is a Levantine Arab method of cooking meat. Thin shavings are cut off a large block of meat. Because most home cooks don’t have access to machinery used by restaurants, we achieve a similar effect by thinly slicing with an ultra sharp knife.

Is Chicken Shawarma healthy?

We definitely include chicken shawarma as part of a healthy diet. Lean, skinless chicken, olive oil, and plenty of fresh spices means this dish is both nutritious and delicious.

Can I meal prep Chicken Shawarma?

Absolutely. Chicken Shawarma is excellent for meal prepping, as it keeps well in the fridge, and can be served up multiple ways throughout the week. Try it with rice, salad, or pita.

Why do I have to towel-dry the raw chicken pieces?

This part is actually imperative for nicely browned chicken. If excess moisture is not removed from the surface of chicken pieces, they’ll tend to steam in the oven, rather than brown.

More to Cook and Eat

  • Chicken Tinga Tacos (Meal Prep, Freezer Friendly) – perfect for making big batches at the beginning of the week. Chicken tinga isn’t only for tacos; try it over salad or make it into a rice bowl.
  • Chicken Tikka Masala – How to Make This Restaurant Dish At Home – Oh, yes. This fragrant, saucy Indian chicken dish can easily be made right at home.
  • Easy, Healthy Orange Chicken (One Pan Technique) – this popular take-out dish is made healthier at home, and is full of big flavors.
  • Grilled Teriyaki Chicken – this is hands-down our favorite way to cook and eat teriyaki chicken. It’s genuinely better than restaurants; you’ll forever be making your own teriyaki once you try this.

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

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Chicken Shawarma (Easy & Healthy)

5 from 205 ratings

This Easy, Healthy Chicken Shawarma is waist-friendly and incredibly scrumptious! It’s a hit every time we serve up this flavorful dish.

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together all the spices to combine well. Add 2 TB olive oil and mix into a paste. Set aside.

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  • Thoroughly towel-dry the boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Slice each thigh into quarters, and coat with 1 TB olive oil. Add chicken into the bowl with marinade. Use tongs or clean hands to thoroughly coat all pieces of chicken evenly, on all sides. Cover tightly with cling wrap and chill overnight (at least 3-4 hours.)

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  • Let chicken come to room temp as you preheat oven to 400F, with rack on upper middle position. Once oven is heated, place chicken pieces in a single layer on a large, foil-lined baking sheet. Take care not to overlap or overcrowd the pieces. Roast 15 min or until just cooked.

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  • Let chicken cool enough to handle. Slice all chicken into thin slices. Place back onto the baking sheet in an even layer. Broil on high for 7-10 minutes or until edges are nicely browned. Serve immediately with pita bread, basmati rice, or green salad.

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Notes

  • Chicken thighs are highly recommended in this recipe, as it’s much more forgiving and stays tender even if slightly over-cooked. If you prefer to use chicken breasts, you may need to cook a bit less time to avoid the meat becoming dry.
  • Chicken Shawarma can be served bowl-style with basmati rice and your choice of toppings, or wrapped in a pita with toppings. It’s delicious with garlic hummus and any Mediterranean style salad. Garnish ideas include cilantro, red onions, or pickles.

If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating 🙂

Click here to add your own private notes.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.2g | Protein: 42.9g | Fat: 7.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.4g | Cholesterol: 137.9mg | Sodium: 294.3mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 0.2g

Course: Dinner, Main

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Diet: Gluten Free, Halal, Low Calorie, Low Lactose

Method: baking, Oven

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is chicken shawarma made of? ›

Shawarma is the Middle Eastern dish of shaved pieces of spit roasted chicken, beef, or lamb. The thin slices of meat (and fat) are layered in a cone-like shape on a vertical spit. The thin strips of golden brown meat are served in lots of different ways: in warm pita pockets, as a bowl, or atop salad or rice pilaf.

How do they make shawarma? ›

Shawarma is a popular dish originating from the Middle East. It's a popular street food that is traditionally made in the form of spiced meats that are stacked on a vertical rotisserie with thin slices shaved off as it rotates. But don't worry! We can cook our horizontally in a good old pan or on the BBQ!

What makes shawarma taste good? ›

Shawarma spice blends were created in the Middle East and used to add flavor and spice to the rotisserie meats. Common spices include cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, all spice, and cayenne. Find a more authentic version of shawarma spice blend here.

How is shawarma traditionally cooked? ›

Shawarma is made by alternately stacking strips of fat and pieces of seasoned meat on a vertical spit. An onion, a tomato, or a halved lemon is sometimes placed at the top for decoration. The meat is roasted slowly on all sides as the spit rotates in front of, or over, a flame for hours.

What is original shawarma made of? ›

shawarma, popular street food in the Middle East, which originated in Turkey and is made of spit-roasted layers of lamb, beef, or other meat that are sliced and often wrapped in or served with pita. Shawarma is similar to Greek gyros, though the former is seasoned with more spices and the latter with more herbs.

What is usually in shawarma? ›

Shawarma is prepared from thin cuts of seasoned and marinated lamb, mutton, veal, beef, chicken, or turkey. The slices are stacked on a skewer about 60 cm (20 in) high. Pieces of fat may be added to the stack to provide extra juiciness and flavour.

What is the secret of shawarma? ›

Shawarma is all about the delicious sauces that accompany the meat – typically garlic yoghurt or tahini and hommus – and the secret ingredient: pickles. Pickled vegetables are what take shawarma to a whole new plane: pickled cucumbers, turnips, and even carrots or mangoes are common.

Do they put mayo in shawarma? ›

Most of the time the sauce that is used in shops is made with mostly mayo and tends to leave me with a heavy feeling afterwards. Using yogurt as a base and adding just the right amount of mayo with some fresh lemon juice creates the most delicious shawarma sauce that you will ever taste.

What bread is used for shawarma? ›

Middle Eastern chicken shawarma is a delicious pita sandwich recipe made with thinly sliced seasoned chicken, veggies, and sauce wrapped in a pita bread.

What is full Flavour shawarma? ›

Full-Flavour Shawarma Wrap

Thinly-sliced chicken and fries wrapped in a warm pita that is lightly brushed with the savory essence that drips from the meat as it cooks, then toasted to perfection on our specialty grill (Chicken, Fries, Pickles, and Signature Garlic Sauce)

Which type of shawarma is best? ›

Beef shawarma is another one of the favorites in the mix of popular street foods commonly served with red onion, pickled turnips, and parsley! To prepare beef shawarma, you will need to use beef flap meat or flap steak, which is typically the leanest part of the animal.

What to eat with chicken shawarma? ›

The best side dishes to serve with chicken shawarma are french fries, pita bread, tzatziki, hummus, yellow rice, garden salad, guacamole, pickled vegetables, onion rings, baba ganoush, couscous salad, roasted red peppers, fattoush, garlic bread, falafel, and grilled halloumi cheese.

What does shawarma mean in Arabic? ›

Originating from the Ottoman Empire (roughly modern-day Turkey) in the 18th or 19th century, shawarma, also spelled shawurma or shawerma, meaning “turning” in Arabic, is a Levantine meat preparation, where thin cuts of lamb, chicken, beef, or mixed meats are stacked in a cone-like shape on a vertical rotisserie (it has ...

Why does shawarma taste like cinnamon? ›

The marinade often includes a mix of yogurt, garlic, and a variety of spices such as cinnamon, cumin, paprika, and turmeric, which lends the dish its distinct flavor profile. The power of spices and marination plays a crucial role in transforming these simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece.

What's the difference between gyro and shawarma? ›

The main difference between shawarma and gyro is the type of meat used. Shawarma is typically made with chicken, turkey, beef, or lamb, while gyro is traditionally made with pork. Shawarma is also cooked on a vertical rotisserie, while gyro is cooked on a horizontal rotisserie.

Is chicken shawarma like a gyro? ›

The main difference between shawarma and gyro is the type of meat used. Shawarma is typically made with chicken, turkey, beef, or lamb, while gyro is traditionally made with pork. Shawarma is also cooked on a vertical rotisserie, while gyro is cooked on a horizontal rotisserie.

What is the difference between chicken shawarma and chicken kebabs? ›

The main shawarma-kebab difference lies in how the meat is cooked. For shawarmas, the meat is usually cooked using a rotisserie, while kebabs are prepared skewered. The doner or the kebab base is the only kind that resembles the classic shawarma.

What is chicken shawarma wrap made of? ›

For the wrap build: First, spread tahini sauce on the tortillas, then top with shredded romaine, then the relish, then the chopped chicken. Add some pickled peppers, roll up tight and eat!

Why does chicken shawarma taste so good? ›

The signature shawarma spice blend is the backbone of the dish, giving it that popular and recognizable pop of flavor that separates shawarma from other classic Middle Eastern foods. While the spice blends offer a ton of flavor to the shawarma, it's also important for the deep, rich color of the outside of the meat.

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