This easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe delivers all the authentic, mouth-watering flavor of your favorite Middle Eastern restaurant right from your own kitchen. Imagine tender, juicy chicken thighs marinated in a rich blend of yogurt and aromatic spices, cooked to perfection, and wrapped in a warm pita. It’s a game-changer for weeknight dinners.
Forget the takeout menu. With just a few simple steps, you can create a meal that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for sharing with family and friends. We’ve cracked the code on the perfect spice blend and a cooking method that guarantees succulent results every time.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Shawarma Recipe
This isn’t just another chicken dinner; it’s an experience. The magic is in the marinade, which tenderizes the chicken while infusing it with layers of warm, savory flavor. It’s incredibly versatile, delicious in wraps, salads, or bowls. Plus, it’s surprisingly simple to prepare!
What Exactly Is Chicken Shawarma?
Traditionally, shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern street food where thin cuts of seasoned meat are stacked in a cone-like shape on a vertical rotisserie. The meat is slowly roasted for hours as it rotates. For our homemade Chicken Shawarma Recipe, we replicate that delicious, slow-roasted flavor using your oven, grill, or a simple skillet.
Key Ingredients for the Perfect Marinade
The heart of any great shawarma is the marinade. It’s what transforms simple chicken into something truly special. We use accessible ingredients to create that signature taste.
The Chicken
We recommend using boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They have a higher fat content than chicken breasts, which keeps them incredibly moist and tender during cooking. This is key to mimicking the juicy texture of traditional rotisserie shawarma.
The Spice Blend
Our shawarma spice blend is a carefully balanced mix of common pantry spices. You’ll need cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, and a pinch of cayenne for a gentle warmth. This combination creates a deep, aromatic flavor profile that is both savory and slightly smoky.
How to Make Chicken Shawarma at Home (Step-by-Step)
Making this incredible meal is easier than you think. Just follow these simple phases for a flawless result.
Step 1: Marinate the Chicken
First, whisk together the Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and all the spices in a large bowl. Add the chicken thighs and turn to coat them completely. For the best flavor, cover the bowl and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight if you have the time. This is where the magic happens!
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
You have a few great options for cooking your chicken shawarma, each yielding a delicious result.
Oven Method (Recommended)
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Arrange the marinated chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred on the edges. This method is hands-off and ensures even cooking.
Skillet Method
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. This method gives you a fantastic crispy exterior.
The Ultimate Garlic Yogurt Sauce
No shawarma is complete without a creamy, tangy sauce. Our garlic yogurt sauce, often called Toum, is the perfect finishing touch. Simply mix Greek yogurt, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, finely minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. It’s cool, refreshing, and balances the warm spices of the chicken beautifully. For another delicious wrap idea, check out our Chicken Caesar Wraps.
How to Serve Your Shawarma
The classic way to serve chicken shawarma is in a warm pita bread wrap. Layer the sliced chicken with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, cucumber, and a generous drizzle of the garlic yogurt sauce. It’s also fantastic served as a platter with rice, hummus, and a simple salad like this Greek Cucumber Tomato Salad. Or, for a low-carb option, create a delicious power bowl similar to our Greek Chicken Power Bowl.
Tips for the Best Results
- Don’t skip the marinating time. This is crucial for both flavor and tenderness. A minimum of 2 hours makes a huge difference.
- Let the chicken rest. After cooking, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring every bite is moist.
- Slice it thin. For the most authentic texture, slice the cooked chicken into thin strips against the grain.
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover chicken shawarma in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat it in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave. The leftovers are perfect for quick lunches and meal prep.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the best flavor and tenderness, you should marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours. However, for truly exceptional results, marinating it overnight (8-24 hours) is highly recommended.
Chicken shawarma is most commonly served in a pita or flatbread wrap with toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a garlic yogurt or tahini sauce. It’s also delicious as a platter with rice, hummus, and a fresh salad.
Shawarma has a savory, warm, and aromatic flavor profile. The taste is a rich combination of spices, with smoky notes from paprika, earthiness from cumin, and a subtle tang from the yogurt and lemon marinade.
Chicken shawarma is made from chicken that has been marinated in a blend of spices like cumin, paprika, turmeric, and cinnamon, along with yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic. It’s then cooked and typically served in a pita wrap with vegetables and sauce.
Baking it on a sheet pan in a hot oven (425°F / 220°C) is one of the easiest and most effective methods. It ensures the chicken cooks evenly and develops delicious charred edges, similar to a traditional rotisserie.
The Best Chicken Shawarma Recipe
Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe (Authentic Flavor at Home)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, paprika, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth.
- Add the chicken thighs to the bowl, ensuring each piece is fully coated in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
- While the chicken cooks, prepare the garlic yogurt sauce. In a small bowl, mix together 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Season with salt to taste. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Spread the marinated chicken in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cooked through and slightly charred. Alternatively, cook in a hot skillet for 6-8 minutes per side.
- Let the cooked chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing it into thin strips.
- Serve the chicken shawarma warm in pitas or on a platter with your favorite toppings and a generous amount of garlic yogurt sauce.
Notes
Chicken thighs are recommended for juiciness, but chicken breasts can be used if preferred.
Serve with warm pita bread, chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers for a complete meal.
We hope you love making this delicious Chicken Shawarma Recipe. It’s a fantastic way to bring bold, international flavors to your dinner table with minimal effort. If you try it, please leave a comment below and share your creation on Pinterest!
