Quick & Juicy Homemade Chicken Shawarma Recipe You’ll Love

Chicken shawarma blends vibrant Middle Eastern culinary traditions with irresistible flavor profiles that tantalize taste buds.

Marinated meat upgrades ordinary dinners into extraordinary culinary adventures with its aromatic spices and tender texture.

Authentic techniques elevate this street food classic into a home-cooked masterpiece that connects culture and comfort.

Fragrant herbs and carefully balanced seasonings create a sensory experience that transports you across continents.

Subtle blends of warming spices infuse each tender bite with complex, multilayered sensations that awaken the palate.

Family gatherings and weeknight meals become instantly more exciting when this dynamic dish takes center stage.

The perfect balance of technique and passion turns simple ingredients into a memorable dining experience.

Why Chicken Shawarma Belongs in Your Rotation

• Burst with Exotic Spices: The marinade combines a symphony of Middle Eastern spices like cumin, paprika, turmeric, and cinnamon, creating a mouthwatering flavor explosion that transforms ordinary chicken into a culinary adventure.
• Effortless Gourmet Cooking: This recipe delivers restaurant-quality shawarma with minimal prep, using simple oven-baking techniques that guarantee juicy, golden-brown chicken without complicated equipment or professional skills.
• Quick and Versatile Meal Solution: Ready in under an hour (with just 30 minutes of active cooking), this dish works perfectly for busy weeknights, casual gatherings, or when you're craving something beyond basic chicken recipes with maximum flavor impact.
• Fresh and Vibrant Assembly: The combination of crisp romaine, juicy tomatoes, cool cucumber, and tangy yogurt sauce adds layers of freshness and texture that complement the spiced chicken, making each bite a delightful sensory experience.

Ingredients That Bring Shawarma to Life

• Chicken Thighs: Tender meat with rich flavor, best when boneless and skinless for even marination and cooking.

• Olive Oil, Lemon Juice: Creates a bright, acidic base that tenderizes and adds depth to chicken's flavor.
• Garlic: Provides robust, aromatic foundation with sharp and earthy notes.
• Cumin, Paprika, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Coriander: Authentic Middle Eastern spice blend offering warm, complex flavor profile.
• Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Cloves, Salt: Adds heat, warmth, and seasoning balance to the marinade.

• Pitas: Soft, warm bread perfect for wrapping shawarma.
• Romaine Lettuce: Crisp green that adds fresh crunch.
• Tomatoes, Cucumber: Fresh vegetables that provide moisture and lightness.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional spicy garnish for extra kick.

• Greek Yogurt, Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Garlic: Creamy, tangy sauce that complements the spiced chicken with cool, smooth texture.

How to Make Chicken Shawarma at Home

Step 1: Prepare Flavorful Chicken Marinade

• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Garlic
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Turmeric
• Cinnamon
• Coriander
• Black pepper
• Cloves
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt

Whisk all marinade ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add chicken thighs and thoroughly coat them. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for minimum 2 hours or overnight for deeper flavor infusion.

Step 2: Roast Chicken And Onions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray. Add sliced onions into marinade and mix. Transfer chicken and onions onto prepared baking sheet. Bake until chicken turns golden brown and fully cooked, approximately 30 minutes. Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.

Step 3: Create Creamy Yogurt Sauce

• Greek yogurt
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Minced garlic

Season with salt and red pepper flakes. Mix until smooth and well-blended.

Step 4: Assemble Shawarma Wraps

Warm pita bread. Layer with sliced chicken, roasted onions, romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, cucumber slices, and generous drizzle of yogurt sauce. Roll or fold and enjoy immediately.

Expert Tips for Authentic Flavor

• Marinate Masterfully: Allow chicken to soak in spices for at least 2 hours or overnight to develop deep, rich flavors that penetrate every fiber.
• Slice Strategically: Cut chicken against the grain into thin, uniform pieces to ensure tender, easy-to-eat bites that capture maximum seasoning.
• Roast Perfectly: Use a high-temperature oven and spread chicken in a single layer to achieve golden, crispy edges without drying out the meat.
• Sauce Secrets: Adjust yogurt sauce consistency by adding a splash of water if too thick, and taste before serving to balance lemon and garlic notes.
• Pita Pro Tip: Warm pitas briefly in a skillet or oven to enhance their softness and make them more pliable for wrapping shawarma.

Storing and Reheating Shawarma Properly

• Refrigerate: Transfer chicken shawarma and components into separate airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking. Store in refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Separate Storage: Keep yogurt sauce, sliced chicken, and vegetables in individual containers to maintain freshness and prevent sogginess.
• Reheat Chicken: Warm sliced chicken in microwave for 30-45 seconds or in skillet over medium heat until internal temperature reaches 165°F, stirring occasionally to prevent drying out.

What to Serve with Chicken Shawarma

• Spice Up Your Drink: Pair this aromatic chicken shawarma with a refreshing mint lemonade that complements the warm spices and cuts through the richness of the dish.
• Cool Down with Yogurt: Match the creamy yogurt sauce with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, which balances the tangy and spicy flavors of the shawarma.
• Mediterranean Sidekick: Serve alongside a traditional tabbouleh salad to enhance the Middle Eastern culinary experience, adding freshness and herbal notes to each bite.
• Brew Some Zest: Enjoy with a cold Lebanese beer like Almaza, which provides a light, crisp contrast to the bold spices and helps cleanse the palate between bites.

Regional Variations to Explore

• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Transform the recipe by adding harissa paste to the marinade for a bold, fiery kick and replacing Greek yogurt with a spicy sriracha-yogurt blend.
• Herb Garden Chicken: Incorporate fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano into the marinade for a fragrant, garden-fresh flavor profile that elevates the traditional shawarma.
• Grilled Street-Style Version: Skip the oven and grill the marinated chicken on a barbecue, creating charred edges and smoky undertones that capture authentic street food essence.
• Vegetarian Chickpea Alternative: Swap chicken with roasted chickpeas, using the same spice blend and serving in pitas with additional grilled vegetables for a plant-based adaptation.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe

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4.5 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent Middle Eastern chicken shawarma brings exotic spices and tender meat to your plate. Marinated in yogurt and aromatic seasonings, this dish delivers rich flavors you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 lbs (907 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 large red onion, sliced

Spices and Seasonings:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) ground paprika
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) ground turmeric
• ½ tablespoon (7.5 milliliters) ground cinnamon
• ½ tablespoon (7.5 milliliters) ground coriander
• ¼ tablespoon (3.75 milliliters) ground black pepper
• ¼ tablespoon (3.75 milliliters) ground cloves
• ¼ tablespoon (3.75 milliliters) cayenne pepper
• ½ tablespoon (7.5 milliliters) salt
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of 1 lemon

Yogurt Sauce and Serving:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt, to taste
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• Warmed pitas
• Romaine lettuce, chopped
• Tomatoes, diced
• Cucumber, sliced

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Instructions

1. Craft a robust marinade by blending aromatic spices with olive oil and citrus, creating a deep flavor profile that will infuse the chicken with Middle Eastern essence.
2. Submerge chicken thighs completely in the spice mixture, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Refrigerate for a minimum of two hours, allowing the marinade to penetrate and tenderize the meat.
3. Heat the oven to a high temperature, preparing a baking sheet with a light coating of cooking spray to prevent sticking and promote crispy edges.
4. Incorporate sliced onions into the marinade, which will absorb the complex spice blend and caramelize during roasting.
5. Arrange marinated chicken and onions on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring even spacing for consistent cooking and optimal browning.
6. Roast until the chicken develops a golden, crispy exterior and reaches complete internal doneness, approximately 30 minutes.
7. Allow the chicken to rest briefly, which helps redistribute internal juices and ensures maximum tenderness when slicing.
8. Prepare a vibrant yogurt sauce by whisking together creamy Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, and a hint of red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
9. Slice the roasted chicken into thin, uniform strips that will nestle perfectly in warm pita bread.
10. Assemble the shawarma by layering tender chicken, caramelized onions, crisp romaine, juicy tomatoes, and cool cucumber slices into soft pita bread.
11. Drizzle the zesty yogurt sauce generously over the filled pitas, enhancing the dish with a creamy, tangy finish.

Notes

• Marinate chicken for maximum flavor by letting it soak in the spice blend for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight, to ensure deep, rich taste penetration.
• Select boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicier, more tender results compared to chicken breasts, which can dry out easily during baking.
• High-temperature roasting at 425°F creates a delicious golden exterior while keeping the inside moist and perfectly cooked in just 30 minutes.
• Customize your yogurt sauce by adjusting spice levels with red pepper flakes or adding fresh herbs like mint or dill for extra complexity.
• Warm pitas slightly before assembling to enhance their softness and make them more pliable for wrapping the shawarma ingredients.
• Slice chicken thinly against the grain after a brief resting period to help retain moisture and make each bite more tender and enjoyable.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 500
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg