Easy Homemade Chicken Shawarma Recipe: Flavorful Weekend Win

Chicken shawarma changes ordinary poultry into a culinary adventure bursting with Middle Eastern flair.

Aromatic spices dance across tender meat, creating a sensory experience that transports you beyond standard dinner fare.

Traditional techniques merge with home kitchen convenience, allowing anyone to craft restaurant-quality flavors.

Marinating becomes an art form, infusing each protein morsel with complex, vibrant seasonings.

Layered spices like cumin, paprika, and garlic weave intricate taste profiles that make this dish irresistible.

Versatile and crowd-pleasing, these wraps serve as a delicious canvas for personal culinary creativity.

Street food meets home cooking in a delightful fusion that promises maximum flavor with minimal effort.

How to Keep Shawarma Fresh and Flavorful Later

• Refrigerate: Store leftover chicken shawarma in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Separate the chicken, vegetables, and sauce to maintain freshness and prevent sogginess.
• Reheat Oven: Warm chicken strips on a baking sheet at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, covering with foil to prevent drying out. Refresh pita bread by wrapping in a damp paper towel and heating briefly.
• Microwave Option: Reheat chicken in short 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even heating. Add a splash of water to keep meat moist and prevent rubbery texture.

Favorite Companions to Shawarma on the Plate

• Pair Zesty Wines: Crisp, light-bodied white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio perfectly complement the spicy and aromatic chicken shawarma, cutting through the richness while enhancing the complex Mediterranean flavors.
• Refresh with Mint Lemonade: Craft a cool mint lemonade that balances the warm spices in the shawarma. The bright, herbal notes of mint and citrusy tang create a refreshing counterpoint to the savory chicken.
• Match with Middle Eastern Sides: Serve alongside traditional mezze like tabbouleh, hummus, or fattoush salad. These classic accompaniments add textural variety and provide complementary Mediterranean flavors that elevate the entire meal experience.
• Cool Cucumber Tzatziki: Prepare a creamy cucumber tzatziki dip that echoes the garlic yogurt sauce. Its cool, tangy profile offers a delightful contrast to the spiced chicken and adds an extra layer of authentic Middle Eastern taste.

Spices and Marinades to Change the Flavor Profile

• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Kick up the heat by adding harissa paste to the marinade and mixing sriracha into the yogurt sauce for an extra fiery kick.
• Vegetarian Chickpea Swap: Replace chicken with roasted chickpeas seasoned with the same shawarma spices, creating a protein-packed plant-based version that's equally delicious.
• Greek-Style Chicken Plate: Transform the wrap into a deconstructed platter with chicken served over herbed rice, topped with tzatziki, and surrounded by kalamata olives and feta cheese crumbles.
• Low-Carb Lettuce Wrap Option: Skip the pita bread entirely and use large butter lettuce leaves as the wrap, making it perfect for carb-conscious eaters while maintaining all the authentic shawarma flavors.

Perks of Easy Homemade Chicken Shawarma

• Spice Up Your Life: The marinade transforms ordinary chicken into a flavor explosion with a perfect blend of cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne that dances on your taste buds.
• Effortless Gourmet Cooking: This recipe offers restaurant-quality shawarma with minimal prep time, using simple oven or air fryer methods that guarantee crispy, juicy chicken without complicated techniques.
• Customizable Meal Magic: Easily adaptable for different dietary preferences, allowing quick swaps of proteins or vegetables while maintaining the delicious Middle Eastern street food experience in the comfort of your kitchen.
• Family Feast in Minutes: Creates a fun, interactive meal that brings everyone together, letting each person build their own wrap with fresh ingredients and personalized toppings for a stress-free dinner solution.

All You’ll Need for Chicken Shawarma at Home

• Chicken Thighs or Breasts: Tender meat perfect for shawarma, boneless cuts provide best flavor and easy preparation.
• Olive Oil: Helps distribute spices and creates a beautiful golden color when cooking.
• Ground Cumin, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Ground Coriander: Authentic shawarma spice blend that provides deep, warm Middle Eastern flavors.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning to enhance overall taste profile.

• Pita Bread: Soft, traditional wrap for holding shawarma filling.
• Romaine Lettuce, Tomato, Persian Cucumbers: Fresh vegetables that add crunch and brightness to the dish.
• Fresh Parsley: Adds a vibrant, herbaceous note to the wrap.

• Greek Yogurt, Lemon Juice, Dijon Mustard: Creamy sauce base with tangy undertones.
• Garlic, Salt, Black Pepper: Seasonings that elevate the sauce's flavor complexity.

Cooking Method for Flavorful Homemade Shawarma

Step 1: Prepare Zesty Chicken Marinade

• Ground cumin
• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Ground coriander
• Salt
• Black pepper

Seal the bag tightly and massage until chicken is completely coated. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or ideally overnight, to let those flavors dance and mingle.

Step 2: Cook Perfectly Seasoned Chicken

Crank up your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread marinated chicken in a single layer, ensuring no pieces overlap. Bake for 15-20 minutes until edges crisp and chicken is thoroughly cooked. For speedier cooking, air fry at 375°F for 10-12 minutes.

Step 3: Craft Delicious Shawarma Wraps

• Chopped romaine lettuce
• Cooked chicken strips
• Diced tomatoes
• Sliced cucumbers
• Fresh chopped parsley

Step 4: Whip Up Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce

• Greek yogurt
• Fresh lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• Minced garlic
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 5: Assemble and Enjoy

Drizzle the creamy garlic yogurt sauce generously over your chicken and vegetables. Carefully fold or roll the pita bread to enclose all those mouthwatering ingredients. Serve immediately while everything is warm and inviting.

Pro Tip: For extra flavor, sprinkle some sumac or za’atar seasoning on top before serving for an authentic Middle Eastern touch.

Pro Tips for Juicy, Spiced Chicken Shawarma

• Maximize Marinade Magic: Let chicken soak in spices overnight for deeper, more intense flavor that penetrates every fiber.
• Prevent Dryness Disaster: Keep chicken moist by not overcooking; use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165°F without drying out.
• Boost Crispy Perfection: Pat chicken dry before marinating to help spices adhere better and achieve a crisp exterior when baking or air frying.
• Warm Wrap Wisdom: Briefly heat pita bread on a skillet or in the oven to enhance flexibility and prevent cracking when folding.
• Sauce Sensation: Prepare garlic yogurt sauce at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and intensify.

Easy Homemade Chicken Shawarma Recipe

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4.8 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Chicken shawarma brings Middle Eastern street flavors home with minimal effort. Juicy marinated chicken wrapped in warm pita promises a quick, delicious meal you can savor without traveling far.

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Ingredients

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Chicken:

• 1.5 pounds (680 grams) chicken thighs or breasts, skinless and boneless, sliced into 0.5-inch thick strips
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)

Wraps and Vegetables:

• 6 small pita bread
• 2 cups (80 grams) romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 2 Persian or mini cucumbers, diced
• 0.25 cup (15 grams) fresh parsley, finely chopped

Garlic Yogurt Sauce:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional)
• 0.5 teaspoon minced garlic
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Craft a robust marinade by blending aromatic spices with olive oil, thoroughly coating chicken strips in a sealed container to infuse deep, complex flavors. Allow the mixture to rest in the refrigerator, permitting spices to penetrate the meat completely.
2. Heat the oven to a precise temperature, creating an environment that transforms raw chicken into golden, crispy morsels. Arrange marinated strips on a lined baking surface, ensuring even exposure to heat for uniform cooking.
3. While chicken roasts, prepare fresh vegetable accompaniments by precisely chopping crisp romaine lettuce, ripe tomatoes, cool cucumbers, and fragrant parsley into uniform pieces.
4. Construct a velvety garlic yogurt sauce by whisking Greek yogurt with zesty lemon juice, pungent minced garlic, and subtle seasonings until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency.
5. Gently warm soft pita bread to enhance flexibility and prevent cracking during assembly.
6. Layer each pita with a verdant bed of lettuce, arrange succulent roasted chicken strips, and scatter vibrant vegetable medley across the surface.
7. Generously drizzle the creamy garlic yogurt sauce over the filled pitas, allowing flavors to meld and enhance the overall taste profile.
8. Carefully fold or roll the pita, creating a compact, portable meal that seals in warmth and captures the essence of traditional shawarma.

Notes

• Marinating overnight unlocks deep, complex flavors that will make your taste buds dance with excitement, turning an ordinary meal into a culinary adventure.
• Versatile cooking methods like oven-baking or air frying ensure you can whip up this delicious dish quickly.

• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 360
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 700mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 28g
• Cholesterol: 85mg