Easy Chicken Shawarma (Authentic Middle Eastern)

Easy Chicken Shawarma (Authentic Middle Eastern)

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Recipe by sawera

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

35

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

• 1 kg (2 lb) chicken thigh fillets, skinless and boneless
  1 large garlic clove, minced
  1 tbsp ground coriander
  1 tbsp ground cumin
  1 tbsp ground cardamom
  1 tsp ground cayenne pepper (reduce for less heat)
  2 tsp smoked paprika
  2 tsp salt
  Black pepper to taste
  2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  3 tbsp olive oil

Directions

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
  1 clove garlic, crushed
  1 tsp cumin
  Fresh lemon juice squeeze
  Salt and pepper to taste
• 4-5 flatbreads (Lebanese, pita, or homemade options)
  Sliced lettuce (cos or iceberg varieties)
  Tomato slices
  Red onion, finely sliced
  Shredded cheese (optional)
  Hot sauce (optional)

Recipe Video

Preparing the ideal chicken shawarma wrap in the kitchen turns the most ordinary cooking day into a great masterpiece. The favorite Middle Eastern dish delivers the original ingredients directly into your kitchen and is, therefore, available to all home cooks eager to enjoy the magic of the traditional street food.

How to Make Easy Chicken Shawarma?

What is Chicken Shawarma?

Shawarma is another delicacy that originated in the Middle East but it is used as a favorite street food. The traditional method of preparation is to place spiced meats on a vertical rotisseries where thin slices are shaved off during the rotation of the rotisseries during the cooking process.

You do not have to worry that you do not have professional rotisseries, and you can have the same unbelievable flavors cooking by laying the meat horizontally in the ordinary pan or using the barbecue. The technique provides the natural flavor and is not based on any specialized equipment.

The meat used is traditionally made using lamb, mutton, and chicken and its contemporary forms usually feature beef also. Nowadays shawarma can be either served as a wrap or on plates with seasoned rice, fries and fresh salads which makes them suitable to most dining preferences.

Ingredients for Perfect Chicken Shawarma

For the Chicken and Marinade:

• 1 kg (2 lb) chicken thigh fillets, skinless and boneless
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 tbsp ground coriander
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp ground cayenne pepper (reduce for less heat)
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp salt
• Black pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil

For the Yogurt Sauce:

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp cumin
• Fresh lemon juice squeeze
• Salt and pepper to taste

For Serving:

• 4-5 flatbreads (Lebanese, pita, or homemade options)
• Sliced lettuce (cos or iceberg varieties)
• Tomato slices
• Red onion, finely sliced
• Shredded cheese (optional)
• Hot sauce (optional)

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

For best results, marinate the chicken overnight, though a minimum of 3 hours will work in a pinch. The marinade delivers intense flavor, so even shorter marinating times can produce excellent results.

Mix the marinade – Combine all marinade ingredients directly in a large ziplock bag for convenience. This bag method works best because the chicken remains nicely coated throughout the marinating process.

Add and massage – Add chicken to the marinade, then seal the bag while removing excess air. Massage from the outside to ensure each piece gets well coated with the flavorful mixture.

Marinate properly – Leave in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. If you’re pressed for time, 3 hours minimum will suffice for developing those essential flavors.

Preparing the Yogurt Sauce

Mix all yogurt sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside for at least 20 minutes to let flavors meld together perfectly. This sauce will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator, making it convenient for meal prep.

Cooking the Chicken

Heat your cooking surface – Use a large non-stick skillet with 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat, or lightly brush a BBQ hotplate with oil and heat to medium-high temperature.

Cook the chicken properly – Place chicken in the skillet or on the grill. Cook the first side for 4-5 minutes until nicely charred, then turn and cook the other side for 3-4 minutes. The second side takes less time due to residual heat.

Rest the chicken – Remove from heat and cover loosely with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring maximum tenderness.

Serving Your Chicken Shawarma

Wrap Style

The traditional way is to put it on a platter and leave the wrapping to everyone to do it. Eat the chicken which is cooked, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, yogurt sauce and warm flat breads to get the full experience.

To wrap, rinse in yogurt sauce, place fresh lettuce, tomato and chicken, and roll up nice and tight and take it right away as everything is hot.

Plate Style

Serve with the experienced rice and fresh salads beside it to make it more formal. Pita bread or flatbread, topped with a large spoonful of hummus or the made yogurt sauce are additions that give it a more classic Middle Eastern flavor and capture the traditional eating habits.

Perfect Side Dishes

Chicken shawarma pairs beautifully with various complementary dishes:

• Middle Eastern lentil rice (Mejadra)
• Lemon rice pilaf
• Rice pilaf with nuts and dried fruit
• Chickpea rice pilaf
• Greek salad (flavors complement Middle Eastern cuisine perfectly)
• Middle Eastern shredded cabbage, carrot, and mint salad
• Middle Eastern roasted vegetables with tahini drizzle
• Roasted pumpkin with yogurt sauce and pine nuts

Pro Tips for Success

Chicken Selection

Boneless, skinless thighs are preferred for their natural juiciness, but chicken breast and tenderloin work excellently too. For breast meat, cut horizontally to create thin steaks no thicker than 1cm for even cooking results.

Spice Control

The cayenne pepper provides the heat element – adjust or eliminate entirely if you prefer milder flavors. This dish contains plenty of other complex flavors to carry the overall taste profile.

Make-Ahead Magic

This recipe is perfect for meal prep! You can freeze the chicken in marinade – as it defrosts, it continues marinating. Cooked chicken can be made earlier in the day and reheated just before serving.

Cooking Methods

While grilling or stovetop cooking provides the best caramelization, you can also bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20-25 minutes until nicely browned if preferred.

Why This Recipe Works

This shawarma recipe of chicken is the one that can be cooked with the minimal amount of effort and providing the highest level of flavor. The mixture of common spices makes something quite remarkable, and cooking technique can be followed by any domestic.

It works well in terms of serving large groups of people, can be transported to outside events, and can be an interactive dining event in buffet mode. The cardamom, is the hidden ingredient that makes this marinade stand out in comparison to the rest of the spice mixes – it has a piney, citrusy flavor that is necessary to make this dish taste like true shawarma.

And whether you need to have a dinner party, or you are taking a camping meal, or you simply feel like bringing the Middle East magic in your weeknight dinner table, this chicken shawarma recipe will provide restaurant quality output each and every time.

Note: Numbers and temperature measurements were integrated naturally into cooking instructions rather than used as standalone keywords. The words “marry” and “me” appear to be unrelated to the chicken shawarma topic and were not included in the content.