Chicken Shawarma Recipe (2024)

Published January 26, 2024.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This delicious Chicken Shawarma Recipe of spice-marinated chicken is tightly packed on a skewered and roasted to perfection for a favorite Middle Eastern dish. My family is obsessed with this recipe and loves the big, bold taste of it.

Making the same chicken dishes repeatedly can be bland for you and your family. Break out of your routine by making my deliciousArroz con PolloorButter Chicken.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (1)

Chicken Shawarma

Chicken Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern dish consisting of spiced marinated chicken (also veal or lamb) that is then skewered on a vertical spit and slowly roasted. Once cooked, thin slices of the meat are shaved as the spit turns. It is commonly served as is with rice or wrapped in a pita and served with other toppings such as Toum, Hummus, Sumac Onions, or an Israeli Salad.

Shawarma, also pronounced shawerma and shawirma, is said to have originated in Turkey in the 19th century, where it was known as Doner Kebab, or “rolled kebab.” It quickly spread in popularity to Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, where it is nearly the National dish of each of these countries. This is essentially the Middle Eastern version of the Greek Gyro.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (2)
  • Chicken – You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or a combination of both. While tedious, you could also use boneless, skinless chicken drums.
  • Oil – Olive or avocado oil works well in the marinade for this chicken shawarma.
  • Lemon – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is in the marinade to help balance out some of the spice and provide acid.
  • Yogurt – Any full-fat yogurt will work in this recipe. You can use regular or Greek yogurt.
  • Tomato Paste – This will help add some slightly sweet, acidic flavors to the chicken. You can substitute with pureed tomatoes.
  • Vinegar – Plain white distilled vinegar is best for this. You can also use red, white, or apple cider vinegar.
  • Spices – I used cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne, coriander, turmeric, and paprika. All can be ground spices, or watch my video below on how I handle the whole seeds and pods.
  • Garlic – Fresh minced garlic is best. You can substitute with 1 tablespoon of dry ground garlic.
  • Ginger – I grated fresh peeled ginger, but you can use 1 teaspoon of dry ground ginger.
  • Seasonings – Coarse salt and black pepper is what’s needed.

How to Make Chicken Shawarma

This is optional, but add the whole black peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, and cardamom pods to a medium-sized sauté pan and cook while occasionally stirring over low to medium heat until the spices become very fragrant, which takes about 4 to 6 minutes.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (3)

Add them to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind until finely ground.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (4)

Add the spices along with the cayenne, turmeric, paprika, garlic, ginger, salt, yogurt, oil, lemon juice, tomato paste, and vinegar to a large bowl and mix to combine. Set aside.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (5)

Gently pound the boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs until they are about ¼” to ½” thick. The goal is for them to be flat in all areas for even cooking.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (6)

Add the pounded chicken to the bowl of spices and yogurt and thoroughly mix to coat. Once mixed, cover and place in the refrigerator for 12 to 48 hours.

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Next, remove the chicken from the bowl and layer on to a vertical skewer, firmly stacking it until all the chicken is used.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (8)

Place on a rack in the lower third in the oven at 375° and cook for 1:15 to 1:30 or until it reads 165° internally.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (9)

Remove the chicken, let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes, and then thinly shave it using a sharp knife.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (10)

Serve as is or with assorted accompaniments or in a pita wrap. See the video below on other easy cooking methods if you do not have a vertical skewer. In addition, you’ll see how I make it into a wrap.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (11)

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead:You can make this up to 30 minutes ahead of time. Keep it warm in the oven, covered in foil, at low temperatures (200°) until it’s ready to be served.

How to Store:Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for five days. You can freeze this covered for up to 3 months. Thaw the chicken shawarma in the refrigerator until thawed before reheating.

How to Reheat:Add the desired amount of shawarma to a medium-sized pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water and heat over low heat until warm.

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (12)

Chef Notes + Tips

  • The easiest spice combination for a chicken shawarma is garlic, cumin, turmeric, ginger, coriander, paprika, and cayenne.
  • If you want the shawarma to be a little drier, you can forgo the yogurt and use an extra 3 tablespoons of olive oil instead.
  • Green or black cardamom pods will work for this dish.
  • Toasting the spices in a pan makes them more aromatic and flavorful.
  • The longer the marinade, the more intense in flavor it will become.
  • Here is a vertical skewer similar to the one I used in the picture and video. This is also good to use for Al Pastor or Gyros.

More Chicken Recipes

  • Chicken Vegetable Soup
  • Perfect Chicken Breasts
  • Chicken Parmigiana
  • Tuscan Chicken
  • Chicken Biryani

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (13)

Video

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Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Chicken Shawarma Recipe (14)

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5 from 11 votes

This Chicken Shawarma Recipe of spice-marinated chicken is packed on a skewered and roasted to perfection for a favorite Middle Eastern dish.

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon green cardamom pods
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon whole black pepper corns
  • 1 ½ tablespoons coarse salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/3 cup full fat yogurt
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • Zest and juice of 2 lemons
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 8 finely minced garlic cloves
  • 1 ” peeled piece of freshly grated ginger
  • 3 to 3 ½ pounds total boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs

Instructions

  • This is optional, but add the whole black peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, and cardamom pods to a medium-sized sauté pan and cook while occasionally stirring over low to medium heat until the spices become very fragrant, which takes about 4 to 6 minutes.

  • Add them to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind until finely ground.

  • Add the spices along with the cayenne, turmeric, paprika, garlic, ginger, salt, yogurt, oil, lemon juice, tomato paste, and vinegar to a large bowl and mix to combine. Set aside.

  • Gently pound the boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs until they are about ¼” to ½” thick. The goal is for them to be flat in all areas for even cooking.

  • Add the pounded chicken to the bowl of spices and yogurt and thoroughly mix to coat. Once mixed, cover and place in the refrigerator for 12 to 48 hours.

  • Next, remove the chicken from the bowl and layer it onto a vertical skewer, firmly stacking it until all the chicken is used.

  • Place on a rack in the lower third of the oven at 375° and cook for 1:15 to 1:30 or until it reads 165° internally.

  • Remove the chicken, let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes, and then thinly shave it using a sharp knife.

  • Serve as is or with assorted accompaniments or in a pita wrap. See the video below on other easy cooking methods if you do not have a vertical skewer. In addition, you’ll see how I make it into a wrap.

Notes

Make-Ahead:You can make this up to 30 minutes ahead of time. Keep it warm in the oven, covered in foil, at low temperatures (200°) until it’s ready to be served.

How to Store:Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for five days. You can freeze this covered for up to 3 months. Thaw the chicken shawarma in the refrigerator until thawed before reheating.

How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of shawarma to a medium-sized pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water and heat over low heat until warm.

The easiest spice combination for a chicken shawarma is garlic, cumin, turmeric, ginger, coriander, paprika, and cayenne.

If you want the shawarma to be a little drier, you can forgo the yogurt and use an extra 3 tablespoons of olive oil instead.

Green or black cardamom pods will work for this dish.

Toasting the spices in a pan makes them more aromatic and flavorful.

The longer the marinade, the more intense in flavor it will become.

Here is a vertical skewer similar to the one I used in the picture and video. This is also good to use for Al Pastor or Gyros.

Nutrition

Calories: 416kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 58gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 171mgSodium: 2104mgPotassium: 1153mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 837IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 3mg

Course: dinner, lunch

Cuisine: Middle East

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

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11 comments

    • Jamie Rains
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (15)

    The Chicken was fantastic- as was the salad, tout and the sumac onions … it’s now on my favorite list

    • Reply
    • sue😁
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (16)

    About to give this amazing recipe a go thank you so much ChefBilly 😁😋

    • Reply
    • sue😁
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (17)

    Going to amazing recipe thank you ChefBilly thank you 😁😋😍

    • Reply
    • sue
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (18)

    Thank you for your Amazing tasty recipe gosh just as well I can’t smell this 😁🤤ChefBilly 😋😂

    • Reply
    • Dianne
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (19)

    So flavorful! I alternated chicken breasts and chicken thighs. Had to cover the top with a little foil about 1/2 way through so it wouldn’t overcook. I marinaded for the 48 hours because I got busy, don’t recommend it. Meat got too crumbly, 12 hours would be my top to marinade. Used the oven method with the onion and skewer. I will make this again!

    • Reply
    • Linda Beachnau
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (20)

    I made this for Sunday dinner, along with Chef’s homemade pita bread and hummus. It was delicious! I was initially a little intimidated about toasting and grinding the spices, but found my coffee grinder worked perfectly – even on the cinnamon stick! This will definitely be a recipe I use again (and again, and again)

    • Reply
    • Tracy
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (21)

    Excellent! Even better than excellent! I don’t know how, but the way the chicken turned out was like a beef jerky flavor, even better! Tender, crisp, juicy, and oh sooo much flaaavor! This is a definite must-try recipe, verbatim.

    • Reply
    • Kim Bladdick
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (22)

    This is the best chicken I have ever eaten. I followed the recipe exactly and it was easy to follow. Thanks Chef Billy

    • Reply
    • Laura
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (23)

    Roasting the spices is key!!! I would not skip it! Great recipe!!

    • Reply
    • Bertrice
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (24)

    This is a 5 star rated dish. It has lots of flavor and is a versatile dish. I served this dish stuffed in pita pockets, topped with Tzatziki sauce and Arugula accompanied by a simple mediterranean tomato and cucumber salad. Great for tailgating!!!!

    • Reply
    • Joanne
    • Chicken Shawarma Recipe (25)

    My husband absolutely loved this dish. So much flavor!

    • Reply
Chicken Shawarma Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is shawarma marinade made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 2 pounds flap steak.
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil.
  • 1 1/2 large lemon, juiced.
  • 2 tablespoons allspice.
  • 1 tablespoon coriander.
  • 1 tablespoon paprika.
  • 1 tablespoon cumin.
  • 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt, to taste.

What is shawarma sauce made of? ›

Traditional Tahini Sauce or Tarator

Authentic beef shawarma however is always served with a tahini sauce, and not toum. This tahini sauce is often referred to as "tarator" in Lebanon and other Levant countries. Its simply made by whisking together tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper.

What does chicken shawarma contain? ›

The chicken, lettuce, tomato slices, onion, yogurt sauce and warmed flatbreads – homemade or store bought. If the chicken is on the larger side, I sometimes slice it. But if they are smaller, I tend to just leave them whole.

What is traditional shawarma made of? ›

How Shawarma is Made. Shawarma is marinated with various seasonings and spices such as cumin, turmeric, and paprika. It is made by stacking thinly sliced meat, typically lamb, beef, or chicken, on a large rotating skewer or cone. It is also sometimes cooked with extra fat from the meat to give it a juicer taste.

What are the 3 most common foods put in the shawarma? ›

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.

What makes shawarma taste like shawarma? ›

Shawarma is traditionally seasoned with spices like cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and paprika to create a sweet-spiced, warm, and earthy flavor profile in the roasted meat.

What is traditionally in a shawarma? ›

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 makes shawarma so good? ›

People love shawarma because of how meaty it is while still being a healthy food to eat. The way the meat is grilled indeed added to that undeniably great taste. Moreover, it contains various vegetables and sauces and can be eaten in multiple ways. That gives people its authentic taste and unique experience.

What is the flavor of shawarma? ›

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.

What is unhealthy in shawarma? ›

The fatty meats used in shawarma are often high in saturated fats, which can lead to heart problems if consumed in excess. For these reasons, it is important to enjoy shawarma in moderation.” “Shawarma is very high in sodium, which may make it bad for heart health.

What is difference between shawarma and gyro? ›

While gyros usually come with the same combo of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, shawarmas are often topped with a medley of pickled fruits and veggies. Shawarma is a predecessor to tacos al pastor, a Mexican dish made of spit-grilled pork.

What do you eat with chicken shawarma? ›

Serve chicken shawarma with Mediterranean vegetables, yogurt sauce, and couscous if desired. For meal prep, divide six equal servings into meal prep containers. These will keep in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to a month.

What is shawarma called in USA? ›

When people in America hear the term shawarma, they think of gyro, and while gyro is prepared the same way as shawarma, it is not created using the same kind of meats. Gyro is made with ground meat, lamb, beef, or goat. It is also served with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and tzatziki.

What kind of 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. Shawarma is the ultimate on-the-go meal.

What's the difference between shawarma and 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 the difference between gyro and shawarma seasoning? ›

Shawarma is from the Middle East, and is seasoned with cumin, coriander, and turmeric, while Gyro, a Greek dish, is flavored with more Mediterranean rosemary, thyme, and marjoram.

Why does chicken shawarma taste so good? ›

Flavorful Seasonings: Shawarma is typically made with a combination of aromatic spices, including cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and garlic, which create a rich and complex flavor profile. The seasonings are what give shawarma its distinct and delicious taste.

What makes shawarma taste good? ›

The distinctive flavor of shawarma spice comes from its main ingredients, including ground cumin, coriander, and black pepper. Other additions include cinnamon, cloves, allspice and dried mint. In some recipes, you'll also find nutmeg and cardamom.

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.

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