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5 from 34 votes

Easy Shawarma-Spiced Chicken

This Easy Shawarma-Spiced Chicken is full of flavor and tantalizes your taste buds with the flavors of the Middle East. It is an easy stovetop version of the traditional dish, so you can enjoy it anytime.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time28 minutes
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean Recipes, Middle Eastern Recipes
Keyword: Chicken Shawarma, how to make shawarma, shawarma
Diet: Flexitarian, Gluten-Free, Mediterranean
Servings: 6
Calories: 340kcal

Ingredients

For the marinade

  • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ½ tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp allspice
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezd
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

For the Greek Yogurt Sauce

  • 1 cup Greek Yogurt
  • 1 clove garlic grated
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill leaves finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezd
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

To serve

  • Bib or Romaine lettuce leaves
  • tomato slices
  • cucumber slices

Instructions

Prepare the marinade

  • Mix the garlic, spices, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and whisk to combine.

Add the chicken to the marinade

  • Place chicken thighs in a large, sealable plastic bag and pour the marinade mixture on top. Seal the bag and gently turn to thoroughly coat the chicken. Place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Prepare the Greek yogurt sauce

  • Combine all ingredients in a glass or a non-reactive bowl and stir to combine. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Cook the chicken

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the bag and discard the remaining marinade.
  • Add the chicken to the hot skillet and brown on each side, approximately 2 minutes per side. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
  • Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking until chicken is cooked through, approximately 6-7 minutes per side. Remove from heat and let cool for several minutes.

Rest the chicken

  • Let the cooked chicken rest for at least 3 minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute and the chicken to remain juicy after you slice it.

Serve the chicken

  • Slice the chicken, arrange it on lettuce leaves, and top it with tomatoes and cucumbers. Drizzle with the yogurt sauce and serve immediately.

Notes

  • This recipe is best made with skinless, boneless chicken thighs. You can replace some chicken with chicken breasts if desired, but not all. This dish gets a lot of flavor from dark meat.
  • You can also cook the chicken on the BBQ.
  • For best results, plan to marinade the chicken for at least 3 hours or overnight.
  • Let the cooked chicken rest for at least 3 minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute and the chicken to remain juicy after you slice it.
  • This recipe stores well in the refrigerator. You can make a large batch and enjoy it for several days afterward. Just reheat the chicken before serving in a skillet over medium heat, add a little bit of liquid, and toss the chicken pieces until warm.
  • You can prepare this recipe ahead of time for quick weeknight meals. Double or triple this recipe and prepare several freezer bags with chicken and marinade. Then, place each bag in the freezer straight away. Then, pull out a bag the night before cooking; the chicken will defrost and marinate at the same time.

Nutrition

Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 549mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g