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Chicken Shawarma Recipe
5 from 84 votes

Chicken Shawarma Recipe

This Chicken Shawarma recipe features marinated boneless, skinless chicken thighs spiced with a blend of paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and black pepper. After marinating, the chicken is cooked in an air fryer or roasted in the oven until crisped and juicy. Served with a dill-infused tzatziki sauce, fresh vegetables, and warm pita or flatbread, it offers balanced Middle Eastern flavors and textures suitable for casual lunches or dinners.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Marinating Time
6 hrs
Total Time
6 hrs 45 mins
Calories: 288 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken thighs boneless; skinless
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin ground
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon cloves ground
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
Dill Tzatziki sauce
  • 1 cup Greek-style plain yogurt
  • 2 cucumber peeled, grated (squeeze excess moisture out, Persian
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 2 tablespoons dill finely chopped, fresh
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
Serving
  • pita bread or parathas
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce
  • 2 tomato diced
  • 2 cucumber peeled and cubed, Persian
  • ½ cup red onion thinly sliced

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large bowl mix together salt, garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground cloves, ground black pepper, lemon juice, and oil
  2. Add chicken and coat well. Allow to marinate for 2 hours or overnight.
  3. Preheat the Air Fryer at 400 F. Line the chicken in a single layer. Spread sliced onions on top. Air Fry at 380 F for 10 minutes. Turn over and cook for another 2 to 5 minutes. Note: My air fryer basket fits 4 to 5 chicken thighs at a time without overcrowding. I usually air fry chicken in 2 batches.
  4. Allow the chicken to rest for 2 minutes before cutting into thin strips.
Tzatziki
  1. Stir together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and dill in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Bread
  1. Warm up the pita breads, flatbreads or parathas
Serving
  1. Here is the classic way to serve shawarma - spread Tzatziki on the warm bread, top it with your favorite veggies, lettuce, and tomato are a must for me. Then layer over the sliced chicken. Roll up and enjoy.
  2. You can also serve them as Pita pockets. Bake the pita bread in the toaster oven until it fluffs up. Allow it to cool for a minute and then cut into half. Carefully open up each half and spread  Tzatziki inside. Add lettuce, tomatoes, and top with chicken.
  3. For a low-carb meal, serve the shawarma meat on a pile of crispy lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and drizzle with creamy yogurt Tzatziki. 

Notes

  • Chicken can be cooked in the oven at 425°F for 30 to 40 minutes, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F before resting and slicing.
  • Air frying requires cooking in batches to avoid overcrowding, with slices of onion added during cooking for flavor.
  • Fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and thinly sliced red onion add crunch and balance to the shawarma wraps.
  • Tzatziki sauce with fresh dill complements the spiced chicken and can be made ahead for convenience.

Nutrition Information

Calories 288kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 10g (3%) Protein 35g (70%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 146mg (49%) Sodium 1126mg (47%) Potassium 695mg (15%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 2103IU (42%) Vitamin C 12mg (13%) Calcium 101mg (10%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 288

% Daily Value*

Calories 288kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Protein 35g 70%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 146mg 49%
Sodium 1126mg 47%
Potassium 695mg 15%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 2103IU 42%
Vitamin C 12mg 13%
Calcium 101mg 10%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.