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Delicious grilled chicken tacos with fresh vegetables, crumbled cheese, and creamy sauce. Perfect for quick, flavorful meals.

Chicken Shawarma

Make this flavorful Chicken Shawarma in just minutes for an easy weeknight dinner. Serve with yogurt sauce, flatbread, and your favorite shawarma toppings.
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Course: Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keyword: chicken, easy recipe, gluten free, quick and easy, weeknight recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the shawarma blend (Makes 4 tablespoons)

  • 1 ½ teaspoons za’atar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cardamon
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon flakey salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cracked black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin

For the chicken

  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts OR 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil plus 1 tablespoon if cooking in a skillet
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons shawarma blend

For the yogurt sauce

  • ½ cup plain yogurt
  • 1 small garlic clove minced
  • teaspoon ground cumin
  • Good pinch of salt and pepper
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice to taste

For serving

  • 4 flatbreads
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • 2 large tomatoes diced
  • small red onion thinly sliced
  • cup feta crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro finely chopped

Instructions

  • Mix all spices for the shawarma blend in a bowl. Set aside 2 tablespoons to use now and store the rest in an airtight jar in the pantry for another time.
    1 ½ teaspoons za’atar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¾ teaspoon ground cardamon, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon flakey salt, 1 ½ teaspoons cracked black pepper, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • In a large bowl or a gallon-size zip-top storage bag, combine chicken, olive oil, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of the shawarma blend. Stir to coat the chicken well. Cover the bowl or seal the bag tightly and marinated in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. Chicken can be cooked immediately but the flavor will not be as flavorful.
    3 boneless skinless chicken breasts , 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil, 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons shawarma blend
  • While chicken marinates, make the yogurt sauce. Mix the yogurt, garlic, cumin, a pinch of salt and pepper, and ½ teaspoon of the lemon juice in a small bowl. Taste and add more salt, pepper, and/or lemon juice as desired. Cover and refrigerate if not using immediately.
    ½ cup plain yogurt, 1 small garlic clove, ⅓ teaspoon ground cumin, Good pinch of salt and pepper, ½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • When ready to cook, heat a large non-stick griddle pan or skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil and pan are hot, add the marinated chicken to the pan in an even layer. Allow to cook undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the first side is nicely charred. Flip the chicken pieces and cook on the other side for 3 to 4 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 165°F.
  • Alternatively, preheat air fryer to 390°F. Spray with olive oil; add chicken and spray the top of the chicken with a little more oil. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 165°F.

TO SERVE

  • To make a wrap, smear flatbread with yogurt sauce and top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onion, chicken, feta and a sprinkle of cilantro. Roll up and enjoy.
    4 flatbreads, 1 cup shredded lettuce, 2 large tomatoes, ⅓ small red onion, ⅓ cup feta, 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Fry skillet
  • Instant-read thermometer

Notes

Feel free to double or triple the shawarma blend to make a larger batch if you’d like. Blend can be stored in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place.
Store cooked and cooled chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Assembled wraps can be wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge for up to 1 day.

Nutrition

Serving: 1wrap | Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 476mg | Potassium: 626mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 796IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 190mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

All nutritional information provided is an estimate. For specific dietary needs or concerns, we recommend consulting a nutrition calculator or a qualified expert.

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