Chicken Shawarma is one of our favorite dishes to make! It’s hearty, bursting with flavor, and our take on this beloved dish is both easy and uncomplicated — trust us when we say that having this chicken recipe in your repertoire is a game-changer.
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What is Chicken Shawarma
Shawarma is a traditional cooking method commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. You can make shawarma using lamb, beef, chicken, or any animal protein of your choice! You can even make vegan shawarma using mushrooms or plant-based meat alternative.
The fundamental part of making shawarma is the marinade. It is key to developing the depth of flavor that is characteristic of a shawarma. Historically, shawarma would be slow roasted over multiple days, rotating on skewers over a fire pit. But don’t worry, you won’t need more than a couple hours to cook our version of chicken shawarma!
The perfect spice blend
If you have been regularly making Food Dolls recipes, then you know we love a good spice blend. It is so fun to combine different flavors together to make a delicious seasoning!
For this recipe, we use:
- Smoked paprika is one of our favorite spices! Ground paprika was originally developed in Hungary by smoking peppers over an open fire and drying them out. The combination of peppers along with amount of the smoke exposure determines the flavor of the spice. There are all sorts of flavors from spicy to smokey to sweet!
- Cumin is an earthy spice that is made by grinding up the seed pod. It provides warmth to every dish and is oftentimes found in Indian curries. Cumin is said to have anti-inflammatory properties due to the high amount of antioxidants it has!
- Onion powder is an underrated spice that we absolutely love! It is not meant to be used in place of onion, but it helps to bring out that classic oniony flavor without the intense bite.
- Interestingly enough, coriander is the seed of the cilantro plant! It can be used in its whole seed form for a more potent burst of flavor, or it can be used ground up. We recommend ground coriander for this recipe as it lends itself well to the marinade.
- Salt and Pepper are the two basics for any spice rub! Salt is the magic seasoning that helps bring all the flavors of a dish to life. It naturally enhances each flavor, while pepper brings in the warmth. Together they complete every dish!
What is the best kind of chicken to use for Chicken Shawarma
We strongly believe that there are no hard and fast rules with any of our recipes. We encourage you to get creative and use our recipes as a starting point. And that goes for ingredients – like the type of chicken to use for our chicken shawarma. You can really use any type of chicken for this recipe and it will turn out delicious!
For the very best result, though, we recommend using chicken thighs. Chicken thighs have a higher fat content compared to other parts of the chicken. This is why chicken thighs and drumsticks are so juicy! Because of their high-fat content, chicken thighs can retain more moisture than chicken breasts. They also tend to be thinner, and more uniform in shape and size. This means they will cook more evenly. Lastly, the fat structure of chicken thighs makes them so tender.
Really though, you can’t go wrong with any cut of chicken. Our main recommendation is to try your best to cut the pieces around the same size. This will ensure an even cook. Whether you choose chicken breast or thighs, it will turn out to be delish!
How to make Chicken Shawarma
- Place the chicken thighs in a bowl.
- Sprinkle seasoning on top of chicken. Follow by adding the yogurt, tomato paste, lemon juice, and olive oil. Rub everything together so that the pieces of chicken are thoroughly coated.
- Arrange the chicken thighs on skewers, pushing them together tightly.
- Prepare a deep baking dish by lining it with aluminum foil. You will want to make sure that the width of the dish is shorter than the length of the skewers. This will allow you to rest the skewers on the sides of the dish.
- Place the ends of the skewers on the rim of a deep baking dish. You want to make sure that the chicken is not touching the bottom.
- Bake in the oven at 425 degrees covered for 25 minutes. Remove foil and cook for an additional 25-30 minutes.
- Use a sharp knife to shave slices off the chicken and serve!
Alternative Method: As you can see in the pictures, we roasted our chicken on a vertical spit! This is a fun way to achieve more authentic chicken shawarma. Simply follow the recipe instructions. Then, instead of skewering the chicken and placing it on a baking sheet, layer it on the skewer, and bake as normal.
How to store Chicken Shawarma
Chicken shawarma makes the best leftovers! You can eat straight from the fridge as is, adding it to a salad or rolling it up into a wrap with some veggies and hummus. We recommend storing leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
How to eat Chicken Shawarma
This is such a great recipe because it focuses on a single component of dinner – the protein! Chicken Shawarma is a crowd pleaser, whether you are cooking for just yourself or for a large group.
Chicken Shawarma is a versatile protein. You can serve it over a bed of rice with some vegetables. You can also serve it as a part of a “make-your-own-pita” station with some fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, tzatziki, and za’atar to sprinkle on top.
Here is a list of recipes that pair perfectly with our Chicken Shawarma:
- Our Egyptian Tomato and Cucumber Salad is light and refreshing. You can serve it as a side or add the chicken right in!
- For something a bit more indulgent, try our Creamy Parmesan Spinach Orzo Pasta. It is absolutely delish! The texture is thick and velvety and balances out the spices in our Chicken Shawarma.
- Try adding Chicken Shawarma to a platter with our Burrata with Roasted Tomatoes and Za’atar Pita. This is a great way to serve Chicken Shawarma to a crowd! Because these are all finger foods, everyone can serve themselves.
- A side of rice always goes well! This Coconut Turmeric Rice or Veggie Rice would be perfect!
If you love this recipe, we bet you’ll fall head over heels for our Oven Baked Chipotle Chicken Skewers.
Common Questions about Chicken Shawarma
Not necessarily! The traditional spice blend is aromatic and flavorful but not overly spicy. If you prefer some heat, feel free to add chili powder or cayenne pepper to the marinade.
We love it with a creamy garlic sauce, known as toum! Tahini-based sauces or a refreshing cucumber-yogurt sauce (tzatziki) also work well.
Yes, you can! Use a heavy skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat to cook the marinated chicken until it’s nicely charred and cooked through.
While it’s not necessary to marinate the chicken for a lengthy period of time, if you choose to, you can do it for up to 12 hours.
Chicken Shawarma
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 2 teaspoons salt to taste
- 1 teaspoons black pepper to taste
- 1 cup yogurt
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- juice of 1/2 lemon or 3 tbsp
- 1 Tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in a bowl.8 chicken thighs
- Sprinkle the seasonings on top of chicken. Follow by adding the yogurt, tomato paste, lemon juice and olive oil. Rub everything together so that the pieces of chicken are thoroughly coated.1 cup yogurt, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon coriander, 3 Tablespoons tomato paste, 2 teaspoons salt, juice of 1/2 lemon or 3 tbsp, 1 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoons black pepper
- Arrange the chicken thighs on skewers, pushing them together tightly.
- Prepare a deep baking dish by lining it with aluminum foil. You will want to make sure that the width of the dish is shorter than the length of the skewers. This will allow you to rest the skewers on the sides of the dish.
- Place the ends of the skewers on the rim of a deep baking dish. You want to make sure that the chicken is not touching the bottom. Or, stack the chicken on a vertical skewer.
- Bake in the oven at 425 degrees covered for 25 minutes. Remove foil and cook for an additional 25-30 minutes.
- Use a sharp knife to shave slices off the chicken and serve!
Video
Equipment
Notes
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I used the recommended pan and after an hour twenty the chicken was raw in the middle 🙁 had to deconstruct it and throw it on a baking sheet. The flavor is amazing tho
We’re sorry to hear this, Maria. We’ve never had that happen. Did you use really thick pieces by chance?
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Hi! Bought the skewer pan to make this & it was delicious! Took a bit longer than specified but 16 yr old approved. thnx! all your recipes have been fantastic ❤️👍
Looks simple and delicious and I love chicken thighs.
Could you clarify the foil use please? We line the baking dish with foil underneath the chicken on skewers. Then we remove that foil? Or do we cover it with foil as well? And remove THAT foil?
Sorry if I’m being a bit stupid.
Hi girls I saw your little video on Facebook. I made it the same day and it was AMAZING. Thank you so much for sharing your delicious food with us.
You’re very welcome, Wendy! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Great recipe marinated
the chicken for 5 hours was beautiful made
the chicken in to kebabs and a fattoush salad
also delicious thanks for sharing these great
recipes.
Thank you, Mady! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Amazingly delicious. Takes longer to cook
Please post more diff. Recipes also
I made the chicken swawarma tonight and it was a great success! But! I learned that I need to flatten the chicken and cut it into a smaller size before I marinate it. Also, the inside doesn’t cook as fast so it’s best to cut small outside pieces off and keep them warm so the inside can cook. I will definitely make this again.
Thank you for the feedback, Karin! We’re glad you enjoyed the recipe. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Do I cover the chicken with foil when cooking?
Yes, you’ll want to bake covered for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil, and continue to bake!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
I am not understanding the cooking time.. This is taking almost 2 hours to cook.. so it reaches internal of 165 degrees..
Sorry to hear this, Cindy! We’ve never had it take that long. Did it still taste okay?
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
If you cook on a vertical spit, do you still need foil? or just put on the spit and bake for 50-55 minutes? looks tasty!
Just put it on the spit, and bake. We hope you enjoy!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Just amazingly delicious. We loved it
Plse keep posting more recipes
Thank you so much, Rekha! 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
This recipe is very tasty but I also ordered the pan and the chicken is not even close to being done in the set time.
Thank you for the feedback, Chrysa! We’re glad you still enjoyed the recipe. How long did it take to cook for you?
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
I rarely comment on recipes but this one deserves it.
Turned out exactly as expeceted on the vertical skewer/dish in the weber charcoal grill!
Kids ate it like there was no tomorrow!
Thanks!
Thank you, Eric! We’re so happy to hear this!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
This is our new obsession, I make it once a week – so yummy!
Thank you, Sarah! We’re so happy to hear this!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Question – I just bought a vertices skewer, do I also cover with foil and take it off half way through? Also, when I put the vertical skewer on the grill outside – how long do you recommend grilling?
I would love to know this also
can u use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes! They won’t be quite as juicy but still tasty. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
It’s difficult to find onion powder where I live in the UK (not in Lidl or Aldi). Should I use garlic powder or a bit of grated onion instead?
We would try grated fresh onion! We hope you enjoy!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
I can buy onion powder in Sainsburys and Tesco. Not every store has it so you may have to try a few
Otherwise I’d suggest Amazon.
Made these for tea last night they were a big hit on the make again list. Thank you.
We’re so glad! Thank you for trying it out, Helen. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Hello sisters! I made this last night and paired it with your Mediterranean one pot orzo. What a delicious meal! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all of your amazing recipes!!
We’re so happy to hear this! Thank you for trying out the recipes, Theresa! 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Why do you have to skrewer the chicken? Wondering if you could just bake it in the pan. I would like to try this out some time. Just don’t like using wooden skewers and don’t own metal ones. Will rate once I make it.
You can! We have this easy sheet pan shawarma recipe, too. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Absolutely love this! Would organic sour cream substitute for the yogurt in a pinch?
Thank you, Ryan! Yes, sour cream will work if you don’t have yogurt on hand.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
too many ads on your page. it covers content
We do our best to mitigate the ads but don’t always have on control over them. They’re how we’re able to continue providing free recipes! We hope you continue to enjoy the site.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Push print and you get the recipe without the ads…then you can screenshot it
What kind of yogurt is needed? Plain regular? Or plain Greek?
We use plain in this recipe, but you can definitely use Greek!
This looks delicious! We’re still melting in Texas and 50-55 min seems like too much time to have the oven on. Have you tried skewering the pieces individually and cooking for less time? If so, how long do you recommend? If not, might you have some recommendations? Thanks for the yummy recipes!
Yes, you can do that! Otherwise, this works on the grill as well!
Super easy recipe! Taste was perfect. I felt like my coating was a little grainy after baking…any tips?