Middle Eastern Chicken Shawarma (Printable)

Tender marinated chicken with warm pita, fresh vegetables, and creamy garlic sauce

# What You Need:

→ Chicken Marinade

01 -
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -
06 -
07 -
08 -
09 -
10 -
11 -
12 -

→ Serving Components

13 -
14 -
15 -
16 -
17 -
18 -

→ Garlic or Tahini Sauce

19 -
20 -
21 -
22 -
23 -

# How To Make It:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Add chicken thighs to the marinade, turning to coat completely. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to overnight for optimal flavor penetration.
03 - Preheat oven to 425°F or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Line a baking sheet with foil if roasting.
04 - Arrange marinated chicken on the prepared baking sheet or grill pan. Roast or grill for 18-20 minutes, turning once, until cooked through and lightly charred.
05 - Let chicken rest for 5 minutes to retain juices, then slice thinly against the grain.
06 - Combine yogurt or tahini, minced garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Add water gradually to achieve drizzle-able consistency.
07 - Warm pita breads, then layer with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and pickles. Add sliced chicken and drizzle generously with sauce. Fold and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The marinade creates layers of flavor that develop beautifully overnight
  • It comes together quickly but tastes like you spent all day cooking
  • Everyone can customize their own wrap exactly how they like it
02 -
  • Letting the chicken rest before slicing keeps all those juices inside instead of running onto your cutting board
  • The sauce should be thin enough to drizzle easily, not thick like a dip
  • Warming your pita breads for 30 seconds makes them flexible instead of prone to cracking
03 -
  • Cooking chicken thighs with the bone in adds even more flavor, though they take a few extra minutes
  • Sumac sprinkled over the finished wrap adds authentic tangy brightness
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon over everything just before eating wakes up all the flavors

Go back