Description
Tender, juicy Middle Eastern-style chicken marinated in warm spices, grilled or roasted to perfection, and served with a creamy homemade garlic sauce — a restaurant-quality Chicken Shawarma you can make at home.
Ingredients
- For the Chicken Marinade:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for spice)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- For the Garlic Sauce (Toum):
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3–4 cloves garlic, finely grated or pressed
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- For Serving:
- Warm pita bread or wraps
- Fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, pickles (optional)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, salt, pepper, cayenne, and lemon juice. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight for best flavor).
- Cook the Chicken: Preheat grill, grill pan, or oven to 425°F (220°C). Grill or roast chicken for 20–25 minutes, turning once, until golden brown and cooked through. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
- Make the Garlic Sauce: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, grated garlic, olive oil, and salt. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Assemble Shawarma: Spread garlic sauce over warm pita bread. Add sliced chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickles. Roll tightly or serve open-faced.
- Serve with extra garlic sauce on the side.
Notes
- For authentic flavor, use chicken thighs — they stay juicier than breasts.
- You can cook the chicken on an outdoor grill, stovetop grill pan, or bake it in the oven.
- For a lighter garlic sauce, replace half of the mayo with Greek yogurt.
- Make it a platter: serve chicken with rice, salad, and pita instead of a wrap.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilled / Roasted
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern