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Chicken Shawarma

Chicken shawarma with aromatic spice-rubbed chicken thighs, marinated in lemon-garlic spices and grilled until charred. Slice thin and serve in warm pita with a tahini drizzle plus fresh vegetables and pickles.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
marinating 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Calories: 620

Ingredients
  

Chicken and spice marinade
  • 2 lb chicken thighs, boneless
  • 0.25 cup olive oil
  • 0.25 cup lemon juice
  • 4 garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper
  • Salt and pepper to taste
For serving
  • 6 Pita bread
  • 1 tahini sauce
  • 1 tomatoes
  • 1 cucumbers
  • 1 onions
  • 1 pickles

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the marinade
  1. In a bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper until the spice-rub mixture looks evenly blended, with no dry clumps. Visual cue: the mixture should be speckled and cohesive rather than separated.
Marinate
  1. Add chicken thighs to the marinade and coat thoroughly, then cover and refrigerate for 4-24 hours so the flavors fully absorb. Visual cue: the chicken surface should look uniformly coated and slightly darker from the spices.
Grill the chicken
  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and place the marinated chicken on the grates, cooking 6-7 minutes until the outside is well charred. Visual cue: dark grill marks appear and juices run clear when pierced.
  2. Flip the chicken and grill another 6-7 minutes until cooked through, keeping the heat at medium-high. Visual cue: the thickest pieces no longer look raw and the char stays prominent.
Rest, slice, and serve
  1. Let the grilled chicken rest, then slice thinly for easy pita filling. Visual cue: the slices separate into tender strips rather than tearing.
  2. Warm the pita bread and assemble sandwiches with sliced chicken, tahini sauce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and pickles. Visual cue: tahini drizzle is visible on top with colorful vegetables peeking out.

Notes

Pro tip: for maximum flavor, keep the chicken fully submerged/coated in marinade so every surface gets the spice rub. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; freeze sliced chicken only (without vegetables) for up to 2 months and rewarm before assembling. For a lighter option, use chicken breast (adjust grilling time slightly) and reduce tahini sauce to a thin drizzle.