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    Home » Recipes

    Chicken Shawarma (Air Fryer, Grill and Oven)

    Last Updated: Nov 2, 2022 by Suzy Sakamoto · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Share on Facebook

    This Chicken Shawarma recipe is bursting with the best Mediterranean flavors and it is incredibly easy to make! Make it with chicken that's bathing in a delicious yogurt marinade full of the best spice blend. You can't pass it up!


    This is hands down one of the most incredible Mediterranean chicken recipes for dinner that's suited for any occasion! This Chicken Shawarma will promise to infuse your home with the scent of the best Mediterranean spices.

    Table of Contents

    • THE HISTORY OF CHICKEN SHAWARMA
    • SERVING SUGGESTIONS
    • CAN YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE IN ADVANCE
    • HOW LONG CAN THIS RECIPE STORE IN THE FRIDGE
    • A TIP FOR THIS RECIPE
    • Chicken Shawarma (Air Fryer, Grill and Oven Recipe!)
    • Try these similar recipes I've made!

    THE HISTORY OF CHICKEN SHAWARMA

    This Chicken Shawarma recipe is made regularly in Lebanon, as one of our go-to recipe for Lebanese chicken meals. It's packed with flavor in every bite. For as low effort it is to make, it sure is a Mediterranean chicken recipe to make on repeat! It's what we know as our street food.

    Shawarma is typically purchased in a small restaurant or a quick meal option in downtown Beirut in a sandwich form. The sandwich is traditionally packed with meat, fries, pickles, and Toum, which is a Lebanese garlic sauce. Yum! So our chicken shawarma recipe had to feature the authentic ingredients as well as add a couple fresh veggies that you would find in a restaurant Shawarma sandwich.

    There are so many ways to cook this chicken shawarma recipe, so we gave you our favorite options:

    Make in the air fryer for a quick and healthy chicken dinner.

    Grill outside on a nice day.

    Bake in the oven and fill your house with all the best spices.

    Don't pass up the opportunity to BBQ this chicken recipe! The spices come to life on the grill!

    The best way to serve pita is BBQed for about a minute! Toss the pita bread on the grill after cooking the chicken to slightly crisp it prior to serving!

    It couldn't be easier to make and will become one of your favorite Air Fryer chicken recipes for a quick and healthy Mediterranean diet meal.

    SERVING SUGGESTIONS

    Serve this Chicken Shawarma in a sandwich, how it traditionally served!

    To make Chicken Shawarma Sandwiches you will need:

    • Pita bread
    • Lebanese garlic sauce (Toum)
    • Tomatoes
    • Cucumbers
    • Red onion
    • Dill pickles
    • Radishes, optional

    Also, try my yummy citrusy hummus recipe!

    CAN YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE IN ADVANCE

    Yes! I typically make this recipe at lunch time to serve for dinner, or the night before to marinade overnight.

    HOW LONG CAN THIS RECIPE STORE IN THE FRIDGE

    If you end up with leftovers, store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Serve warm.

    FOR THIS RECIPE, YOU WILL NEED:

    1. Food processor, for simplicity. This one has been my favorite for years.
    2. Cutting board. I've had this style of cutting boards for years and love having multiple light weight options, for meals that I'm using veggies and seafood.
    3. A Knife.
    4. Measuring cups.
    5. Air Fryer, grill or oven. The Ninja Foodi is my absolute favorite Air Fryer, as you can also use it as an indoor grill. The best part is the built in digital thermometer!

    * I earn from qualifying purchases from the links at no extra cost to you.

    INGREDIENTS

    • 2 lbs chicken thighs boneless, skinless
    • ½ cup yogurt
    • ½ cup oil any
    • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tbsp minced fresh garlic about 7 cloves
    • 1 tbsp onion powder
    • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
    • 1 tbsp cumin
    • 2 tsp ground allspice
    • 2 tsp ground coriander
    • 1 pod cardamom chopped, or a pinch of ground cardamom
    • 1 tsp aleppo pepper flakes see notes
    • ½ tsp black pepper
    • 2 tsp salt

    A TIP FOR THIS RECIPE

    Double the spices and save in a jar for the next time you're looking for a mouth-watering skinless chicken thigh recipes!

    If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. Please share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!

    I'd love to see the dishes you've made using our recipes and share them with our followers! Please post them on social media and tag us on Facebook @perfecttide and Instagram @theperfecttide

    meat

    Chicken Shawarma (Air Fryer, Grill and Oven Recipe!)

    This Chicken Shawarma recipe is bursting with the best Mediterranean flavors and it is incredibly easy to make! You can't pass it up! Skinless chicken thighs, a creamy marinade with the most aromatic Mediterranean spices that take chicken to a new level!
    5 from 7 votes
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Course: Main Course
    Prep: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook: 15 minutes minutes
    Marinading: 4 hours hours
    Servings: 6 servings
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    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs chicken thighs boneless, skinless
    • ½ cup yogurt
    • ½ cup oil any
    • 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic about 7 cloves
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
    • 1 tablespoon cumin
    • 2 teaspoon ground allspice
    • 2 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1 pod cardamom chopped, or a pinch of ground
    • 1 teaspoon aleppo pepper flakes see notes
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • In a small mixing bowl, combine all the spices and salt.
    • In a large mixing bowl, mix the yogurt, oil, and vinegar. To the yogurt mixture, add the dry spices and mix to combine.
    • On a cutting board, tenderize the chicken thighs so they can best absorb the marinade.
    • Then, toss the chicken in the bowl of marinade and coat completely.
    • Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 4 hours, up to overnight (see notes).
    • Prior to cooking, remove the chicken and leave at room temp for 20-30 minutes for even cooking.

    Cooking Instructions

      On the grill:

      • If you plan to grill, be sure to reserve the marinade to brush on the chicken. I prefer to brush each side once with the extra marinade, to ensure they stay juicy and flavorful. Omit the brushing of the marinade if you left overnight.

      In the oven:

      • 425 degrees for approximately 30-40 minutes, or until the interior temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

      Air fryer:

      • Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Once preheated, cook the chicken shawarma in the air fryer for 16-18 minutes. I love how they turn out in the air fryer. Mine is the Ninja Air fryer, which has a built in food thermometer that makes cooking meat so easy!

      Notes

      If you don't have Aleppo pepper, substitute for a dash of red pepper flakes and smoked paprika. 
      If you are marinating the chicken overnight, do not brush another coat of marinade during the cooking process. Simply toss the marinade once you remove the chicken.
       
      To assemble the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich:
      Pita bread, Lebanese garlic sauce (Toum), Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onion, Dill pickles, and Radishes are optional.
       
      Keywords: air fryer chicken recipes, chicken dinner, chicken recipes, chicken recipes for dinner, easy chicken dinner, healthy mediterranean recipe, mediterranean chicken recipe, mediterranean diet recipes, recipe for lebanese chicken, shawarma, skinless chicken thigh recipes
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

        5 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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      1. Leia

        October 04, 2022 at 8:15 pm

        Tonight I wanted to try something new and have new aromas swirling around my kitchen. The dinner was flipping fantastic! I made it authentic by pairing the chicken with The Perfect Tide's toum recipe and found a delightful gluten free pita recipe. The pitas were not really pitas but a cross between a flour tortilla and naan bread. They were an amazing addition. Between the air fried chicken, tangy toum and crunchy veggies for a topper, this was the perfect combination of spices, texture and aromas. Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
        • THE PERFECT TIDE

          November 12, 2022 at 8:37 pm

          Thank you, Leia!!!

          Reply

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      seafood blogger in the pacific northwest

      Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

      Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! Growing up on the Mediterranean I cherish our current catch-and-cook lifestyle, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email, and in the meantime you can Shop My Kitchen!

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      Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

      Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! Growing up on the Mediterranean I cherish our current catch-and-cook lifestyle, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email, and in the meantime you can Shop My Kitchen!

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