Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes

Easy Chicken Shawarma is ready in under 40 minutes. After making this dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to crispy, juicy shawarma at home. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Samoa Cookie Pie Recipe with Caramel and Coconut and Refreshing Orzo Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta.

What You'll Need for Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Optional: Lettuce
• Optional: Tomatoes
• Optional: Red onions
• Optional: Pita bread
• Optional: Tahini sauce

How to Make Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes

1. Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper, and turmeric. Add chicken breasts and coat evenly. Let it marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Cook the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
3. Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Serve: Slice the chicken and serve it on a bed of lettuce with tomatoes, red onions, and pita bread. Drizzle the sauce on top.

Storing & Reheating Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can marinate the chicken ahead of time and cook it just before serving.

Freezing Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes

Freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a spicier shawarma, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the marinade.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with turkey or tofu.
• Make-ahead: You can cook the chicken ahead of time and reheat it before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
• Troubleshooting: If your chicken is not cooking evenly, try pounding it to an even thickness before cooking.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes

⏱

Prep

30 mins

🍳

Cook

15 mins

⏳

Total

45 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp turmeric

Seasonings

• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp salt

Optional Toppings

• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Red onions
• Pita bread
• Tahini sauce

Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper, and turmeric. Add chicken breasts and coat evenly. Let it marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Cook the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
3. Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Serve: Slice the chicken and serve it on a bed of lettuce with tomatoes, red onions, and pita bread. Drizzle the sauce on top.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a spicier shawarma, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the marinade.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with turkey or tofu.
• Make-ahead: You can cook the chicken ahead of time and reheat it before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
• Troubleshooting: If your chicken is not cooking evenly, try pounding it to an even thickness before cooking.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
• Make ahead: You can marinate the chicken ahead of time and cook it just before serving.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 22g
• Carbs: 8g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 80mg
• Sat. Fat: 4g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!