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This bootleg Chicken Shawarma is made in the oven and is so wonderfully flavorful! The marinaded craven is i that I've perfected over the years of making this recipe for my family and trying to replicate the flavor from my favorite Lebanese restaurants. Information technology'due south total of flavor, juicy and easy to brand!

Chicken shawarma served in a plate with fresh vegetables and pickles

What is shawarma?

Shawarma is a Eye Eastern dish that consists of sparse slices of meat that are and then stacked together on a spit and so roasted on a vertical spit. Sparse slices of the meat are then shaved off to serve every bit it roasts. One of the globe'south most popular street foods, it was originally made with lamb, but is also fabricated with chicken, turkey or beef.

If you like this recipe, be sure to attempt my Beef Shawarma recipe too!

Ingredients

  • Chicken: We employ both chicken thighs and chicken breasts in this recipe for the best flavor and texture.
  • Oil: For marinating. I prefer to use olive oil, merely a neutral oil like avocado or canola will work as well.
  • Lemon juice: Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled for the all-time flavor.
  • Seasonings: Garlic, table salt, cardamom, paprika, cumin, crushed crimson pepper, cinnamon.

How do yous make craven shawarma

The homemade version is unlike than the restaurant version which is roasted on a spit. But this is the closest you can get to that version at home. This shawarma is roasted in the oven for ease and convenience, and information technology comes out tasting great!

Because it'southward made by alternating strips of fat and pieces of seasoned meat on a vertical spit, we try to emulate that at home by using two types of chicken types for best results: chicken breast and craven thighs.

Whisk together the marinade ingredients in a bowl, add together the chicken and glaze information technology. Cover and identify in the fridge to marinate.

Chicken breast and thighs marinating in spices

When ready to melt, place the craven pieces on a lined baking sheet and roast in a pre heated oven, turning halfway through cooking.

The marinated chicken on a sheet pan before and after roasting

Allow the chicken rest earlier slicing. This helps to brand them actress juicy.

Chicken shawarma in slices on a chopping board

You can so transfer the slices to a skillet, with its juices to brown the craven and give information technology extra flavor. This is an optional pace, but I highly recommend it if you lot take the time.

Close up of slices of Chicken shawarma

What do yous consume with it?

I like to serve the oven roasted chicken shawarma street manner, in pita with pickles, tomatoes, lettuce and garlic sauce or tahini sauce. Information technology's also great by itself served with a rice dish like Lebanese Rice,  or try Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice for a low carb repast. And you tin even only serve information technology as a Chicken Shawarma Salad.

Chicken shawarma served in pita with fresh vegetables and sauce

Tips for making this recipe

  1. Marinate the chicken for at to the lowest degree one hour before cooking it. This not only helps to add flavor, simply information technology also helps to breakdown the fibers so you have the near tender meat.
  2. Let the craven breasts come to room temperature before putting them in the oven. Cold chicken breasts accept longer to cook and y'all can chance them condign too dry that style.
  3. Don't overcook the chicken. If it overcooks it will dry out. If yous have an instant read thermometer, the craven should annals at 160F. Alternatively, if y'all pierce the chest with a fork, the juices should run clear.
  4. Cut the chicken against the grain when you piece it. This way, y'all cutting through the fibers and then the chicken is tender. Be sure to let information technology residuum before slicing information technology as well so that they juices redistribute and the chicken is wonderfully juicy.

Frequently asked questions

What does chicken shawarma sense of taste like?

This homemade version of one of my favorite street foods is marinated in spices, but information technology's not overpowering. Because information technology is fabricated from bacteria chicken breast and fattier thighs, it'southward so much more than flavorful than if you lot just fabricated it with chicken breast. Pairing it with tomatoes, pickles and other fresh veggies really helps to bring out all of the flavors.

How long does it keep?

The shawarma is all-time served straight away, when the chicken is at its juiciest. If y'all take leftovers they can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat the craven in a skillet or in the oven or serve it common cold on pinnacle of salads.

Can yous apply frozen chicken?

Yes, you can use either fresh or frozen chicken in this recipe. If you use frozen, ensure that information technology is fully defrosted before marinading it.

Chicken shawarma wrap with vegetables and sauce

I am totally in honey with this homemade version of i of my favorite Centre Eastern street foods! Information technology'southward so easy to brand in the oven and comes together so rapidly! I tin't expect to hear what y'all all think of this!

More craven recipes

  • Greek Chicken Gyros
  • Lebanese Freekeh with Craven
  • Craven Lemon Orzo Soup
  • Lemon Chicken Piccata
  • 1 Pot Craven and Rice
  • Chicken Broccoli Casserole
  • Craven Meatballs with Marinara
  • Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken

If you effort this good for you-ish feel skillful Chicken Shawarma recipe or whatever other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then delight come back torate the recipe and leave me a annotate below! I would love to hear most your feel making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

Prep Fourth dimension 10 mins

Melt Fourth dimension 15 mins

Total Time 25 mins

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into smaller pieces
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • ¼ loving cup olive oil
  • iii tablespoons lemon juice
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • two teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom
  • ane teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

  • Place the marinade ingredients in a large bowl: ¼ cup olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, common salt, cardamom, paprika, cumin, crushed ruby-red pepper and cinnamon; and whisk to blend.

  • Add the chicken into the large basin with the marinade and stir with a spoon to evenly coat the craven with the marinade. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge to marinate for at to the lowest degree an hour or upwardly to 24 hours.

  • Preheat the oven to 400F. Place the chicken on a rimmed baking canvas, lined with parchment paper. Roast the chicken until cooked through, about 15 minutes, turning halfway through.

  • Remove the craven from the oven and use a precipitous knife to thinly slice the chicken into thinly sliced pieces. If you'd like to give the chicken shawarma seared edges, you lot can transfer it to a skillet with its juice and saute until they commencement to dark-brown, virtually five minutes. Exist conscientious not to overcrowd the skillet though.

  • Serve with rice or in a pita with pickles, tomatoes, lettuce and garlic sauce or tahini sauce.

Storage: Store any leftovers in an closed container. They will final nigh two-3 days in the refrigerator.

Make Ahead Tips: Y'all can make the marinade up to a week in advance, and you can marinate the craven for up to 24 hours in accelerate.

Calories: 265 kcal , Carbohydrates: 2 g , Poly peptide: 31 k , Fat: fourteen one thousand , Saturated Fat: two 1000 , Cholesterol: 120 mg , Sodium: 933 mg , Potassium: 492 mg , Fiber: 1 g , Sugar: 1 g , Vitamin A: 230 IU , Vitamin C: 5 mg , Calcium: 16 mg , Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.