Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce (Print View)

Marinated grilled chicken in warm pita with creamy garlic sauce and fresh vegetables

# Components:

→ For the Chicken Shawarma

01 - 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 2 tablespoons ground cumin
04 - 2 tablespoons ground coriander
05 - 1 tablespoon paprika
06 - 1 tablespoon turmeric
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
09 - 1/4 cup olive oil
10 - Juice of 1 lemon
11 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For the Creamy Garlic Sauce

12 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
13 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
14 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
15 - 2 tablespoons tahini
16 - Salt, to taste

→ For Serving

17 - 4 pita breads or flatbreads
18 - Fresh vegetables: sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded lettuce
19 - Pickles (Middle Eastern-style or dill)

# Preparation Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best flavor.
02 - In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, and salt until smooth. Refrigerate until serving.
03 - Preheat a grill or stovetop skillet over medium-high heat. Grill marinated chicken for 6-7 minutes per side, until charred and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
04 - Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice into thin strips.
05 - Place sliced chicken in the center of each pita bread. Top with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, pickles, and a generous drizzle of creamy garlic sauce.
06 - Roll up or fold each wrap and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The yogurt sauce keeps everything incredibly moist while the spices develop this deep almost addictive flavor that gets better overnight
  • You can stuff these wraps with whatever vegetables you have in the fridge making them perfect for those use everything up kind of nights
02 -
  • Pat the chicken completely dry before adding the marinade or the spices won't adhere properly and you'll end up with washed out flavor
  • Don't crowd the pan when cooking or the chicken will steam instead of sear and you'll miss out on those crispy bits
03 -
  • If the chicken thighs are especially large cut them in half before marinating so they cook through before the spices burn
  • Double the sauce recipe and keep it in the fridge for up to a week the flavors actually get better with time
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