Description
A flavorful Middle Eastern dish featuring marinated, grilled chicken thighs served with a creamy garlic sauce. This chicken shawarma recipe combines aromatic spices with a smooth yogurt and mayonnaise-based sauce, perfect for wraps or platters.
Ingredients
Scale
For the chicken:
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the creamy garlic sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 garlic cloves, grated or finely minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, ground cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken thighs and toss well to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Cook the chicken: Preheat a grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat. Place the marinated chicken thighs on the heat and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked through and nicely charred on the outside. Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes to retain juices.
- Prepare the garlic sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate until ready to serve to enhance flavors.
- Assemble and serve: Slice the rested chicken thighs into strips. Serve in warm pita or flatbread with fresh lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and drizzle generously with the creamy garlic sauce for a classic chicken shawarma experience.
Notes
- Chicken shawarma pairs well with rice, hummus, or tabbouleh for a full Middle Eastern spread.
- For a lighter sauce, substitute the mayonnaise with additional Greek yogurt.
- Leftover chicken is excellent for shawarma wraps, salads, or bowls.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus at least 1 hour marinating)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (including sauce)
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
