Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe (2024)

Ratings

5

out of 5

19,726

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

me!

• White sauce = plain yogurt, scant 1/4 c. mayo, 1/2 lemon juiced + lemon zest, basil/parsley/zatar/sumac/minced garlic. Chill for 4-5 hours.
• Marinade meat overnight & cooked with peppers & onions. F
inish with broil for 2-3 minutes
• Serve with tortillas instead of pita + sliced cucumbers & tomatoes + feta. (Hummus is overkill side)
• Serve with chickpeas salad (olives, tomatoes, red onion, parsley/basil)

Sam Sifton

Trim eggplant and cut it into long slices. Salt the slices and let them sit for 20 minutes or so, then pat them dry. Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towel and place a wire rack on top. In a large, deep skillet, heat 1/2 cup oil until a drop of water flicked into pan sizzles. Working in batches, fry eggplant until just tender, 20 to 30 seconds per side. Transfer fried eggplant to rack to drain. Nice with shawarma!

Christine Staples

I've lost track of how many times I've made this amazing dish since I first cut it out; there's some in the fridge right now. I have made the following additions: more onion - it's so good. More chicken - it goes so fast: 3 pounds. Two pounds of carrots, which I toss in the marinade and roast with the extra red onion. An astonishing recipe!

Linda E.

I used chicken breasts to cut some of the fat here and reduced cook time to about 20 minutes so the chicken wouldn't dry out. It was delicious, juicy and light!

Danielle

One of my favorites!!! Sometimes I buy extra chicken thigh packages and freeze the raw chicken thighs in the marinade 1 pound at a time. This way during a busy weeknight, I have an easy homemade recipe ready to go. I usually thaw it out first thing in the morning or even overnight. Works great!

Andybhoy

2 1/2 tablespoons of oil is enough - 1/2 cup is way too much !

LiveToFish

All dry ingredients have been combined and stored with a label "Shawarma Mix". Awesome.

cookies or cake

I second the suggestion to double the onion. If you have tasty lemons (like Meyer) cut them into eighths and roast along with the chicken -- exceptional!

Alexandra Lightning

This is a superb and easy supper. Marinated boneless thighs about 8 hours in fridge and cooked exactly according to recipe with the additional pan frying. Added a Greek salad made with seeded, English cucumber, mini San Marzano tomatoes (Trader Joe's), Kalamata olives, Greek feta, sherry vinegar and olive oil. No pita needed. Also made a yogurt sauce using 2% fa*ge (the best!) with lemon zest & juice, a couple cloves of garlic put through a press, and salt and pepper. Marvelous!

Pam

Very easy, absolutely delicious. Combined the following to make a tahini sauce: 1 c plain yogurt, 2 T tahini, 1 T lemon juice. 1/2 t. salt.

Michelle

Excellent for a party...I used 10 lbs of trimmed boneless chicken thighs, reducing the oil, and cutting onions into 8ths. Meat sliced nicely after the 10 minute post-cooking rest. Marinated for 24 hours, cooked the chicken in the marinade, & the meat held up fine. I used a lipped cookie sheet, to avoid spills in my oven. Everyone asked for leftovers to take home. Wonderful flavor, and easy to prepare. I served it with marinated feta, pita, couscous, moroccan carrot salad, etc.

ruthblue

A flawless dish, and yet a couple of tips: no need to use a dish for the marinade. I put everything into a large ziplock, massaged the ingredients to blend, and then added the chicken. No mess and easy to store while the birds marinates. I also used chicken breasts, bone in, skin on. Unbelievably juicy and tender, and easy to cut into smaller pieces after roasting.

TK

Agree with most everyone here - there's a reason this is a favorite! Followed the recipe to a "t" and everything came out perfectly - and served on Christmas Eve. Even the little ones (4 and 5) loved it! Two days later I'm out for more chicken thighs to make another batch. Served with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, lettuce and a Tzatziki, Hummus, Sweet Chili sauce (all from Trader Joe's) and the NYT Rice Pilaf with Pistachios and Almonds. Delicious!!! Loved it!

Nicole S.

The pan crisping at the end of this recipe really made this taste like the Schwarma I used to get in Jerusalem. Brought out the flavor more.

MSH

Made this for dinner last night. Amazing. Used half the olive oil and the juice of one lemon, but kept the other herbs/spices the same. Served with white sauce (1/4 cup mayo, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, juice of half a lemon, 1 clove garlic, minced), chickpea salad, and toasted (in a skillet) pita bread. Yum, yum, yum. Watch the chicken carefully the last 20 minutes. Even though I turned the heat down, it would have over-cooked if I'd left it in the oven for the full 40 minutes.

jacque

Two red onions

Beth

I substituted, as I often do, 1/4 cup of minced preserved lemon for the lemon juice. Gives a more complex but still bright flavor. Otherwise followed recipe exactly and broiled the last few minutes as other commenters recommended. Served over basmati with curried coconut cauliflower, https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019911-cauliflower-cashew-pea-and-coconut-curry. Huge success and will make again.

Double Batch

If prepping for the week make a double batch

karen

Also made a chickpea salad with cut up cucumber, canned diced tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, and parsley

Ekuza

I should have trusted my instincts/experience and taken this out of the oven at 25 minutes. It doesn’t get crispier by sitting longer in the oven. The thighs get dry and rubbery and the onions burn. For next time:-2 Tbsp of salt in the marinade (the meat was so undersalted that we couldn’t really taste the other seasonings until we added salt to our servings). -Bake for 25 minutes and then crisp up the edges on the stovetop in oil after cutting. I see potential here.

Kathy

Best chicken shawarma recipe that I have tried and I have tried many trying to find the right balance of flavors.

Jg

This much lemon juice over multiple hours marination yields a rubbery surface and an unappetizing flavor, especially with so little salt. Not for me!

Sarah Howard

Like other review say - it immediately went into the rotation. The DH prefers chicken breast. I cut them into strips about 1.5" square to expose more surface area to the marinade and bake a shorter time. They come out moist and lovely.

Pat

The video shows a very scorched baking sheet because oil not spread evenly. If that's what we should aim for, what are some hints for cleaning the sheet afterwards?

kiki

I make this recipe once a week and YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME!!!!!!!!

Peaches

Versatile! Good for sandwiches, on top of a salad, in a quesadilla, etc. I like it with a tangy tanhini sauce. Add whole, peeled garlic cloves to the marinade, and roast them along with the chicken. These can be smashed onto bread. Delicious! Suggest adding fresh or powdered ground ginger, and a bit of soy sauce, for depth. The marinade as given needs a little something, in my opinion.

cj

Easy and delicious. I used a large red onion and added carrots per another review. I made a white sauce with yogurt, mayo, lemon juice, salt, pepper and sumac. served with rice. the pistachio almond rice would be good with it.

froggs

Fantastic!! I made the marinade as directed. It’s brilliant. Parchment paper is a huge help with clean-up. The onions char in the heat. I think the “crisping” step after baking is crucial. Cut the cooked thigh meat into little pieces, then sizzle them in an oiled pan. I also added more cumin, salt, and paprika to the pan. The finished pieces were very crisp, tasty, and colorful!

Laura McCarten

I cut my chicken into pieces before putting in the marinade. You'll absolutely wan to use 2 red onions! This is an easy and delicious recipe.

Mary Orsini

This is one of my favorite chicken recipes. I wrap this wonderful chicken in soft pita or tortillas with sliced tomatoes the cooked onions, and a dollop of hummus and vegan tzatziki, as my husband is totally lactose intolerant. Yum!

Private notes are only visible to you.

Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the 3 most common foods put in the shawarma? ›

Shawarma is the Middle Eastern dish of shaved pieces of spit roasted chicken, beef, or lamb. The thin slices of meat (and fat) are layered in a cone-like shape on a vertical spit.

What makes shawarma taste good? ›

The distinctive flavor of shawarma spice comes from its main ingredients, including ground cumin, coriander, and black pepper. Other additions include cinnamon, cloves, allspice and dried mint. In some recipes, you'll also find nutmeg and cardamom.

What is shawarma cooked on? ›

Shawarma (/ʃəˈwɑːrmə/; Arabic: شاورما) is a Middle Eastern dish that originated in the Levant region of the Arab world during the Ottoman Empire, consisting of meat that is cut into thin slices, stacked in an inverted cone, and roasted on a slow-turning vertical spit.

How to make shawarma without a machine? ›

Grill shawarma and mushrooms

Sear shawarma over direct heat, turning often, until sizzling and charred. Move to indirect heat, and gently roast shawarma, turning often, until center is juicy and tender. Grill marinated mushrooms over direct heat until crispy, then finish cooking over indirect heat until tender.

What is the sauce used in shawarma? ›

Tahini sauce: Undoubtedly the most popular option to top your shawarma is tahini sauce.

What is the secret of shawarma? ›

Shawarma is all about the delicious sauces that accompany the meat – typically garlic yoghurt or tahini and hommus – and the secret ingredient: pickles. Pickled vegetables are what take shawarma to a whole new plane: pickled cucumbers, turnips, and even carrots or mangoes are common.

What is shawarma seasoning made of? ›

A Middle Eastern staple, shawarma seasoning is made with a unique combination of spices including cumin, turmeric, and paprika. It's bold, bright, and unbelievably delicious. If you've never had it, you're in for a serious treat! All you have to do is combine the ingredients in a bowl, and they're good to go.

What is shawarma marinade made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 2 pounds flap steak.
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil.
  • 1 1/2 large lemon, juiced.
  • 2 tablespoons allspice.
  • 1 tablespoon coriander.
  • 1 tablespoon paprika.
  • 1 tablespoon cumin.
  • 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt, to taste.

What is authentic shawarma made of? ›

We can cook our horizontally in a good old pan or on the BBQ! Shawarma was traditionally made with lamb, mutton and chicken though these days you see it with beef too. It's commonly served in the form of a wrap, though in some countries you see it served on plates with sides such as seasoned rice or fries, and salads.

What goes with chicken shawarma? ›

The best side dishes to serve with chicken shawarma are french fries, pita bread, tzatziki, hummus, yellow rice, garden salad, guacamole, pickled vegetables, onion rings, baba ganoush, couscous salad, roasted red peppers, fattoush, garlic bread, falafel, and grilled halloumi cheese.

What is traditionally in a shawarma? ›

shawarma, popular street food in the Middle East, which originated in Turkey and is made of spit-roasted layers of lamb, beef, or other meat that are sliced and often wrapped in or served with pita. Shawarma is similar to Greek gyros, though the former is seasoned with more spices and the latter with more herbs.

How is shawarma traditionally cooked? ›

Shawarma is made by alternately stacking strips of fat and pieces of seasoned meat on a vertical spit. An onion, a tomato, or a halved lemon is sometimes placed at the top for decoration. The meat is roasted slowly on all sides as the spit rotates in front of, or over, a flame for hours.

Can we heat shawarma in oven? ›

To reheat your shawarma sandwich, wrap your sandwich in foil and place it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the meat is warm again throughout. The amount of time to reheat your shawarma will vary depending on your oven, so be sure to check on it every 5 minutes or so.

Is shawarma without mayonnaise good? ›

However, shawarma prepared at home with truly lean, grilled meat, minimal hummus that uses minimal oil and no mayonnaise can actually be a very healthy and low-calorie alternative to the street food version of this popular favourite.

What's the difference between gyro and shawarma? ›

While gyros usually come with the same combo of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, shawarmas are often topped with a medley of pickled fruits and veggies. Shawarma is a predecessor to tacos al pastor, a Mexican dish made of spit-grilled pork. The method likely made its way to Mexico via Lebanese immigrants.

What is in a normal shawarma? ›

Shawarma was traditionally made with lamb, mutton and chicken though these days you see it with beef too. It's commonly served in the form of a wrap, though in some countries you see it served on plates with sides such as seasoned rice or fries, and salads. In this recipe, I'm giving you both options!

What are three cool facts about shawarma? ›

  • Shawarma can be made with different bases and different types of fillers.
  • It is one of the healthiest foods across many cuisines.
  • Chicken Shawarma has only 475 calories and it is 83% Protein.
  • We can say it is a magical dish for all health enthusiasts and weight watchers.
Feb 25, 2017

What does chicken shawarma contain? ›

It should be either pure lamb, pure chicken, or pure beef in layers with animal fat between the layers. The meat is mixed with some herbs and spices, but not hot spices. For meat, usually only salt, black pepper and a little bit of cardamom, for chicken it's usually a little more, but still the spices are not too much.

Does shawarma contain vegetables? ›

Shawarma is a Popular Middle Eastern Dish

Beef and chicken shawarma are taken very seriously as street food and served as a sandwich with pickled vegetables! You can find this delicious marinated meat, small and locally owned businesses for the most authentic experience, and other Middle Eastern restaurants.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 5462

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.