Keto Diet
Chicken Shawarma is a Mediterranean dish made by marinating chicken thighs and grilling or baking. Serve in warm pitas or naan. For a low-carb option, serve it plain.
CHICKEN SHAWARMA RECIPE
I’ve been obsessed with chicken shawarma lately. Although I realized I was spelling it wrong for some time now. Something about the spice infused chicken wrapped in warm naan with fresh tzatziki, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and feta. I make this recipe often and my whole family loves it!
WHAT IS CHICKEN SHAWARMA?
Chicken Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish that marinates in spices and can be grilled or baked.
CHICKEN THIGHS VS CHICKEN BREASTS
A question I get asked a lot is if chicken breasts can be used in place of thighs. Yes. Chicken breasts do not have as much fat and will not be as moist as thighs. Chicken breasts cook faster so the cooking time will need to be reduced by at least 10 minutes.
HOW TO SERVE CHICKEN SHAWARMA
This can be served by itself over salad or rice. The most traditional way is served wrapped in warm naan or pitas topped with diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, feta, and tzatziki.
OTHER CHICKEN RECIPES
Yield: 6 servings
Chicken Shawarma is a Mediterranean dish made by marinating chicken thighs and grilling or baking. Serve in warm pitas or naan. For a low-carb option, serve it plain.
-
2
lemons
juiced -
½
cup
olive oil
(plus more for baking) -
6
cloves
garlic, minced -
1
teaspoon
kosher salt -
1
teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper -
2
teaspoons
ground cumin -
2
teaspoons
paprika -
½
teaspoon
turmeric - a pinch ground cinnamon
-
red pepper flakes
to taste -
2
pounds
boneless
skinless chicken thighs -
1
large red onion
sliced into 1/4 inch slices
TOPPINGS:
- naan for serving
- tzatziki sauce
- peeled and diced cucumbers
- chopped tomatoes
- diced red onion
- crumbled feta
-
(optional)
tahini sauce
-
Prepare the marinade for the chicken. Combine the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, then whisk to combine. Add the chicken and onion toss well to coat. Cover and store in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Mixture can be marinated up to 12 hours.
-
For Baking: When ready to cook, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Remove chicken and onion from the marinade and spread evenly on the pan. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from the oven and let rest for about 2 minutes. Slice into about 1-inch pieces. Optional: For extra crispy chicken, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes or until desired crispiness.
For Grilling: Preheat grill over medium-high heat. Remove chicken and onion rom marinade and grill for 3-4 minutes per side or until chicken is no longer pink and onions are tender. Remove from the grill and let rest for about 2 minutes. Slice into about 1-inch pieces. Note: If your onions fell apart when marinating you can place a piece of foil on the grill and heat the onions on top.
-
For serving: Serve in warm naan topped with tzatziki sauce, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and crumbled feta. Add tahini sauce if desired.
