Description
Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce is a Middle Eastern street food dish featuring marinated, tender, and flavorful chicken topped with creamy garlic sauce. Serve it wrapped in warm pita bread or with rice and salad for an amazing meal. This recipe is full of flavor, quick to prepare, customizable, and a healthier option than fried fast food. It’s also perfect for meal prep and family-friendly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- For the Garlic Sauce:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For Serving:
- Pita bread or rice
- Fresh vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce)
- Pickles and hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, combine olive oil, paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and minced garlic.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in the marinade, ensuring they are well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Cook the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Rest the Chicken: Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a plate and let it rest for about 5 minutes.
- Make the Garlic Sauce: While the chicken is resting, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl until combined and creamy.
- Slice the Chicken: After resting, slice the grilled chicken into thin strips.
- Prepare for Serving: Warm the pita bread on the grill for a minute or two, if desired.
- Assemble: Lay the sliced chicken on the pita bread or over rice. Drizzle generously with garlic sauce and add fresh vegetables and pickles if using.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately for a delicious Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce meal!
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can use a grill pan or bake the chicken in the oven at 400°F until fully cooked.
- The garlic sauce can be made a day in advance and stored in the fridge.
- To make this gluten-free, use gluten-free pita bread or serve with quinoa or cauliflower rice.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: N/A