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Easy Homemade Chicken Shawarma

Easy Homemade Chicken Shawarma

This easy homemade chicken shawarma recipe features chicken thighs marinated in Middle Eastern spices, baked to perfection, served in pita pockets with Mediterranean salad and sauces.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Marinating Time 3 hours
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Entree/Meat and Poultry
Cuisine Middle-Eastern
Servings 6 shawarma pitas
Calories 250 kcal

Equipment

  • baking sheet
  • Small bowl
  • Large bowl

Ingredients
  

Spices

  • ¾ tablespoon ground cumin
  • ¾ tablespoon turmeric powder
  • ¾ tablespoon ground coriander
  • ¾ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ¾ tablespoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper more if you prefer
  • salt

Chicken and Vegetables

  • 8 pieces boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 large onion thinly sliced
  • 1 large lemon juice of
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil Private Reserve

To Serve

  • 6 pitas pita pockets
  • Tahini sauce or Greek Tzatziki sauce
  • baby arugula
  • 3-ingredient Mediterranean Salad
  • pickles or kalamata olives optional

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • In a small bowl, mix the cumin, turmeric, coriander, garlic powder, sweet paprika, and cloves. Set aside the shawarma spice mix.
  • Pat the chicken thighs dry and season with salt on both sides, then thinly slice into small bite-sized pieces.
  • Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the shawarma spices and toss to coat. Add the onions, lemon juice, and olive oil. Toss everything together again. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
  • When ready, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Take the chicken out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
  • Spread the marinated chicken with the onions in one layer on a large lightly-oiled baking sheet. Roast for 30 minutes in the 425 degrees F oven. For crispier chicken, broil briefly.
  • While the chicken is roasting, prepare the pita pockets, tahini sauce or tzatziki sauce, and Mediterranean salad as directed.
  • To serve, open pita pockets, spread tahini or tzatziki sauce, add chicken shawarma, arugula, Mediterranean salad, and pickles or olives if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Marinate the chicken for better flavor; check the chicken’s internal temperature to ensure it reaches 165 degrees F.

Nutrition

Serving: 1shawarma pitaCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 24gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg
Keyword chicken recipe, easy chicken shawarma, homemade shawarma, Mediterranean dish, Middle Eastern spices, pita recipe
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