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chicken shawarma sliced on a plate garnished with lemon wedges.
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4.75 from 405 votes

Easy Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma

Brace yourselves because this Chicken Shawarma is a symphony of flavors that will have your taste buds dancing in delight! The combo of juicy, marinated chicken and tangy garlic sauce wrapped in a warm pita is so unbelievably delicious, you'll be dreaming about it for days!
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Marinating Time1 hour
Total Time2 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keyword: chicken shawarma, middle eastern food
Servings: 8
Calories: 432kcal

Ingredients

Chicken Shawarma

  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cumin ground
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper ground
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
  • 1 large onion sliced
  • 2 tablespoons parsley fresh, for garnish

Garlic Sauce

  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • cup lemon juice
  • 6 cloves garlic peeled
  • 1 egg white *
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Chicken Shawarma Wraps

Instructions

Chicken Shawarma

  • In a large bowl add the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, cumin, black pepper, paprika, turmeric, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, garlic, and whisk well. Add the chicken and toss making sure the chicken is well coated in the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least an hour. The longer the meat marinates the more flavour you’ll have.
    process shots showing how to make chicken shawarma.
  • Preheat oven to 425°F degrees. Add sliced onion to bowl with chicken and toss well so that the onion is fully coated in the marinade. Add everything to a 9×13-baking dish. I didn’t have much marinade leftover since the chicken absorbed most of it, so that’s why I added everything to the baking dish. Spread everything evenly over the baking dish.
    process shots showing how to make chicken shawarma.
  • Bake in the oven until the chicken is browned and crisp on the edges, for about 40 to 45 minutes. If you want the chicken crispier on top, turn the broiler on to high and broil for 3 minutes until nice and crispy on the outside.
    process shots showing how to make chicken shawarma.
  • Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes, then slice it into bits.
    process shots showing how to make chicken shawarma.

Garlic Sauce

  • Add all the ingredients to a blender (or an immersion blender) and blend until smooth, it should take 1 to 2 minutes. This recipe will make about 1½ cups of sauce, refrigerate leftover sauce.
    process shots showing how to make chicken shawarma.

Chicken Shawarma Wraps

  • To make the chicken shawarma wraps, warm up the wraps first in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then spread some hummus over each wrap, spoon about 2 or 3 tbsp of tabbouleh salad, add chicken shawarma, and drizzle with garlic sauce and serve.

Video

Notes

  1. *If you don't want to use raw egg whites in the garlic sauce, you can omit it, just add the oil little by little to the blender until it thickens and should have the consistency of mayonnaise.
  2. You can find the homemade hummus recipe here. You can find the tabbouleh salad recipe here.
  3. Marinate Longer for More Flavor: The longer you allow the chicken to marinate, the more flavorful it will be. If possible, try to marinate the chicken overnight.
  4. Slice Against the Grain: When you're ready to serve the chicken, be sure to slice it against the grain. This will make it more tender and easier to eat.
  5. Don't Skip the Garlic Sauce: The garlic sauce is a key part of this dish, adding a wonderful creamy and tangy element. It's worth taking the time to make it.
  6. Use Fresh Ingredients: Whenever possible, use fresh ingredients. Fresh lemon juice, garlic, and parsley can make a big difference in the flavor of your dish.
  7. Warm the Pita: Before assembling your wraps, warm the pita bread for a few seconds in the microwave. This makes it more pliable and brings out the flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 644mg | Potassium: 258mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 428IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg