Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (2024)

Last updated . Originally posted By Jyothi Rajesh 2 Comments

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Chicken shawarma bowl is a Middle Eastern-inspired chicken shawarma recipe that is easy to make at home and packs big flavors. It can be used in shawarma wraps or shawarma bowls that is served with yellow rice for make-ahead lunches for work.

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  • Chicken shawarma bowl recipe
  • Ingredients needed
  • How to make
  • Tips for making chicken shawarma bowl
  • FAQS
  • 📋Chicken Shawarma Bowl

Chicken shawarma bowl recipe

  1. Usually, chicken shawarma is made on is rotating spit. You can achieve amazing flavorful and charred chicken at home on a grill or in the oven.
  2. Chicken is juicy and packs big flavors from lemon juice and a wonderful mix of spices.
  3. Use chicken shawarma in shawarma wrap with pita bread/flatbread or turn it into a bowl with loads of your favorite veggies and grains like rice or quinoa.
  4. This is a fantastic make-ahead lunch for work or school. Great for meal preps.
  5. Busy weekday dinner is only 40 minutes away with this amazing chicken shawarma bowl

Ingredients needed

For chicken shawarma-

For shawarma bowl toppings-

All the ingredients exact measurements are mentioned in the recipe card below.

Ingredients additions & substitutions

  1. Substitute fresh garlic with garlic powder.
  2. Add ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder to the marinade for bright color.
  3. Use any vegetables raw or roasted to assemble the shawarma bowl.
    • Raw vegetables like cucumber, tomato, onion, and lettuce can be used.
    • Add roasted vegetables – bell peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower (seasoned with salt, pepper, and curry powder mix) in a sheet pan in a preheated oven at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes. Use roasted veggies to assemble shawarma bowls.
  4. Use any grain of your choice for the bowl. Yellow rice, lentils, and quinoa are some of the best choices for grains.
  5. Feel free to add crumbled or cubed feta cheese and sliced almonds for enhanced taste and texture.

How to make

Making flavorful and vibrant yellow rice is easy. Just follow this fail-proof recipe.

Once yellow rice is ready, cover rice with lid and set it aside until use.

Prep toppings/vegetables-

Slice cucumbers, half cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion. Toss vegetables in 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Keep aside.

Adding lemon juice and zest is optional. You can use vegetables as it is.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (5)

Step 1: In a bowl mix olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cardamom, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (6)

Step 2: Add chicken to the bowl.

For best results use a mix of both chicken breasts and boneless chicken thighs. Score chicken breasts and thighs with a pairing knife before marinating.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (7)

Step 3: Rub chicken thoroughly to spread the marinade all over evenly.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (8)

Step 4: Cover and marinate the chicken for a minimum of 1 hour or a maximum overnight in the refrigerator.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (9)

Step 5: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange marinated chicken in a single layer on the sheet. Bake at 425 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (10)

Step 6: Transfer chicken to a wooden board and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Slice the chicken thin.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (11)

Step 7: Layer the bowl with yellow rice or quinoa, chicken shawarma.

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (12)

Step 8: Add vegetables like cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, sliced red onions, and iceberg lettuce.

Cook on grill-

If using the grill, heat the grill to 375 to 425 degrees F.

Grease the grill with olive oil. Place marinated chicken on a hot grill. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked through (the internal temperature of cooked chicken should be 165 degrees F).

Tips for making chicken shawarma bowl

  1. For juicy flavorful chicken use chicken thighs or use a mix of both chicken breasts and thighs.
  2. The longer chicken is marinated; chicken will absorb bags of flavors resulting in more flavorful chicken shawarma.
  3. Customize the chicken shawarma bowl according to your preference. Add or swap any ingredient topping. Use raw vegetables(cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onions, iceberg lettuce, or Romaine lettuce) or roasted vegetables (bell peppers, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, zucchini), mushrooms) or a mix of both.
  4. Undercooked or overcooked chicken is bad! To ensure the chicken is cooked use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken.
  5. After the chicken is cooked, rest it on a wooden board for 5 minutes before slicing. Resting is essential for chicken to absorb all the moisture in it. You’ll lose all the moisture from the chicken if sliced immediately after cooking, hence turning the chicken dry!

FAQS

Can I make it in advance?

Yes, chicken shawarma is great for meal prep. Cook chicken, prep veggies, cook yellow rice, and cool completely. Then store everything separately in containers refrigerated.
When ready to serve assemble a chicken shawarma bowl or make chicken shawarma wrap using warm pita bread (not pita pocket).

How long can I store chicken shawarma?

Cooked chicken will stay good for 3 to 5 days refrigerated. Store all ingredients separately so they don’t turn soggy.
When ready to serve, simply assemble the bowl or make a wrap with all ingredients and enjoy.

Can I freeze chicken shawarma?

Yes, you can.
You can either freeze the marinated chicken in freezer containers for up to 3 months.
Or you can cook marinated chicken on a grill or oven, let it cool then store it in freezer-safe zip-lock bags. Cooked chicken can be frozen and used for 3 months.

How to reheat frozen chicken shawarma?

Frozen marinated chicken can be reheated in the microwave or oven or on a skillet. Thaw chicken overnight in the refrigerator, then cook chicken in the oven, skillet, or on a grill.
To reheat cooked chicken shawarma, thaw to defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or on a skillet until warmed.

Serving options for chicken shawarma

After cooking chicken shawarma, you can use it to make a wrap with pita bread. Lightly warm pita bread on a skillet, place sliced chicken, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce leaves (and or any other vegetables of your choice), and drizzle with hummus dressing tahini dressing, or cilantro yogurt dressing. Fold the wrap and serve.
To make chicken shawarma bowls – layer the bowl with yellow rice or quinoa, chicken shawarma, vegetables like cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, sliced red onions, and iceberg lettuce.
Drizzle with hummus dressing cilantro yogurt sauce tahini dressing or tzatziki. Enjoy immediately.

TRY THESE CHICKEN DINNER RECIPES:

  • Teriyaki sheet pan chicken
  • Instant pot butter chicken
  • Brown sugar bacon wrapped chicken
  • Baked salsa chicken
  • Chinese lemon chicken
  • Instant pot chicken marsala

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5 from 2 votes

📋Chicken Shawarma Bowl

Jyothi Rajesh

Chicken shawarma bowl is Middle Eastern inspired chicken shawarma recipe which is super easy to make at home that packs big flavors. It can be used in shawarma wraps or shawarma bowls for make-ahead lunches for work.

Print Recipe Pin RecipeRate this Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern

Servings 5 servings

Calories 605

Ingredients

For chicken shawarma-

  • 2 pounds boneless chicken use mix of chicken breast and thighs
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoon garlic minced (can use garlic powder)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes optional
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • Salt & pepper to taste

For shawarma bowl toppings-

  • 2 cups yellow rice
  • ½ cup cucumber sliced
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes sliced into halves
  • ½ red onion sliced thin
  • 10-15 olive pitted
  • Any salad greens like iceberg lettuce or Romaine lettuce
  • 2 tablespoon cilantro & mint leaves
  • Juice and zest of 1 lemon

For dressing-

  • Use any of the following dressing
  • Hummus dressing
  • Tahini sauce
  • Cilantro yogurt sauce
  • Tzatziki sauce

Instructions

  • Making flavorful and vibrant yellow rice is easy.

  • Once yellow rice is ready, cover the rice with a lid and set it aside until use.

  • Slice cucumbers, half cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion. Toss vegetables in 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Keep aside.

    Adding lemon juice and zest is optional. You can use vegetables as it is.

  • Chicken shawarma-

    For best results use a mix of both chicken breasts and boneless chicken thighs. Score chicken breast and thighs with a pairing knife on both sides.

  • In a wide bowl mix olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cardamom, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.

  • Add chicken to the bowl. Rub chicken thoroughly to spread the marinade all over evenly.

  • Cover and marinade chicken for a minimum of 1 hour or a maximum overnight in the refrigerator.

  • Cook on grill-

    If using grill, heat the grill to 375 to 425 degrees F.

  • Grease the grill with olive oil. Place marinated chicken on a hot grill. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked through (the internal temperature of cooked chicken should be 165 degrees F).

  • Cook in the oven-

    Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

  • Arrange marinated chicken in a single layer on the sheet.

  • Bake at 425 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

  • Transfer chicken to a wooden board and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

  • Slice chicken thin.

  • Assemble chicken shawarma bowl-

    Layer the bowl with yellow rice or quinoa, chicken shawarma, vegetables like cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, sliced red onions, and iceberg lettuce.

  • Drizzle with hummus dressing or cilantro yogurt sauce tahini dressing or tzatziki.

  • Enjoy immediately.

Video

Notes

  1. For juicy flavorful chicken use chicken thighs or use a mix of both chicken breasts and thighs.
  2. The longer the chicken is marinated; the chicken will absorb bags of flavors resulting in more flavorful chicken shawarma.
  3. Customize the chicken shawarma bowl according to your preference. Add or swap any ingredient topping. Use raw vegetables(cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onions, iceberg lettuce, or Romaine lettuce) or roasted vegetables (bell peppers, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, zucchini), mushrooms) or a mix of both.
  4. Undercooked or overcooked chicken is not okay! To ensure the chicken is cooked use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken.
  5. After the chicken is cooked, rest it on a wooden board for 5 minutes before slicing. Resting is essential for chicken to absorb all the moisture in it. You’ll lose all the moisture from the chicken if sliced immediately after cooking, hence turning the chicken dry!

Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 605kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 45gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 350mgPotassium: 886mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 669IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe?Follow @CurryTrail and tag #CurryTrail to share your creation!

Created by Jyothi Rajesh

Thank you for stopping by.

I’m Jyothi Rajesh (Jo for short) and i’m the founder of the food blog, Curry Trail where I share my culinary Adventures. I live in Bangalore, India. I’m a mom of two beautiful kids. My passion is creating and sharing delicious and easy recipes for the home cook. I have been blogging since 2007 and many of my recipes have appeared in both online and print publications over the years.Learn more about Jyothi Rajesh.

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Sam says

    Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (20)
    THE BEST! My family can’t wait for me to make this again.

    Reply

    • Jyothi Rajesh says

      Yay, I’m so glad to hear your family loved it Sam. Thank you very much for sharing your feedback! Happy cooking!

      Reply

Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowl Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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

Traditionally made with lamb or mutton, it may also be made with chicken, turkey, beef, or veal. The surface of the rotisserie meat is routinely shaved off once it cooks and is ready to be served. Shawarma is a popular street food throughout the Arab world and the Greater Middle East.

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 does chicken shawarma contain? ›

Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish that is typically made with seasoned meat that is slow-roasted on a vertical spit and then thinly sliced. The sliced meat is usually served in a wrap or pita bread with various toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, and a tangy 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 the difference between chicken shawarma and chicken kebabs? ›

The main shawarma-kebab difference lies in how the meat is cooked. For shawarmas, the meat is usually cooked using a rotisserie, while kebabs are prepared skewered. The doner or the kebab base is the only kind that resembles the classic shawarma.

What makes shawarma taste like shawarma? ›

Shawarma is traditionally seasoned with spices like cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and paprika to create a sweet-spiced, warm, and earthy flavor profile in the roasted meat.

What is the difference between gyro and shawarma seasoning? ›

Shawarma is from the Middle East, and is seasoned with cumin, coriander, and turmeric, while Gyro, a Greek dish, is flavored with more Mediterranean rosemary, thyme, and marjoram.

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.

What are the sauces used in shawarma? ›

Traditional Tahini Sauce or Tarator

Authentic beef shawarma however is always served with a tahini sauce, and not toum. This tahini sauce is often referred to as "tarator" in Lebanon and other Levant countries. Its simply made by whisking together tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper.

Why does chicken shawarma taste so good? ›

The signature shawarma spice blend is the backbone of the dish, giving it that popular and recognizable pop of flavor that separates shawarma from other classic Middle Eastern foods. While the spice blends offer a ton of flavor to the shawarma, it's also important for the deep, rich color of the outside of the meat.

Why does shawarma taste so good? ›

Flavorful Seasonings: Shawarma is typically made with a combination of aromatic spices, including cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and garlic, which create a rich and complex flavor profile. The seasonings are what give shawarma its distinct and delicious taste.

What is unhealthy in shawarma? ›

“Shawarma is very high in sodium, which may make it bad for heart health. Foods that are high in sodium are not recommended for people with high blood pressure.” Further reports reveal that there is also the risk of food poisoning, “Eating unhygienic foods is one of the main causes of food poisoning in Nigeria.

Why is chicken shawarma pink? ›

Chemical changes occur during cooking. Oven gases in a heated gas or electric oven react chemically with hemoglobin in the meat tissues to give it a pink tinge. Often meat of younger birds shows the most pink because their thinner skins permit oven gases to reach the flesh.

Is chicken shawarma like a gyro? ›

In terms of ingredients, both dishes typically include thinly sliced meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and tahini sauce. Shawarma may also include pickles, french fries, and hot sauce, while gyro may include feta cheese, cucumber, and tzatziki sauce.

What is usually in shawarma? ›

What is Shawarma? Shawarma is a classic Levantine Arab dish of meat (lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, or mixed meats) seasoned and placed vertically on a spit and slow roasted. It's typically sliced thinly and served with tabbouleh, fattoush salad, bread, tomato, and cucumber and various sauces.

What type of food is shawarma from? ›

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.

What made shawarma popular? ›

Shawarma is often served with a sauce, such as tahini or garlic sauce, for added flavor. One of the reasons shawarma is so popular is because it is a convenient and delicious meal that can be enjoyed on the go. It is often found at street stalls and food carts, making it a popular choice for a quick lunch or dinner.

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