Top 5 Tips for Perfect Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce Recipe
This recipe provides top tips for making perfect chicken shawarma with a creamy, garlicky sauce. Featuring a flavorful marinade with warm spices and tender, juicy chicken thighs grilled or roasted to perfection, served with a tangy garlic sauce made from Greek yogurt and mayonnaise. Ideal for wraps, bowls, or salads.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes (including marinating time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
For the Garlic Sauce:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, coriander, minced garlic, and lemon juice until well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken thighs to the marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, ideally up to 8 hours to allow flavors to penetrate.
- Preheat Cooking Equipment: Preheat a grill pan or oven to medium-high heat. If using the oven, set it to 425°F (220°C).
- Cook the Chicken: Grill the chicken thighs for 5 to 6 minutes per side until fully cooked and slightly charred, or roast in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
- Rest and Slice: Once cooked, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to retain juices, then slice into thin strips for serving.
- Prepare Garlic Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, finely grated garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Mix until smooth and refrigerate until needed.
- Serve: Assemble the chicken shawarma in pita wraps, rice bowls, or salads. Top with the prepared garlic sauce and any desired fresh toppings.
Notes
- Chicken thighs are preferred for their juiciness and flavor, but chicken breasts can be substituted if careful not to overcook.
- Marinating the chicken longer (up to 8 hours) enhances the depth of flavor.
- Adjust garlic sauce seasoning to taste; more lemon or garlic can be added according to preference.
- For a gluten-free option, serve without pita or use gluten-free wraps.
Keywords: Chicken Shawarma, Garlic Sauce, Middle Eastern Chicken, Grilled Chicken, Shawarma Recipe, Homemade Shawarma, Garlic Yogurt Sauce
