Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner
Easy Chicken Shawarma is a restaurant-quality meal you can make at home. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the marinade for crispy, juicy chicken every time. The warm, cozy spices will fill your kitchen with an irresistible aroma. Serve it with my Fruity Pebbles Cheesecake Tacos for a fun dinner. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Fruity Pebbles Cheesecake Tacos and Irish Whiskey Steak with Creamy Colcannon Mash.
Why This Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy, juicy chicken
- Warm, cozy spices
- Better than takeout
- Easy to customize
What You'll Need for Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Chicken breasts
- Lemon juice
- Garlic cloves
- Olive oil
- Shawarma spices
- Shawarma spice blend
- Garlic sauce
- Lemon wedges
- Fresh parsley
- Optional: Lettuce
- Optional: Tomatoes
- Optional: Red onion
- Optional: Pita bread
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best.
- Shawarma spices: A blend of paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and black pepper.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Meat tenderizer — Ensures juicy chicken every time → See on Amazon
- High-quality olive oil — Enhances the flavor of the marinade → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner
- Marinate the chicken: Combine chicken, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and shawarma spices. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Cook the chicken: Grill or pan-sear the chicken until cooked through and crispy.
- Prepare the garlic sauce: Blend garlic, yogurt, lemon juice, and salt until smooth.
- Serve: Slice the chicken and serve with garlic sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and pita bread.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Overcooking the chicken can make it dry. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Substitution: You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Storing & Reheating Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead.
Freezing Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner
Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness for even cooking.
- Best substitution: Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
- Troubleshooting: If the chicken is sticking to the pan, it's not hot enough. Let it heat up longer.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality non-stick skillet — Ensures even cooking and prevents sticking → Check price on Amazon
Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Lemon juice
- Garlic cloves
- Olive oil
- Shawarma spices
Seasonings
- Shawarma spice blend
- Garlic sauce
- Lemon wedges
- Fresh parsley
Optional Toppings
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Red onion
- Pita bread
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: Combine chicken, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and shawarma spices. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Cook the chicken: Grill or pan-sear the chicken until cooked through and crispy.
- Prepare the garlic sauce: Blend garlic, yogurt, lemon juice, and salt until smooth.
- Serve: Slice the chicken and serve with garlic sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and pita bread.
Notes
- Chef tip: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness for even cooking.
- Best substitution: Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
- Troubleshooting: If the chicken is sticking to the pan, it's not hot enough. Let it heat up longer.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sat. Fat: 4g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner FAQs
Yes, marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook just before serving.
Overcooking is the most common reason. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F (74°C).
Yes, freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Yes, cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
A blend of paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and black pepper.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Chicken Shawarma Recipe with Garlic Sauce for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
