Chicken Shawarma

IngredientsClear All

For the chicken

• 3 lbs chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tbsp cumin powder
• 2 tsp cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tbsp red chili powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp black pepper

For the yogurt sauce (tzatziki-style)

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 3/4 cup cucumber, grated and salted
• 2 medium garlic cloves, salted and pureed
• 1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
• 1/2 tsp coriander seed
• 1/2 tsp cumin seed

For serving

• Flatbreads or pita
• Red onion, sliced
• Tomato, diced
• Crunchy lettuce
• Spicy sauce (optional - hot sauce or harissa)

Instructions

1. Make the marinade: Mix yogurt, minced garlic, all spices (coriander, cumin, cardamom, red chili powder, onion powder, smoked paprika), white vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.

2. Marinate the chicken: Add chicken thighs to the marinade, ensuring they're well coated. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours (or overnight for maximum flavor).

3. Make the yogurt sauce: Grate cucumber and salt it, let it sit for 10 minutes, then squeeze out excess water. Mix with yogurt, pureed garlic, cilantro, coriander seed, and cumin seed. Refrigerate until serving.

4. Cook the chicken: Preheat oven to 425°F or heat grill to medium-high. Cook chicken thighs until internal temperature reaches 165°F and they have nice char marks (about 25-30 minutes in oven, or 6-8 minutes per side on grill).

5. Rest and slice: Let chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.

6. Assemble: Warm flatbreads, add chicken, top with yogurt sauce, red onion, tomato, lettuce, and optional spicy sauce.

Notes

Make ahead: Chicken can marinate overnight for even better flavor. Yogurt sauce can be made a day ahead.

Cooking options:

• Grill for authentic charred flavor
• Oven roast for easy hands-off cooking
• Pan-sear for quick weeknight version

Storage: Cooked chicken keeps 3-4 days in fridge, great for meal prep

Substitutions:

• Chicken breast can be used but thighs are juicier
• Greek yogurt works great in both marinade and sauce
• Adjust chili powder to taste for heat level

Family notes: This is a family favorite and works great for wraps, rice bowls, or salads

Source

Modified from thatdudecancook (Sonny Hurrell) - used basically unchanged