Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe | The Noshery (2024)

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Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma | “It tastes like chicken” is something people say when describing something simple. I think it’s used because, when it comes to food, it’s something everyone can relate to. Everyone has tried chicken at some point in their life. And although some might even consider chicken boring, I have never met someone who doesn’t like chicken.

Shawarma is a dish that could never be described as boring. This oven adaptation is easy to make on a weeknight and packed full of so many spices and aromatics. It’s a festival of flavor.

Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe | The Noshery (1)

What is Chicken Shawarma?

Let’s talk about shawarma. I like to describe shawarma as a Mediterranean street food flavor bomb. Meats are seasoned with a mixture of spices and then placed on a spit and slowly roasted for as long as a day.

Shawarma can be made with either lamb, beef, or chicken. It’s typically served with pita bread, cucumber, tomato, eggplant, onions, tahini, hummus, or tabbouleh.

When I tried shawarma for the first time, I may have lost my mind a bit. It was so full of complex flavor. I could taste cumin, coriander, and hints of cinnamon. It was so good I licked my turmeric-stained fingers clean. I knew that I had to recreate this at home.

What does shawarma mean?

The Arabic word “shawarma” means turning, likely referring to the revolving spit it’s traditionally cooked on. The apparatus turns the meat for even cooking, crispy and charred on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. When it’s ready, it’s shaved into thin slices for serving.

Shawarma vs Gyro

What’s the difference between shawarma and gyro? Plated has a great article with the fine details, but the main differences are the meat and preparation.

Gyro is lamb or beef that is ground and shaped into a loaf and roasted on a vertical spit. Shawarma is packed down slices of marinated chicken, lamb, or goat.

You may have tried my shawarma wrap, but it’s just as magical in skillet form. This recipe is an adaptation from a NYT Cooking recipe that I found when searching for an oven roasted chicken shawarma skillet. It turned out even more perfect than I hoped it would be!

Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe | The Noshery (2)

Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe Ingredients

2 lemons, juiced
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons turmeric
Red pepper flakes
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 large red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe | The Noshery (3)

How to Make Shawarma Chicken in the Oven

To make this oven roasted chicken shawarma, whisk together your marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Add the chicken thighs, toss well to coat, and refrigerate for at least an hour but ideally at least 8-12 hours so the flavors can get moving.

When you’re ready to cook, heat oven to 425 degrees and get your oven-safe skillet going over medium-high heat. First remove the chicken to a plate and simmer the marinade only. Add a quartered onion and then place the chicken on top of the onion.

Bake the chicken 30-40 minutes, and once you remove from the oven, allow it to rest. And then slice up that delicious meat and serve with all of your favorites! Voila – heaven on a plate!

Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe | The Noshery (4)

perfect weeknight dinner

This oven roasted chicken shawarma recipe can be made any day of the week. Season the chicken in the morning or when meal prepping and let it marinate. When it’s time for dinner, bake it in the oven and serve with all of your favorite fixings.

I love to eat that thinly sliced chicken in a pita pocket or over some rice with tomato, cucumber, parsley, tzatziki yogurt sauce, and a hit of lemon juice. But you can enjoy it any way you like.

If you’re looking for more fun flavors to spice up your dinner rotation, I love this , a tasty tandoori flatbread, this spiced up shrimp harissa and tomato skillet, the legendary shakshuka, or my fun spin on a classic, . This cauliflower tabbouleh from Our Salty Kitchen is also a regular in our kitchen.

heaven in a skillet

Lately, I am obsessed with chicken skillets. I love them because they are easy to prepare and only require one skillet. If you’re a meat and potatoes person, you should try this chicken skillet with mushrooms and potatoes. If you want something light and healthy, this easy Italian chicken skillet will do the trick. Whether it’s grilling season or not, Half Baked Harvest’s lemon and oregano grilled chicken is always a weeknight game-changer! Finally, if you are craving a killer chicken salad, you must try this pollo asado massaged kale salad.

Really when it comes to chicken, the possibilities are endless! Visit my entire chicken recipe collection for more inspiration and chicken will never be boring again!

more chicken skillet love

Yield: 6 servings

Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe | The Noshery (5)

This baked chicken shawarma skillet is an adaptation of the popular middle eastern street food. This flavor bomb is the perfect weeknight meal.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time2 minutes

Inactive Time3 hours 18 minutes

Total Time3 hours 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 lemons, juiced
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed and minced
  • 1 tablespoon tahini sauce
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Red pepper flakes, to taste
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 large red onion, peeled and quartered
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl combine lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, tahini sauce, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon and red pepper flakes, whisk until well combined.
  2. Add the chicken and toss to evenly coat. Cover refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
  3. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Heat an oven-safe skillet (like cast iron) over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and set aside on a plate. Pour marinade into the skillet and cook for 3 minutes.
  4. Add the quartered onion to the skillet and toss once to combine. Place chicken on top of the onions and transfer to the oven.
  5. Bake in the oven until browned, crisp at the edges and cooked through, about 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to rest 2 minutes, then slice.
  6. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serve with pita bread, tomato, cucumbers, and tzatziki.

Notes

Adapted from NYT Cooking

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 377Carbohydrates: 5gProtein: 30g

Did you make this recipe?

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Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe | The Noshery (2024)

FAQs

Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe | The Noshery? ›

In a large bowl combine lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, tahini sauce, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon and red pepper flakes, whisk until well combined. Add the chicken and toss to evenly coat. Cover refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Heat oven to 425 degrees.

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

Shawarma is the Middle Eastern dish of shaved pieces of spit roasted chicken, beef, or lamb. The thin slices of meat (and fat) are layered in a cone-like shape on a vertical spit.

What makes shawarma taste good? ›

The distinctive flavor of shawarma spice comes from its main ingredients, including ground cumin, coriander, and black pepper. Other additions include cinnamon, cloves, allspice and dried mint. In some recipes, you'll also find nutmeg and cardamom.

How to make shawarma without a machine? ›

Grill shawarma and mushrooms

Sear shawarma over direct heat, turning often, until sizzling and charred. Move to indirect heat, and gently roast shawarma, turning often, until center is juicy and tender. Grill marinated mushrooms over direct heat until crispy, then finish cooking over indirect heat until tender.

What is shawarma cooked on? ›

Shawarma is a Levantine Arab meat preparation, where lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal, or mixed meats are placed on a spit (commonly a vertical spit in restaurants), and may be grilled for as long as a day.

What is the sauce used in shawarma? ›

Tahini sauce: Undoubtedly the most popular option to top your shawarma is tahini 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 shawarma seasoning made of? ›

A Middle Eastern staple, shawarma seasoning is made with a unique combination of spices including cumin, turmeric, and paprika. It's bold, bright, and unbelievably delicious. If you've never had it, you're in for a serious treat! All you have to do is combine the ingredients in a bowl, and they're good to go.

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 kind of bread do you use for shawarma? ›

Middle Eastern chicken shawarma is a delicious pita sandwich recipe made with thinly sliced seasoned chicken, veggies, and sauce wrapped in a pita bread. Shawarma is the ultimate on-the-go meal.

Is shawarma without mayonnaise good? ›

However, shawarma prepared at home with truly lean, grilled meat, minimal hummus that uses minimal oil and no mayonnaise can actually be a very healthy and low-calorie alternative to the street food version of this popular favourite.

What's the difference between gyro and shawarma? ›

While gyros usually come with the same combo of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, shawarmas are often topped with a medley of pickled fruits and veggies. Shawarma is a predecessor to tacos al pastor, a Mexican dish made of spit-grilled pork. The method likely made its way to Mexico via Lebanese immigrants.

Can we heat shawarma in oven? ›

To reheat your shawarma sandwich, wrap your sandwich in foil and place it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the meat is warm again throughout. The amount of time to reheat your shawarma will vary depending on your oven, so be sure to check on it every 5 minutes or so.

What's shawarma in English? ›

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 nationality is chicken shawarma? ›

Shawarma is a Levantine dish with a rich history dating back to the Ottoman Empire in the Eastern Mediterranean region, particularly in Turkey and Lebanon.

What is classic shawarma made of? ›

Shawarma is prepared from thin cuts of seasoned and marinated lamb, mutton, veal, beef, chicken, or turkey. The slices are stacked on a skewer about 60 cm (20 in) high. Pieces of fat may be added to the stack to provide extra juiciness and flavour.

What is in a normal shawarma? ›

Shawarma was traditionally made with lamb, mutton and chicken though these days you see it with beef too. It's commonly served in the form of a wrap, though in some countries you see it served on plates with sides such as seasoned rice or fries, and salads. In this recipe, I'm giving you both options!

What does chicken shawarma contain? ›

It should be either pure lamb, pure chicken, or pure beef in layers with animal fat between the layers. The meat is mixed with some herbs and spices, but not hot spices. For meat, usually only salt, black pepper and a little bit of cardamom, for chicken it's usually a little more, but still the spices are not too much.

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