This middle eastern inspired Chicken Shawarma recipe is easy to make from home, it’s healthy and packed with awesome flavor.

It’s been way to0 long since I’ve shared a “bowl” recipe with you all, but this is my favorite way to serve dinner! (You can browse my other bowl recipes here). Some of my favorites include Sweet Pork Burrito Bowls and Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Teriyaki Bowls.

Chicken Shawarma bowls including a base of jasmine rice topped with marinated chicken, cucumber, tomato, red onion, hummus and tzatziki sauce.

With this bowl, you’ve got your grains, veggies, protein and a healthy sauce all wrapped together in a delicious dinner. Most of the elements of these Chicken Shawarma bowls can be prepared ahead of time, including marinating the chicken shawarma, chopping the vegetables and making the sauce, so that dinner is a breeze! This middle eastern inspired Chicken Shawarma recipe is easy to make from home, it’s healthy and packed with awesome flavor.

What is shawarma?

Shawarma is a way of preparing meat in middle eastern culture where meat is roasted (typically on a revolving spit)  and then cut into thin slices. It’s similar to gyros (or doner kebabs) but the preparation, marinade and type of meat can vary. Meat used in shawarma recipes is typically lamb, chicken, or beef.

I wish that I had a revolving spit to roast an entire chicken, but for this recipe we’re using marinated chicken thighs and roasting them in the oven. It’s not completely authentic but it tastes amazing, and works for those of us wanting to imitate chicken shawarma made from home.

How to make chicken shawarma step by step:

Start by making the shawarma marinade which is a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil and spices.  Marinate the chicken thighs for at least an hour.

Next, cook jasmine rice according to package instructions.  Then make the tzatziki sauce (directions follow).  Place the marinated chicken along with some slices of red onion on a baking sheet and bake them for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through.

Chicken thighs marinating in a bowl to make chicken shawarma, next to another photo of a sheet pan with the cooked chicken and onion.

How to make Tzatziki sauce:

Tzatziki sauce is really easy to make and adds a delicious creaminess and flavor as the main sauce for your chicken shawarma dinner.

To make tzatziki, peel and dice a small peice of english cucumber. Add it to a bowl with plain greek yogurt, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, garlic and chopped dill. Stir the sauce together and season with salt and pepper.  Tzatziki sauce can be made one day in advance.

A bowl with the ingredients for tzatziki sauce including greek yogurt, diced cucumber, dill, garlic and lemon juice, next to another photo of the bowl with everything mixed together to make tzatziki sauce.

Now you’re ready to assemble the chicken shawarma bowls! Add a spoonful of rice to your bowl, top it with chicken and onions, add some tomatoes and cucumber, a dollop of tzatziki sauce and hummus and finish it off with some chopped parsley and feta cheese.  Dig in!

A white bowl filled with jasmine rice, chicken shawarma, cucumber, tomato, tzatziki sauce and hummus.

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Recipe

Chicken Shawarma bowls including a base of jasmine rice topped with marinated chicken, cucumber, tomato, red onion, hummus and tzatziki sauce.
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 50 minutes
Save Recipe

Ingredients
  

For the Bowls:

  • 1/2 cup hummus , or whole chickpeas
  • 1 English cucumber chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes , halved
  • 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice
  • fresh chopped parsley , chopped, for garnish
  • feta cheese crumbles , for topping, optional

Tzatziki Sauce:

Instructions
 

  • Mix the shawarma marinade ingredients together and marinate the thighs for at least one hour or overnight. 
  • Cook the jasmine rice according to package instructions. Make the tzatziki sauce by combining all the ingredients in a bowl. 
  • When ready to cook the chicken, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a baking pan, remove the chicken from the marinade and place the chicken thighs and chopped red onion on the pan. 
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until baked through. Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before slicing thinly. 
  • To serve, add a scoop of cooked rice to the bottom of your bowl. Top with chopped chicken and red onion, a few cucumbers and tomatoes, and a scoop of tzatziki sauce and hummus. Top with fresh chopped parsley, feta cheese, a little crushed red pepper, if desired.

Notes

Serving size: ½ cup rice, 1 chicken thighs

Nutrition

Calories: 544kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 29gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 573mgPotassium: 703mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 586IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 3mg

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I didn’t have chicken thawed so I just did everything else and wow! The flavors in this dish are amazing! 😍

  2. 5 stars
    My friends & I enjoyed this easy (to create) and delicious lunch.

    It’s something I’ll prepare again.

  3. 5 stars
    I made a few modifications but I used this recipe as a base. It was delicious! If you have the time, try making this with pickled red onions. It’s an extra step but well worth it. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It’s definitely a keeper.

  4. 5 stars
    My son was yelling “SAVE SAVE SAVE!” as we ate this. It was soooo good! I made it with chicken breast instead of chicken thighs because that’s what I had in my freezer and it was still delicious! I also cooked the chicken in my air fryer instead of oven.

  5. 5 stars
    By far the best chicken shawarma I’ve ever made. This one is going into a regular rotation. Easy but FULL of flavor.

  6. 5 stars
    I didn’t have cucumber so no tsaziki sauce. No hummus either. This did not matter because best chicken thighs I’ve ever had.

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