Tender, spiced, takeout-style Middle Eastern favorite
This Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce brings all the bold, aromatic flavors of your favorite Middle Eastern takeout—right into your kitchen with surprisingly little effort. Marinated in warm spices, lemon, and garlic, the chicken becomes incredibly tender and flavorful, perfect for stuffing into pita wraps or serving over rice bowls. The creamy homemade garlic sauce adds that irresistible restaurant-style finishing touch that keeps everyone coming back for seconds. Whether you’re prepping an easy weeknight dinner or impressing guests with a beautiful build-your-own shawarma bar, this recipe delivers big flavor with minimal fuss. It’s simple, customizable, and guaranteed to become part of your regular rotation.
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 4
📝 Ingredients List
Chicken Shawarma
- 1 ½ lbs boneless chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ tsp cumin
- 1 ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp coriander
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cayenne (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Garlic Sauce (Toum-Style Shortcut)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 cloves garlic, finely grated
- 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of salt
For Serving
- Warm pita or flatbread
- Sliced tomato
- Shredded lettuce
- Red onion slices
- Pickles
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Mixing bowls
- Large skillet or grill pan
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Whisk or spoon
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Tongs
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and all spices. Add chicken thighs and coat evenly. Marinate at least 15 minutes, or up to overnight for deeper flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook 6–7 minutes per side until browned and fully cooked. 🤎
- Rest + slice: Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest 3 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
- Make the garlic sauce: In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, grated garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble wraps: Spread garlic sauce on warm pita, add sliced chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and pickles.
- Serve: Fold, wrap, and enjoy while warm. 😋
💡 Pro Tips
- Make it lighter: Swap half the mayo for Greek yogurt in the garlic sauce.
- Meal prep: Chicken stores well for 4 days—great for bowls, wraps, or salads.
- Char flavor: Finish chicken under the broiler for 2 minutes for extra smokiness.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze marinated chicken raw, then thaw and cook later for ultra-fast meals.