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Easy Chicken Shawarma

Name: Easy Chicken Shawarma
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 400 grams Chicken breast (- sliced thinly.); Tortilla wraps; 400 grams Fried Chips (- optional.); ½ cup Parsley; 1 tsp Paprika powder; ½ tsp Garlic powder; ½ tsp Salt; ½ tsp White pepper powder; 2 tbsp Butter; 100 grams White Cabbage; ⅓ tsp Salt; ½ tsp Sumac; ½ Onion (- sliced thinly.); Mayonnaise (- optional, can substitute with tzatziki or garlic sauce.); Hot sauce (- optional.)

ByAva
Published OnMar 16, 2026

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If you are in the mood for Middle Eastern food, then you’re in luck. Today, we are making an Easy Chicken Shawarma recipe. This recipe takes 30 minutes to put together and uses grilled chicken marinated in a blend of spices.

The flavour of chicken shawarma is enhanced with sumac onions, white cabbage coleslaw, and parsley. Shawarma originated on the streets of Turkey and quickly became a global favorite.

The key to a chicken shawarma lies in the balance of flavours in the marinade and in garnishes such as sumac onions and coleslaw, which add depth to the dish.

Ingredients

Chicken breast, Tortilla wraps, Onions, Paprika powder, Sumac, Parsley, White Cabbage, Salt, White Pepper, Garlic Powder, Butter.

Chicken breast is ideal for this recipe; you can use deboned chicken thighs in its place. The chicken breast was lightly seasoned with white pepper powder, salt, and garlic powder, then shallow-poached in a little water before grilling; this method creates tender, soft chicken, and the grilling sears it, resulting in lovely browning. The chicken breast is rested after cooking to keep it moist.

Paprika powder adds a subtle heat to the chicken breasts. The combination of onions and sumac provides a citrusy, floral note that elevates the chicken shawarma’s flavour. White cabbage, along with salt, adds more texture and crunch to the dish. You can also use sauerkraut in its place.

Instructions

Begin by preparing the chicken breast: wash and dry it with a paper towel. Add the chicken to the grill pan with butter, and add 1/3 cup of water with salt, garlic powder, paprika powder, and white pepper powder. Set the temperature to medium-low and shallow-poach the chicken for 10-12 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).

During this time, peel and slice the onion. Add it to a bowl, sprinkle sumac, and mix. For extra flavour, you can add a little olive oil and lemon juice, which will brighten the sumac onions’ flavour. Next, create the white cabbage coleslaw. Remove the outermost layer of the white cabbage. Finely shred two cups of white cabbage, place it in a bowl, sprinkle with salt, and toss it to coat evenly. Let it rest for 10 minutes; this process will wilt the cabbage and make it more tender.

After the chicken has been shallow-poached, the water will have evaporated. Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill with butter to prevent the shallow-poached chicken from sticking to the pan. Grill each side of the chicken for 2-4 minutes, until lightly browned. Thereafter, let the chicken rest, and then assemble the shawarma. You can heat the tortillas in the microwave or in a stovetop pan; either way will soften them and make them pliable.

Place the tortilla or Arabic bread on a plate. On each tortilla, begin by adding the ingredients: place the fried chips, then the grilled chicken, white cabbage coleslaw, and the sumac onions on top. Add the parsley to the side and roll the shawarma up. For added flavour, you can drizzle a light amount of hot sauce, mayonnaise, or garlic toum over the ingredients.

Whether you’re cooking for a family dinner or simply indulging a craving, chicken shawarma is an excellent choice. It is easy to make and offers plenty of room for creativity with garnishes and toppings.

How to Store the Easy Chicken Shawarma?

Place any leftover chicken shawarma in a glass container in the fridge. It will last for three to four days. You can freeze the cooked chicken, place it in a freezer-safe bag, and it will remain in good condition for up to three months. Reheat in the microwave and assemble the chicken shawarma.

What to Serve with the Easy Chicken Shawarma?

Several delicious options can be served with easy chicken shawarma. A refreshing taboulleh or tzatziki would pair well with this recipe; consider Garlic sauce or hummus as additional side dishes to enhance the chicken shawarma’s flavour.