Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma

Juicy, flavorful Chicken Shawarma made with chicken in a bright, spiced lemon marinade baked in the oven until perfectly cooked. This is such an easy chicken shawarma recipe!

We make so much chicken in our home! Since I have several teenagers at home right now, I am constantly making so much protein. We love Mediterranean food so I am sharing an easy chicken shawarma recipe that can be baked on a sheet pan or grilled. It is so juicy and flavorful!

If you are looking for more chicken recipes, one of my most popular recipes is my Best Chicken Marinade Recipe because it makes the chicken so juicy and flavorful.

Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma Ingredients:

This Oven Chicken Shawarma calls for simple, fresh ingredients and an easy marinade.

• Chicken: I would suggest using chicken thighs, chicken breast, or chicken tenderloins. For the juiciest chicken, I suggest using chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: This is the base of the chicken shawarma marinade and an important ingredient to ensure the juiciest chicken.
• Fresh Lemon Juice: Adds the perfect amount of fresh, vibrant flavor and balances out the olive oil. I suggest only using freshly squeezed lemon juice if possible.
• Garlic: Use finely chopped fresh garlic in this chicken shawarma marinade.
• Salt and Pepper: Add more salt and pepper as needed once the chicken has cooked.
• Spices — Cumin, Paprika, Turmeric, Red Pepper Flakes: These are what give this oven chicken shawarma the smoky, warm flavors.
• Red Onion: Add thinly sliced red onion to roast with the chicken for more depth of flavor.

How to make Chicken Shawarma:

1. Start by marinating the chicken. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Make the marinade by combining extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and spices. Let marinate for at least 1 hour. I suggest marinating it overnight if at all possible or for at least 4 hours.
2. Once the chicken is done marinating, heat the oven to 425 degrees. Drizzle olive oil on a sheet pan. Spread the chicken evenly on a sheet pan. Place red onions all over the chicken. Bake for 25 minutes. Set the oven to broil and place the baking sheet on the top rack and broil for 2 minutes.
3. Remove from the oven and taste for seasonings. Serve with the options below.

Can you grill the Chicken Shawarma?

Yes! If you want to grill the chicken, I suggest keeping the chicken breast or chicken thighs whole in the marinade. Once the chicken is done grilling, cut or slice into bite-size pieces.

How to Grill Chicken Shawarma:

To grill the chicken shawarma, set your grill at medium heat. Allow it to preheat before placing the chicken on the grill. To keep the chicken from sticking, brush a bit of oil on the grill.

Cook for about 5 – 6 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the chicken breast or thighs. The chicken needs to reach 165 degrees to ensure that it is completely cooked through. I suggest using a food thermometer to ensure the perfectly cooked and juiciest chicken shawarma.

What to serve with Chicken Shawarma:

We love to serve this easy baked chicken shawarma with pita or naan bread, homemade tzatziki sauce, and simple Greek salad. Here are some ideas:

1. Serve the oven-roasted Chicken Shawarma in warm pita bread or naan bread. Wrap the chicken shawarma with pita bread and serve with white garlic sauce, tzatziki, or hummus, and Greek salad.
2. Fresh and Vibrant Salad: Serve with a salad made with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, tossed in extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt.
3. Creamy Hummus and Garlic Sauce: A side of hummus or garlic sauce enhances the chicken, providing a creamy and tangy contrast to the spiced chicken.
4. Turmeric seasoned Basmati Rice: Season rice with turmeric which adds an earthy flavor and a golden hue.

Popular Chicken Recipes:

Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce

Greek Chicken Marinade

Greek Chicken Bowls

Greek Chicken Kabobs

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Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma

By: Modern Honey® – www.modernhoney.com Juicy, flavorful Chicken Shawarma made with chicken in a bright, spiced lemon marinade baked in the oven until perfectly cooked. This is such an easy chicken shawarma recipe! Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes minutes
1 hour hour
Servings: 5

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbs. Chicken Thighs or Breasts
• 2/3 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 to 3 large Lemons (juiced)
• 6 Garlic Cloves (minced)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
• 2 teaspoons Pepper
• 2 teaspoons Cumin
• 2 teaspoons Paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 to 2 Red Onions (thinly sliced)

Instructions

1. Start by marinating the chicken. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Place in a bowl or large Ziploc bag. Make the marinade by combining extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and spices. Let marinate for at least 1 hour. I suggest marinating it overnight if at all possible or for at least 4 hours.
2. Once the chicken is done marinating, heat the oven to 425 degrees. Drizzle olive oil on a sheet pan. Spread the chicken evenly on a sheet pan. Place red onions all over the chicken. Bake for 25 minutes.
3. To make the chicken even more crisp, set a large pan over high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, then the chicken, and sauté until everything curls tight in the heat or set the oven to broil and place the baking sheet on the top rack and broil for 2 minutes.
4. Remove from the oven and taste for seasonings. Serve with the options below.

Notes

Recipe adapted from New York Times Recipe for Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma.

What to serve with Chicken Shawarma:

We love to serve this easy baked chicken shawarma with pita or naan bread, homemade tzatziki sauce, and simple Greek salad. Here are some ideas:

2. Serve the oven-roasted Chicken Shawarma in warm pita bread or naan bread. Wrap the chicken shawarma with pita bread and serve with white garlic sauce, tzatziki, or hummus, and Greek salad.

1. • Fresh and Vibrant Salad: Serve with a salad made with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, tossed in extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt.

1. • Creamy Hummus and Garlic Sauce: A side of hummus or garlic sauce enhances the chicken, providing a creamy and tangy contrast to the spiced chicken.

1. • Turmeric seasoned Basmati Rice: Season rice with turmeric which adds an earthy flavor and a golden hue.

How to Grill Chicken Shawarma:

To grill the chicken shawarma, set your grill at medium heat. Allow it to preheat before placing the chicken on the grill. To keep the chicken from sticking, brush a bit of oil on the grill. Cook for about 5 – 6 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the chicken breast or thighs. The chicken needs to reach 165 degrees to ensure that it is completely cooked through. I suggest using a food thermometer to ensure the perfectly cooked and juiciest chicken shawarma.

Nutrition

Calories: 547kcal
Carbohydrates: 8g
Protein: 49g
Fat: 35g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g
Monounsaturated Fat: 23g
Trans Fat: 0.03g
Cholesterol: 145mg
Sodium: 969mg
Potassium: 984mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 2g
Vitamin A: 214IU
Vitamin C: 31mg
Calcium: 47mg
Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Lunch or DinnerCuisine: Greek, MediterraneanServings: 5
Calories: 547Keyword: baked chicken shawarma, chicken shawarma, oven roasted chicken shawarma