Transport your taste buds to the streets of the Middle East with our Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Recipe. Packed with bold spices and succulent flavors, this quick and easy recipe promises a delightful twist on a classic dish.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Flavorful Feast: This recipe delivers an authentic Chicken Shawarma wrap right in your kitchen.
- Effortless Cooking: The air fryer ensures even cooking with minimal supervision required.
- Versatile and Satisfying: Great in wraps, salads, or on its own for a hearty meal.
🥘 Ingredients
For this recipe, you'll need lots of spices and seasonings. Here's what you'll need.
- Chicken: You want boneless skinless chicken for this recipe. I use chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Olive oil: You will need olive oil for both the chicken and the salad.
- Naan Bread: Naan bread is kind of like a pita bread. You'll need them to put all your ingredients on.
- Chicken Seasonings: You will season the chicken with minced garlic, lemon juice, cumin, paprika, ground cloves, turmeric, ground cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
- Tahini Paste: Made from toasted ground hulled sesame, tahini paste is a middle Eastern condiment. However, you can find it at most any grocery store.
- Lemon Juice: You will need lemon juice for the chicken, the tahini sauce, and the salad. Fresh is best, but you can use bottled as well.
- Minced Garlic: Minced garlic is used to season the chicken as well as for the tahini sauce. I buy jarred minced garlic to make it easier.
- Tahini Seasonings: In addition to the above ingredients, you'll also need cumin, salt, and parsley for the tahini sauce.
- Veggies: For the salad, you will need diced tomatoes, cucumbers, minced red onion, and fresh chopped parsley.
- White Wine Vinegar: If you don't have white wine vinegar, you could also use red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar.
- Salt And Pepper: A little salt and freshly ground black pepper is used to season the salad and chicken.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔄 Substitutions & Variations
- Meat Swap: Use beef, lamb, or tofu for a different protein option.
- Dairy-Free Sauce: Swap tahini for cashew cream or hummus for a creamy alternative.
- Low-Carb Option: Serve over lettuce wraps or cauliflower rice instead of naan.
🔪 How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma?
Made with protein, veggies, and a delicious tahini sauce, this air fryer chicken shawarma is packed with flavor! Follow the easy steps below for a truly satisfying dish.
Step One: First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Then, mix all the chicken seasoning ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
Step Two: Cut your chicken into thin slices. Then, add the sliced chicken to the seasoning mix, coating the chicken well.
Step Three: When ready to cook your marinated chicken, line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil creating a tray with raised edges to keep in the marinade. Air fry the chicken at 400°F for 8-10 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Step Four: While your chicken is cooking, add all the salad ingredients (diced tomatoes, cucumbers, a minced red onion fresh chopped parsley, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper) to a small bowl, and mix well. Set aside.
Step Five: In a small mixing bowl, mix ½ cup tahini paste, ⅓ cup warm water, 2 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon cumin, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 2 ½ teaspoon parsley, dried until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Step Six: Once your chicken is done cooking, add to your naan bread or pita bread the lemon tahini sauce, and cooked chicken slices.
Step Seven: Top with your salad. Fold and bring the edges together.
Step Eight: Wrap in Foil ready to enjoy.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Chicken Prep: You can cook the chicken right away, or you can leave the chicken overnight to marinate in the seasoning. It's best to allow the shawarma meat to sit for at least 6 hours.
💭 FAQs
Chicken Shawarma is a style of chicken that originates from the Middle East. The chicken is marinated in a blend of spices, then grilled or roasted on a spit. Chicken Shawarma can be served on its own, or as part of a dish such as
Chicken Shawarma Rice. It is typically made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but dark meat can also be used. The chicken is usually flavored with a blend of spices such as garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper and paprika.
Chicken Shawarma is a popular dish in many Middle Eastern restaurants, and it is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world. If you're looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy chicken, give this juicy Chicken Shawarma a try!
Chicken shawarma made in an air fryer is a healthy and delicious alternative to the traditional dish. Air fryers cook food using little to no oil, which can help to reduce the fat content of the dish. In addition, air fryers cook food quickly and evenly, meaning that there is less chance of the chicken becoming dry or overcooked.
If you've never had tahini sauce before, you're in for a treat. It's made from ground sesame seeds, and it has a rich, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the spices in chicken shawarma. It's also relatively thick, so it helps to bind the ingredients together and give the dish a creamy texture. Tahini sauce is definitely an acquired taste, but if you like hummus or peanut butter, you'll probably enjoy it.
Check the spice aisle of well-stocked grocery stores, especially those with a diverse selection of international or Middle Eastern foods. Look for pre-packaged Shawarma spice blends or individual spices like cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and cinnamon.
The best way to store leftover chicken shawarma is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to four days. Be sure to store the chicken, salad, and sauce in separate containers so it doesn't get soggy. If you need to store it for longer than that, you can freeze it. Chicken shawarma can be frozen for up to three months.
🧂Serving Suggestions
Wondering how to serve chicken shawarma? Here are a few side suggestions:
- Garlic Tahini Sauce: Creamy and tangy, the perfect dip for your Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma.
- Tabbouleh Salad: Fresh parsley, tomatoes, and bulgur tossed in olive oil – a vibrant side bursting with flavors.
- Hummus with Olive Oil Drizzle: Smooth chickpea goodness, elevated with a generous pour of extra virgin olive oil.
- Fattoush Salad: Crispy pita chips, mixed greens, and veggies – a delightful crunch to accompany your shawarma feast.
- Lebanese Rice Pilaf: Fragrant basmati rice cooked with vermicelli, a classic side to enhance your shawarma experience.
- Yogurt sauce: Serve with a side of cucumber yogurt sauce and fresh lemon juice.
🍽 Related Recipes
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Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma
Ingredients
- 1½ Ibs Chicken Breast about 3 breasts
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 4 Slices Naan Bread
- 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Juiced
- 1 Tsp Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric
- ¼ Tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
Tahini Sauce
- ½ Cup Tahini Paste
- ⅓ Cup Warm Water
- 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 2 ½ teaspoon Parsley Dried
Salad
- 1 Cup Dried Tomatoes
- 1 Cup Cucumber Diced
- 2 tablespoon Red Onion
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon White Wine Vinegar
- 2 Tsp Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoon Parsley Chopped
- 1 tablespoon Parsley Chopped
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- When you are ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 400° for 5 minutes.
- In a medium-size bowl, add all your ingredients for the chicken seasoning. Mix.
- Cut your chicken into slices.
- Add your chicken slices to your chicken seasoning mix. You can cook right away, or you can allow them to marinate. Best to marinate for at least six hours or overnight.
- When ready to cook, line your air fryer with aluminum foil creating a tray with raised edges to keep in the marinade.
- Cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- While your chicken is cooking, add all the salad ingredients to a small bowl stir, and mix well. Set aside.
- Add all the ingredients for the tahini sauce in a small mixing bowl and mix until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Once your chicken is done cooking, you’re ready to assemble your Shawarma.
- Add to your pita bread or flatbread your lemon tahini sauce, chicken slices, and top with your salad.
- Fold and bring the edges together. Enjoy!
