The BEST Grilled Chicken Shawarma

This juicy, tender Grilled Chicken Shawarma is wonderful on its own, in wraps, sliced thin in sandwiches and it's super delicious in salads.

I know I'll be making this Grilled Chicken Shawarma on repeat this summer as it's an easy, never-fail recipe that's always super well received.

This Grilled Chicken Shawarma pairs wonderfully with our Turkish Tomato Cucumber Salad. It makes a light lean meal that's bursting with delicious flavor. We also enjoy it sliced thin and served as a wrap in Turkish Flatbread.

Travel to Turkey without ever leaving your cozy little kitchen!

If you look at the images up at the top of this post, you might think you've taken a trip to Turkey as we have a number of delicious Turkish-inspired recipes. One reader noticed this Turkish theme and wrote, inquiring if we were planning a trip to Turkey. Not right now, although Scott and I spent some time in Turkey a few years ago, on a mission trip and we fell in love with this unique and beautiful country bordered by the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

We also thoroughly enjoyed the food in Turkey, everything very fresh and full of flavor. As is the case in most foreign countries, there's a touch of exotic flavor in Turkish food since the spice combinations are different than what we're used to here in the States. That is definitely true with this Grilled Chicken Shawarma.

The flavor's in the rub!

The delicious wet spice rub includes brown sugar, coriander, cumin, kosher salt, onion powder, smoked paprika, turmeric, black pepper, chili powder and a pinch of cinnamon. There's also minced garlic, finely grated fresh ginger and a splash of olive oil. It sounds like a lot of ingredients, but you'll most likely have everything right in your spice cupboard.

What is shawarma?

Shawarma is a type of roasted meat which originated in the Middle East. It's been popular in this region of the world since the 19th century and is now enjoyed worldwide. Shawarma can be made with lamb, chicken, turkey, beef or veal and is generally prepared on a spit. Meat is stacked vertically and cut off for serving, as it cooks. My grilled chicken shawarma is a bit different (and easier). I simply grill the marinaded chicken thighs until their golden, caramelized and bursting with fabulous flavor.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs for this grilled chicken shawarma?

I'm a huge fan of boneless skinless chicken breasts and used to shy away from thighs. Skinless, boneless chicken breasts come in a super tidy package. They're lean, consistent in shape and have minimal waste. Thighs not so much. There's more fat to trim away and each thigh is very irregularly shaped.

But guess what? In many recipes (like this one) chicken thighs will yield far superior results in flavor, texture, and juiciness. Why? It's mainly because chicken thigh meat doesn't dry out. The reason is that there's a higher fat content in thighs vs breasts, making it really difficult to overcook thighs. That means that they can get golden and caramelized without compromising the juiciness and tenderness of the meat.

Yes, there is a difference in calories, but not that much. Three ounces of boneless, skinless chicken breast has 140 calories vs 170 for the same amount of thigh meat. And if you're careful about trimming off excess fat before cooking, the count could be even less. Not a bad price to pay for tons of extra flavor!

The other wonderful thing about thighs is that all those irregular shaped bits and pieces get deliciously crisp and charred on the grill. Sneaking a little crisp, golden nugget (or two) is quite irresistible when Scott brings this fabulous Grilled Chicken Shawarma in from the grill.

So no, I wouldn't try to substitute chicken breasts in this recipe. You want to be able to leave the chicken on the grill long enough for it to reach a nice deep color. If you're an exclusive chicken breast lover, just give thighs a chance in this recipe. I think you just might be super pleasantly surprised like I was. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

Café Tips for making this Grilled Chicken Shawarma

• If you're in a hurry, you can marinate the chicken for less than an hour or feel free to go longer than 4 hours. I've let the meat marinate overnight and it was delicious.
• It's hard to overcook chicken thighs, but be sure not to undercook it. 165˚F is the minimum temperature, but it's fine to go a little above that. Use an instant thermometer to check the temperature. It makes all the difference in the world in avoiding over or undercooked meats.
• Sometimes I like to make a double batch of the rub so that the next time I make this Grilled Chicken Shawarma it's a breeze. Just wait to add the garlic, ginger, and oil. The rub can be stored at room temperature.
• Leftovers make wonderful sandwiches, quesadillas and/or wraps. Sometimes I serve the leftovers thinly sliced on a salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, Feta cheese and a drizzle of Zoe's Copycat Dressing.
• For a healthy, light dinner serve this Grilled Chicken Shawarma with our Turkish Tomato and Cucumber Salad - lean, light and delish!
• Although there are a lot of spices in this recipe, the chicken is not spicy when comes to heat. Just loaded with vibrant flavor!

Thought for the day:

Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25&26

What we're listening to for inspiration:

My Portion

If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It’s so helpful to other readers to hear your results, adaptations and ideas for variations.

4.97 from 30 votes

Print

Grilled Chicken Shwarma

This juicy, tender Turkish-inspired grilled chicken is wonderful on its own, in wraps, sliced thin in sandwiches and it's super delicious in salads.

Author: Chris Scheuer

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Turkish

Keyword: Grilled Chicken Shawarma, Turkish Chicken

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Servings: 6

Calories: 260 kcal

Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

For the wet rub:

• 1 ½ tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 5 medium cloves finely minced fresh garlic
• 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh ginger
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. Line a sheet pan with foil or plastic wrap for easy cleanup. Lay chicken out on prepared pan.
2. Combine all rub ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Stir well to make a wet paste.
3. With your hands, coat the chicken on all sides with the rub, cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-4 hours.
4. Prepare a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Oil grill grates to prevent sticking.
5. Grill until all sides are golden, charred with nice grill marks. Turn every couple minutes, about 8-10 minutes per side. Internal temperature should be 165˚F.
6. Enjoy with Turkish Flatbread and/or Turkish Tomato Cucumber Salad!

Recipe Notes

See Café Tips above for additional instructions and tips.

Calories 260kcal

Fat 13g

Saturated fat 2g

Cholesterol 143mg

Sodium 915mg

Potassium 413mg

Carbohydrates 4g

Sugar 3g

Protein 29g

Vitamin A 280%

Vitamin C 1.9%

Calcium 26%

Iron 2%

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