Chicken Shawarma with Tzatziki Sauce
Chicken Shawarma with Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
For the Chicken Shawarma Marinade
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For Roasting and Finishing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for drizzling
- 2 garlic heads, sliced horizontally
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, for garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For Serving
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup Roma tomatoes, diced
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, shredded
- 4 pita bread, warmed
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine the thinly sliced chicken thighs with tomato paste, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, cumin, cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, turmeric, ground coriander, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until the chicken is well coated. Cover and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Transfer the marinated chicken to a large baking dish, spreading it in an even layer. Drizzle an additional 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the chicken.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400
- 3
Take the two heads of garlic and slice them in half horizontally to expose the cloves. Drizzle each half with a little olive oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Wrap each garlic half tightly in aluminum foil. Place the foil-wrapped garlic heads directly into the baking dish with the chicken.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Roast the chicken and garlic in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and lightly browned, and the garlic is very soft.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 400
- 5
While the chicken is roasting, prepare the Tzatziki sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the grated cucumber (ensure it's squeezed dry to remove excess water), 1 cup Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, chopped fresh dill, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix all ingredients well until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Prepare the vegetable toppings: thinly slice the red onion, dice the Roma tomatoes, and shred the romaine lettuce. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Once the chicken and garlic are done, carefully remove the garlic from the foil. Mash the roasted garlic cloves with a fork and mix them into the cooked chicken in the baking dish. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Warm the pita bread according to package instructions. To assemble, spread a generous amount of Tzatziki sauce inside a warm pita, then fill with the chicken shawarma, sliced red onion, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chicken Shawarma with Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
For the Chicken Shawarma Marinade
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For Roasting and Finishing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for drizzling
- 2 garlic heads, sliced horizontally
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, for garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For Serving
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup Roma tomatoes, diced
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, shredded
- 4 pita bread, warmed
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine the thinly sliced chicken thighs with tomato paste, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, cumin, cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, turmeric, ground coriander, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until the chicken is well coated. Cover and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Transfer the marinated chicken to a large baking dish, spreading it in an even layer. Drizzle an additional 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the chicken.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400 - 3
Take the two heads of garlic and slice them in half horizontally to expose the cloves. Drizzle each half with a little olive oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Wrap each garlic half tightly in aluminum foil. Place the foil-wrapped garlic heads directly into the baking dish with the chicken.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Roast the chicken and garlic in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and lightly browned, and the garlic is very soft.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 400 - 5
While the chicken is roasting, prepare the Tzatziki sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the grated cucumber (ensure it's squeezed dry to remove excess water), 1 cup Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, chopped fresh dill, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix all ingredients well until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Prepare the vegetable toppings: thinly slice the red onion, dice the Roma tomatoes, and shred the romaine lettuce. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Once the chicken and garlic are done, carefully remove the garlic from the foil. Mash the roasted garlic cloves with a fork and mix them into the cooked chicken in the baking dish. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Warm the pita bread according to package instructions. To assemble, spread a generous amount of Tzatziki sauce inside a warm pita, then fill with the chicken shawarma, sliced red onion, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 5 min