This Chicken Shawarma recipe is going to knock your socks off! Just a handful of every day spices makes an incredible Chicken Shawarma marinade that infuses the chicken with exotic Middle Eastern flavours. The smell when this is cooking is insane!.
Because I make this so often, all of my friends will know it as one of my signature recipes. With just a few common spices, garlic, a splash of lemon juice, and olive oil, you can make the tastiest food.
When this chicken is cooking, the smell is incredible. In fact, it’s how I met most of my neighbours when I lived in a townhouse complex, random people I had never met before popping their head over the fence wanting to know what on earth I was making. They were elated when I handed out samples!.
Shawarma chicken is a popular Middle Eastern dish made of savory spiced meat roasted on a vertical rotisserie When served in a wrap or plate, it needs the perfect accompaniments to complete the meal The right side dishes will provide contrasting flavors, textures, and nutrition to complement the chicken. Here are 12 delicious options to consider.
Overview of Shawarma Chicken
Shawarma chicken features juicy, thinly sliced chicken seasoned with a blend of warm spices like cumin, cardamom, paprika, and cayenne pepper. The meat is marinated then stacked and roasted vertically on a rotisserie, allowing it to cook slowly while the spices beautifully permeate the chicken. Slices are then shaved off to serve.
The chicken has a great mix of fragrant flavors and a slight kick from the spices. It’s moist and tender, and you can eat it wrapped in flatbread with veggies and sauce, or you can serve it over rice with salads and dips on the side.
When planning sides for shawarma chicken, you should choose things with different textures, like crunchy or creamy ones. Bright, fresh ingredients help cut through the rich chicken flavors. Side dishes with herbs or spices from the Middle East also go well with this.
12 Side Dish Ideas for Shawarma Chicken
1. Baba Ganoush
This traditional eggplant dip offers the perfect creamy, smoky contrast to shawarma chicken. Baba ganoush has a rich, smooth texture and deep flavor that complements the spices. It adds coolness and variety to the meal.
2. Hummus
No Middle Eastern spread is more versatile than hummus. Hummus is a tasty and protein-rich dip for chicken shawarma made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic. The creaminess balances the meat’s richness.
3. Tabbouleh
A bright parsley salad with bulgur wheat, tomatoes, onion, and lemon juice, tabbouleh provides freshness and crunch alongside the chicken. The herbs and citrus cut through the savory spices. It’s light and refreshing.
4. Fattoush
Fattoush salad combines crisp veggies, fresh herbs, and pita chips with a bright lemon vinaigrette. It adds a lively crunch and acidity to balance chicken shawarma’s richness. The mix of flavors is fantastic.
5. Tzatziki
Cooling yogurt-based tzatziki sauce served with shawarma chicken provides tangy creaminess and cools the palate from the spices. Its simple preparation makes it an easy, fool-proof pairing.
6. Roasted Cauliflower
The roasted cauliflower florets’ nutty sweetness goes well with the spices in shawarma. They caramelize during roasting for wonderful texture. Toss in garlic, lemon, and spices for extra flavor.
7. Rice Pilaf
Simple rice pilaf makes the ideal blank canvas for chicken shawarma. Fluffy grains soak up the chicken juices and spice flavors. Consider pilafs with Middle Eastern flavors like cumin or saffron.
8. Couscous
Like rice pilaf, couscous offers a mild base to enjoy with strongly flavored chicken shawarma. Toast the couscous first for nuttier flavor. Add fruits, nuts or herbs for a more exciting side.
9. Mediterranean Salad
A salad with cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, onion and feta cheese provides fresh flavor and texture contrast to sliced chicken shawarma. The veggies balance the richness.
10. Lentil Soup
Warm, protein-rich lentil soup makes a hearty pairing for chicken shawarma plates. The earthy, mildly spiced soup complements the chicken. Add spinach or tomatoes for a nutrition boost.
11. Roasted Eggplant
Eggplant roasted until caramelized and creamy has a sweetness that offsets shawarma’s spices. Drizzle with tahini sauce and sprinkle with mint or parsley for extra flavor and color.
12. Warmed Flatbread
No chicken shawarma meal is complete without warm flatbread like pita or naan to wrap the meat in or dip into side dishes. Fresh, soft bread soaks up chicken juices and spice flavors.
Planning a Complete Meal
When planning a full chicken shawarma meal, try to include an array of sides. Have at least one dip like baba ganoush, hummus or tzatziki to start. Add a bright, herbaceous salad like tabbouleh or fattoush. Include a pilaf, roasted veggie or lentil soup for heartiness. Fresh flatbread ties everything together.
With flavorful chicken as the star and tasty sides, you’ll have a mouthwatering Middle Eastern feast. Shawarma chicken makes the perfect centerpiece. Experiment with different salad, dip and vegetable pairings to find your favorites.
Make-Ahead Tips
One advantage of chicken shawarma and many complementary sides is that they keep well, making them great make-ahead dishes for entertaining. Here are some tips:
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Marinate the chicken 1-2 days in advance.
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Cook chicken, slice and refrigerate up to 3 days ahead. Reheat before serving.
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Prep dips like baba ganoush, hummus and tzatziki up to 3 days ahead.
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Make tabbouleh and fattoush salad (minus dressing) 1 day in advance. Dress just before eating.
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Cook lentil soup and pilafs 1-2 days ahead. Gently reheat to serve.
With a little advance preparation, you can pull off an amazing Middle Eastern meal with ease. The fantastic flavors of chicken shawarma and seasonal fresh sides are sure to impress guests. Round out the menu with baklava or date cookies for a sweet finish.
Recap of Side Dish Options
To recap, here are 12 delicious side dishes to serve with flavorful shawarma chicken:
- Baba Ganoush – Smoky eggplant dip
- Hummus – Creamy chickpea dip
- Tabbouleh – Bright parsley and tomato salad
- Fattoush – Crunchy pita salad
- Tzatziki – Cool yogurt cucumber sauce
- Roasted Cauliflower – Caramelized florets
- Rice Pilaf – Fluffy spiced grains
- Couscous – Nutty toasted wheat
- Mediterranean Salad – Veggies with feta
- Lentil Soup – Protein-rich and hearty
- Roasted Eggplant – Sweet and creamy
- Flatbread – Fresh pita or naan
With an array of contrasting textures, bright flavors and aromas, these sides perfectly complement juicy chicken shawarma. Try a variety for a mouthwatering Middle Eastern feast.
How to make Chicken Shawarma
For the best results, it’s best to marinate the chicken overnight. But to be honest, the volume and flavour of the marinade is intense enough that you can get away with a minimum of 3 hours of marinating. Been there, done that plenty of times, and nobody has complained!.
- Mix the marinade—To save time, mix the marinade right in a ziplock bag. It’s best to use a bag because the chicken stays nicely covered in the marinade. If you’d rather use a container, either turn the chicken a few times or add 100% more marinade.
- Add chicken into the marinade. Close the bag and squeeze out any extra air. Then, massage the outside to coat it. Let it sit in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. If you’re pressed for time, even 3 hours will do!.
- Apple sauce: To make the apple sauce, just mix the ingredients together and let them sit for at least 20 minutes so the flavors can blend. This will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
- Cook chicken either on the stove or on the BBQ. The spices will give it a great crust, and the smell will blow your mind. It’s intoxicating!.
- Chicken should be left to rest for at least three minutes before it is served so that the juices can redistribute throughout the meat. If you don’t, they will just run out when you cut it.
- To serve, put everything on a platter and let everyone make their own wraps. There should be chicken, lettuce, tomato slices, onion, yogurt sauce, and warm flatbreads that you made yourself or bought from a store. When the chicken is pretty big, I sometimes cut it up. But when they’re small, I just leave them whole.
Great food for gatherings
When I cook for a big group, this Chicken Shawarma and the Vietnamese Noodles with Lemongrass Chicken are two of the foods I make most often. It’s easy to make a lot of them, they’re both great for “laying it all out and letting everyone serve themselves” (which is my favorite kind of food), and they travel well. I’ve made this multiple times on camping trips (along with the Vietnamese Noodles and Greek Gyros!).
In 2015, when I first shared this recipe, it was also part of a 7-course Arabian Feast menu. I still haven’t gotten around to perking up all the recipes with fresh new photos, but I will one day! I love that menu because so much of it can be prepared ahead, and there’s lots of common ingredients.
Be prepared for the amazing smells when you’re cooking this Chicken Shawarma! – Nagi xx
This Chicken Shawarma Wrap from Duzan in Astoria, Queens NYC hit the SPOT. #DEVOURPOWER
FAQ
What is shawarma eaten with?
Shawarma is often served with pita bread, tabbouleh, fattoush salad, pickled turnips, taboon bread, tomato salad or hummus, and topped off with tahina sauce, amba sauce or toum (garlic sauce). Sep 14, 2022.
What is shawarma chicken good with?
Serve with pita and tahini, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, some olives, chopped parsley, some feta, fried eggplant, hummus swirled with harissa, rice or rice pilaf. You can make the white sauce that traditionally accompanies it by cutting plain yogurt with mayonnaise and lemon juice, and flecking it with garlic. Jan 23, 2024.
What do you eat with chicken shawarma?
It’s a perfect weeknight meal and comes together in very little time. Pair it with vermicelli rice, Lebanese pita bread, Toum (garlic sauce), Tahini Sauce, pickled turnips or shatta (chili paste). Chicken Shawarma Recipe!.
What vegetable goes well with shawarma?
Mediterranean veggies I used eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, and red onion in my vegetable blend. Carrots, beets, turnips, or squash would be delicious too!.