Saturday, June 6, 2026
HomeFoodHen Shawarma

Hen Shawarma


Hen Shawarma is a daring, flavor-packed favourite that brings tender hen along with heat Center Jap spices and a touch of tangy lemon. This recipe makes use of a loaf-pan trick to tightly stack the marinated hen, locking in all these heat, savory spices and guaranteeing juicy, ultra-thin slices each time.

Serve it up in recent wraps or loaded bowls for a dinner you’ll preserve coming again to.

plated Chicken Shawarma

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Hen Shawarma

Taste: Heat and savory with smoky paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom, and slightly brightness from lemon.

Why Make It: The loaf pan methodology retains the hen tightly layered so it bakes up juicy and slices completely skinny.

Serving Strategies: Serve tucked into heat pitas, spooned over rice, or as the bottom for recent, flavorful shawarma bowls loaded together with your favourite toppings.

Complete Time: 1.5 hours Servings: 8 Cooking Methodology: Oven

Ingredient Notes

chicken , yogurt , oil , lemon , garlic , shawarma seasoning with labels to make Chicken Shawarmachicken , yogurt , oil , lemon , garlic , shawarma seasoning with labels to make Chicken Shawarma
  • Hen: Hen thighs are juicy, tender, and tremendous forgiving, whereas cutlets are a leaner choice that slice up fantastically for serving. If utilizing hen breasts, slice them into thinner cutlets first so every part cooks evenly and stays good and tender.
  • Yogurt: Plain yogurt helps tenderize the hen and makes certain all these heat spices cling to each chew.
  • Seasoning: A heat, smoky mix of cumin, coriander, paprika, smoked paprika, cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom that offers the hen its signature taste with only a trace of sweetness. An excellent store-bought shawarma mix works simply as nicely whenever you desire a fast shortcut.
  • Non-obligatory Toppings: Cucumber, tomato, lettuce, and crimson onion add a recent crunch that brightens up each chew.
  • Non-obligatory White Sauce: A creamy mix of yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon, garlic, and a contact of tahini that cools and balances all these heat spices. The tahini provides a refined nutty taste, however it will probably simply be disregarded, and the sauce continues to be scrumptious.

Shawarma Cooking Variations

  • Grilled Shawarma: Marinate the hen and grill over medium-high warmth till it reaches 165°F, then slice thinly.
  • Sheet Pan Model: Unfold marinated hen on a rimmed baking sheet as an alternative of stacking. It’ll cook dinner sooner, but it surely won’t have the identical layered shawarma texture.
slices of chicken to make Chicken Shawarmaslices of chicken to make Chicken Shawarma
  • Use Hen Thighs: Thighs will make for the juiciest shawarma-style slices.
  • Press the Hen Firmly: Press into the loaf pan, so it bakes into compact layers.
  • Do Not Marinate Too Lengthy: Lemon and yogurt can change the feel of the hen.
  • Broil: Do that for the final couple of minutes for crispier edges.
  • Let It Relaxation: At all times relaxation the hen earlier than slicing so the juices settle.
  • Slice Thinly: Slice thinly and throughout the layers for the very best shawarma texture.
  • Save the Pan Juices: Drizzle them over the sliced hen for additional taste and moisture.

Storing and Reheating

Maintain leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Maintain toppings and sauce separate. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and reheat in a skillet with a splash of reserved juices or slightly water.

What’s Schwarma?

Conventional shawarma is closely spiced meat that’s slowly roasted on a turning vertical spit, then shaved into extremely skinny, juicy slices. This loaf pan methodology mimics this texture with no need any particular rotisserie gear!

Can I take advantage of hen breasts as an alternative of thighs?

Sure, however slice them horizontally into thinner cutlets first so that they layer evenly within the pan and keep juicy whereas baking.

What’s conventional shawarma sauce made from?

It’s a cool, creamy mixture of plain yogurt, mayonnaise, recent lemon juice, grated uncooked garlic, and generally a drizzle of tahini.

Learn how to serve hen shawarma?

Serve it tucked inside a heat pita with recent veggies and garlic sauce, or pile it excessive over a mattress of seasoned rice.

Can this be made forward of time?

You’ll be able to prep the hen within the marinade as much as 2 hours earlier than baking. Alternatively, you may bake your complete shawarma loaf, slice it, and retailer the leftovers within the fridge for as much as 4 days or freeze it for as much as 3 months. Reheat the slices in a skillet with a splash of water or reserved juices to maintain them moist.

Contemporary Wraps and Bowl Dinners

Did you get pleasure from this Hen Shawarma Recipe? Go away a remark and score under.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus textimage of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 34 minutes

Cook dinner Time 52 minutes

4 minutes

Complete Time 1 hour 30 minutes

  • In a small bowl, mix the cumin, floor coriander, paprika, smoked paprika, salt, cinnamon, black pepper, and floor cardamom and blend nicely.

  • In a big bowl, toss the hen with olive oil, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and the seasoning combination till nicely coated. Marinate at the very least half-hour or as much as 2 hours.

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Evenly grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan.

  • Stack the hen in layers within the ready pan, urgent down the layers so that they’re gently packed and even.

  • Bake uncovered for 50 to 65 minutes or till the middle of the loaf reaches 165°F. Broil 2 minutes if desired.

  • Take away from the oven and drain the juices right into a separate bowl or jar, reserving for later. Flip the loaf over onto a rimmed plate or slicing board. Relaxation 5 minutes.

  • Thinly slice the hen. Drizzle with the reserved juices and serve in pitas or over rice.

The seasoning combine might be changed with a bought shawarma seasoning.
Non-obligatory toppings: sliced cucumber, diced tomato, shredded lettuce and crimson onion
Drizzle the hen with additional oil earlier than baking for crispier edges. 
Non-obligatory white sauce for serving: 
On a slicing board, smash 1 small clove of garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Use a fork to mash the garlic right into a paste. Mix 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, ½ cup mayonnaise,  1 ½ tablespoons recent lemon juice, and the ready garlic paste.  1 tablespoon of tahini might be added you probably have it readily available.
Maintain leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days and within the freezer for as much as 3 months. 

Energy: 177 | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 22g | Fats: 9g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Trans Fats: 0.02g | Ldl cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 397mg | Potassium: 323mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 289IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Vitamin data offered is an estimate and can differ based mostly on cooking strategies and types of components used.

Course Most important Course
Delicacies Center Jap
chicken shawarma on a grey plate drizzled with saucechicken shawarma on a grey plate drizzled with sauce
Chicken Shawarma wrap on a plate with cutting board of chicken slices and a titleChicken Shawarma wrap on a plate with cutting board of chicken slices and a title
smoky and savory Chicken Shawarma with writingsmoky and savory Chicken Shawarma with writing
fresh and flavorful Chicken Shawarma with writingfresh and flavorful Chicken Shawarma with writing
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