# Crispy Chicken Shawarma

A recipe for making restaurant-style chicken shawarma at home using wooden skewers and an onion.

- Total time: 60 min
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Category: Drink
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 2 lb boneless chicken thighs, breasts, or a mix (pounded thin)
- 0.25 cup lemon juice
- 0.25 cup olive oil
- 0.25 cup hot pepper paste can be subbed for tomato paste
- 1 tbsp shawarma spice
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large onion, cut in half across the center (equator)
- 1 cup tahini
- 1 Juice of lemon
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp salt
- 0.75 cup ice-cold water (as needed)
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 Juice of lemon
- 1 drizzle olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp sumac
- 1 large pita (split) or lavash
- Pickles
- Shawarma drippings
- 1 tbsp hot pepper paste
- 2 tbsp oil

## Instructions

1. Mix all marinade ingredients in your baking pan.
2. Add chicken and coat well in the marinade.
3. Place one onion half cut-side down.
4. Insert 2 skewers about 2 inches apart into the onion.
5. Thread chicken onto skewers, alternating thigh and breast.
6. Top with the second onion half.
7. Place the pan back in the oven.
8. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 1 hour, basting.
9. Add ½ cup water once or twice if needed during baking.
10. Meanwhile, whisk tehina ingredients until smooth.
11. Toss onion salad ingredients together.
12. Slice shawarma thinly.
13. Fill pita with chicken, onion salad, and pickles.
14. Brush pita with drippings or a paste of hot pepper paste and oil.
15. Pan-toast pita on medium heat until crispy on all sides.
16. Finish with tehina and pomegranate molasses.

## Equipment

- baking pan
- wooden skewers
- meat thermometer
- whisk
- hot pan

## Tips

- For perfectly cooked chicken, use a meat thermometer. Internal temp should reach 165°F (74°C), or 170°F for extra safety.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUCGQ5nki5H/?igsh=MWV0cWdwYXR2bjNnaA==
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/57b2199a-ab15-4722-91da-60720fada190
- Extracted: 2026-01-28

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt