If there’s one meal I never get tired of, it is shawarma. It is a complete meal in a wrap and tastes fantastic. It is also perfect for meal prep as one can make the chicken, salad and sauces ahead of time and assemble last minute.
Whether you make it with pita or flatbread, or serve it with rice or just skip the carbs altogether, it is a really satisfying meal. Of course, we can use the air fryer or oven for making juicy chicken. With its signature Middle Eastern flavour, air fryer chicken shawarma is a firm family favourite.
You will also love: air fryer malai chicken tikka, whole chicken in air fryer, air fryer Chicken 65, air fryer pesto chicken and air fryer chicken al pastor.
Ingredients
Chicken: I used chicken breasts in this recipe and marinated it in some spices for cooking later.
Salad: I make a very simple salad of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber in a simple dressing for this shawarma. Adding the dressing right before assembling helps keep the salad crisp.
Sauce: I love my homemade garlic yogurt or tzatziki sauce here. You can also use tahini.
Flatbread: I normally use the Indian parathas or flaky flatbread for this recipe, but pita bread is perfect too.
Instructions
To prepare the chicken
I took chicken breasts for this recipe. Chicken thighs work equally well. Add all the ingredients mentioned under chicken and mix well.
You can marinate for an hour or more or cook immediately in case you are in a rush. Marination helps in absorbing the flavours quickly.
Air Fryer Method
Preheat air fryer to 180C or 360F for 3 minutes. Lightly grease the air fryer basket and spread the marinated chicken breasts in a single layer. You could slice the breasts for faster cooking. I normally cook the breasts and then slice and store the leftovers for cooking later.
Air fry for 10–12 minutes at 180C or 360F. Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes till golden brown and cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 165F.
Do not overcook as chicken breasts tend to dry out easily. So depending upon the size of your chicken breasts, modify the cooking time. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Take out the chicken breasts and slice them. Leftovers can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for upto 3 days.
Instructions to make Tzatziki Sauce
Assemble all the ingredients of the sauce. Peel, grate and squeeze grated cucumber so that you can get rid of all the moisture. This prevents the sauce from becoming watery.
Now in a bowl mix together yogurt, chopped garlic, chopped dill, lemon juice, salt, pepper and cucumber. Mix well to form the thick garlic yogurt sauce. Top with olive oil. It will keep for a week in the fridge.
Salad
Chop tomato and lettuce. Slice onion. You can use chopped onion too. Make a dressing of salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice. Just before serving, add the dressing to the salad and mix well.
Assembling Chicken Shawarma Roll
Heat a paratha or toast pita bread in a toaster. Spread tzatziki sauce all over the flatbread. Top with sliced and cooked chicken breast along with salad and serve warm.
If using pita bread, fill the pocket. You can also serve chicken shawarma in a Buddha bowl with rice or cooked grain. Or ditch the carbs and just have it as it is with the delicious salad that you have prepared.
Every which way it is so tasty and filling.
Oven Method
Preheat oven to 425 F. In a baking tray lined with parchment papers, place marinated chicken breasts.
Roast in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes till the chicken is cooked through and golden. You can flip midway if you like.
Use a digital thermometer to make sure that the thickest part has reached 165F temperature.
Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Expert Tips
1. Chicken thighs can be used in place of breasts for tastier chicken, but chicken breasts are leaner. So use as per your choice.
2. Marinating the chicken makes it more flavourful. You can marinate it overnight.
3. This recipe is perfect for meal prep as you can cook the chicken and store in the fridge. Same can be done for the sauce and the salad. Avoid adding salt to them so that they don’t get watery. Just assemble and have a delicious dinner ready in no time.
4. Wrap it in pita with garlic sauce, serve over rice with grilled veggies or throw it into a salad for a healthy meal option.
5. If you prefer your salad to be crisp, just use chopped crunchy veggies and skip the dressing.
6. You can add a little mayo for more creaminess to the sauce.
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Air fryer Chicken Shawarma
Equipment
Ingredients
Tzatziki Sauce
Instructions
To prepare the chicken
- I took chicken breasts for this recipe. Chicken thighs work equally well. Add all the ingredients mentioned under chicken and mix well. You can marinate for an hour or more or cook immediately in case you are in a rush. Marination helps in absorbing the flavours quickly.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat air fryer to 180C or 360F for 3 minutes. Lightly grease the air fryer basket and spread the marinated chicken breasts in a single layer. You could slice the breasts for faster cooking. I normally cook the breasts and then store the leftovers for cooking later.
- Air fry for 10–12 minutes at 180C or 360F. Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes till golden brown and cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 165F.
- Do not overcook as chicken breasts tend to dry out easily. So depending upon the size of your chicken breasts, modify the cooking time. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Take out the chicken breasts and slice them. Leftovers can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for upto 3 days.
- Instructions to make Tzatziki Sauce
- Assemble all the ingredients of the sauce. Peel, grate and squeeze grated cucumber so that you can get rid of all the moisture. This prevents the sauce from becoming watery.
- Now in a bowl mix together yogurt, chopped garlic, chopped dill, lemon juice, salt, pepper and cucumber. Mix well to form the thick garlic yogurt sauce. Top with olive oil. It will keep for a week in the fridge.
Salad
- Chop tomato and lettuce. Slice onion. You can use chopped onion too. Make a dressing of salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice. Just before serving, add the dressing to the salad and mix well.
- Assembling Chicken Shawarma Roll
- Heat a paratha or toast pita bread in a toaster. Spread tzatziki sauce all over the flatbread. Top with sliced and cooked chicken breast along with salad and serve warm.
- If using pita bread, fill the pocket. You can also serve chicken shawarma in a Buddha bowl with rice or cooked grain. Or ditch the carbs and just have it as it is with the delicious salad that you have prepared.
- Every which way it is so tasty and filling.
Oven Method
- Preheat oven to 425 F. In a baking tray lined with parchment papers, place marinated chicken breasts.
- Roast in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes till the chicken is cooked through and golden. You can flip midway if you like.
- Use a digital thermometer to make sure that the thickest part has reached 165F temperature.
- Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Rachna says
We love making chicken shawarma at home now. It is perfect to do meal prep and then prepare it in no time. Try this delicious chicken recipe.