Chicken shawarma skewers will be your absolute favorite dinner to grill all summer long! Generously seasoned with a stunning mix of bold spices, fresh lemon juice and a good amount of garlic! The chicken skewers are grilled to absolute perfection, charred on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. Serve alongside hummus, saffron rice or on top of your favourite crisp salad.
Chicken Shawarma Skewers
Oh do I have a fantastic dinner recipe for you! If I could 'shwarm-ify" everything I would! The combination of striking spices and fresh citrus is absolutely addictive.
Once you have the base marinade down, you can add the shawarma marinade to just about anything!
A cauliflower shawarma is coming up soon or you can make chicken shawarma bowls topped with Turkish sumac onions or salmon shawarma on top of a fresh and crisp salad.
Here is another great chicken recipe:
Honey dijon Chicken and roasted pears
And because we are in deep grilling mode,we're grilling chicken shawarma kebabs. The deep color from the spices creates the most colorful and charred exterior. I also like to add a few halved lemons to grill and squeeze the smoky lemon juice over the top.
More great skewers:
Shawarma Marinade Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- Garlic: chopped finely or grated using a microplane.
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Cumin: This adds warmth and great flavor.
- Turmeric: Adds bright color and an earthy layer of flavor.
- Paprika: I love the deep flavor of smoked paprika but if you don't like smoky flavors, sweet paprika is a great substitute. Also offers color and great rich flavor to the shawarma marinade.
- Sumac: One of my favorite spices, sumac is tangy and bright. If you can't find sumac, you can omit since lemon is a good substitute in a pinch.
Chicken Shawarma Kebab Recipe
- Mix the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and pour over cubed chicken breast.
- If you have the time, marinate for at least 30 minutes to up to overnight.
- Skewer cubed chicken breast, lemon slices and red onion wedges onto skewers and place on a hot grill.
- Grill chicken shawarma kebabs until charred on all sides, turning as needed and cooked through in the center.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. Chicken is recommended to be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Make a chicken shawarma plate. Serve chicken shawarma skewers with pita bread, homemade hummus, chopped salad and saffron rice.
Side Dishes for Grilled Chicken Shawarma
- Chopped Kale and Chickpea Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing
- Honey Harissa Cauliflower.
- Drizzle creamy tahini sauce on top of the chicken shawarma skewers.
- Serve alongside quinoa tabbouleh.
- And with Mediterranean watermelon salad for the ultimate summer dinner!
Chicken Shawarma Skewers
LittleFerraroKitchen.com
Equipment
Ingredients
Marinade
Chicken Skewers
- Avocado oil for wiping on grill
- 2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 lemon sliced thin
- 1 red onion cut into 1 inch chunks
Saffron Rice
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- Pinch of Saffron
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix marinade ingredients together in a large bowl and add cubed chicken. Toss to coat so all the chicken is coated evenly. Cover bowl with a sheet of plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
- Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill to high heat and skewer chicken cubes onto skewers, alternating every few with lemon slices and onion wedges.
- Grill shawarma skewers for 4-5 minutes per side or until a deep char is formed and chicken is cooked through.
- Once done, remove skewers and let chicken rest for a few minutes.
- For the saffron rice, add broth, rice and pinch of saffron to a small pot and place the lid on. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until rice is cooked and liquid has absorbed, about 20 minutes.
- Once done, fluff rice with a fork.
- To serve, line a platter with saffron rice and hummus and top with chicken shawarma skewers. Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, chopped herbs and lemon wedges.
Jess says
This is so delish!
Crystal says
This is my kind of meal! These chicken skewers go perfectly with hummus, and the flavors are on point!
nanc says
total flavour bomb. i loved the skewers and wished i made more!
Natalie says
Love your chicken skewers and the Mediterranean spices are my favorite. Thank you Samantha!
Katie says
Such a perfect recipe for summer! The whole family loved this skewers!
Sabrina says
great dish, thank you, a nice change to my much more generic chicken recipe. I appreciate the flavors in this dish!
ShaRon says
Delicious! The entire family enjoyed including my toddlers.
Samantha Ferraro says
Fantastic. Thank you so much for the feedback. Samantha.