• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Little Ferraro Kitchen logo
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fresh & Flavorful Spring Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fresh & Flavorful Spring Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes

Chicken Shawarma Skewers

Published: Jun 20, 2022 · Modified: Oct 30, 2022 by Samantha Ferraro · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Chicken shawarma skewers will be your absolute favorite dinner to grill all summer long! Chicken thighs are 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 creamy hummus, saffron rice or on top of your favorite crisp salad. For a lemony bright Tahini sauce, try my Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce, It might be the most flavorful meal ever.

Chicken shawarma skewers are served on top of creamy homemade hummus and saffron rice.
Jump to:
  • 🌶️ Chicken Shawarma Skewers
  • 🍡 Shawarma Marinade Ingredients
  • 🍋 Substitutions and Variations
  • ⏲️ Instructions
  • 📍 Recipe Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Shawarma
  • Chicken Shawarma Skewers

🌶️ Chicken Shawarma Skewers

Oh do I have a fantastic dinner recipe for you! These chicken shawarma kebabs are full of so many flavors with a bold spice mixture including paprika and cumin, lots of fresh garlic, fresh lemon zest and rich olive oil. For another wonderful Chicken meal, try my One Pot Chicken Provencal.

Once you have the base marinade down, you can add the shawarma marinade to just about anything, including salmon shawarma, lamb shawarma or marinate roasted vegetables too.

And once the chicken shawarma is grilled, there are so many variations you can do! Make chicken shawarma bowls with cucumber tzatziki or make a chicken shawarma platter like I did here, and serve with classic hummus and saffron rice.

🍡 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.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

🍋 Substitutions and Variations

  • Instead of chicken breast, substitute with boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
  • Instead of classic hummus, serve on top of avocado hummus or drizzle with tahini sauce.
  • For a spicier addition, add 1/2 teaspoon of Aleppo pepper or harissa sauce.

⏲️ Instructions

  1. Mix the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and pour over cubed chicken breast.
  2. If you have the time, marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
  3. Skewer cubed chicken breast, lemon slices and red onion wedges onto skewers and place on a hot grill.
  4. Grill chicken shawarma kebabs until charred on all sides, turning as needed and cooked through in the center.
  5. 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.
  6. Make a chicken shawarma platter. Serve chicken shawarma skewers with pita bread, homemade hummus, chopped salad or my Mediterranean rice.

📍 Recipe Tips

  • If using wooden skewers, soak skewers in water for at least 1 hour before grilling. 
  • Marinate for as long as you have, even 10 minutes before grilling. 
  • Grilled chicken shawarma lasts for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. 
Chicken shawarma kebabs served with lemon, hummus and saffron rice.

Recipe FAQs

What's the difference between shawarma and kebab?

Shawarma and kebab are slightly different where kebab is usually made up of ground meat and shawarma uses cubes of meat. Both are generosity seasoned and grilled over charcoal.

What is chicken shawarma made of?

Chicken shawarma uses pieces of chicken that are generously marinated with a mixture of bold spices, including paprika, cumin, cinnamon and turmeric along with garlic and fresh lemon. Once the chicken shawarma is marinaded, it is cooked over an open fire until charred on the outside and juice on the inside.

Is chicken shawarma healthy?

Chicken shawarma can certainly be considered healthy because it uses lean proteins that are marinated with spices, herbs and citrus.

What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Shawarma

Here are a few delicious side dishes to serve with chicken shawarma and if you need more inspiration, check out all these side dishes to serve with kebabs. You can put any skewer over my wonderful Mediterranean rice and you will not be sorry.

  • Honey harissa roasted cauliflower is layered on top of creamy harissa tahini and finished with a bright cilantro vinaigrette and sweet pomegranate seeds.
    Honey Harissa Cauliflower
  • Quinoa tabbouleh is a healthy and hearty modern twist on the traditional tabbouleh salad with parsley, mint and a light dressing of olive oil and lemon juice.
    Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad with Mint and Lemon
  • Chopped Kale and Chickpea Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing
  • Tahdig (Persian Rice)

Chicken Shawarma Skewers

Samantha Ferraro

LittleFerraroKitchen.com

Grilled chicken shawarma skewers are seasoned with a stunning mix of Mediterranean spices, garlic, lemon and grilled to perfection.
5 from 18 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Marinate 30 minutes mins
Total Time 55 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Main, Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Servings 4 servings
Calories 833 kcal

Equipment

  • Microplane
  • Skewers

Ingredients
 
 

Marinade

  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves grated or finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ¾ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon sumac
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Ground black pepper

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

To Serve and Garnish

  • Hummus homemade or store bought
  • Olive oil for drizzling on hummus
  • Parsley or cilantro chopped, for garnish
  • Lemon wedges

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.

Notes

If using wooden skewers, soak skewers in water for at least 1 hour before grilling. 
Marinate for as long as you have, even 10 minutes before grilling. 
Grilled chicken shawarma lasts for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 833kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 55gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 32gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 596mgPotassium: 1120mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 328IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Let us know by leaving a comment and 5 star rating!

More Flavorful Weeknight Chicken Recipes

  • Citrus adobo tacos with guacamole and lime.
    Citrus Adobo Chicken Tacos
  • Chicken saltimbocca with sage, Parmesan and white wine sauce.
    Chicken Saltimbocca with Prosciutto and Parmesan
  • Lemongrass chicken coconut curry with vegetables.
    Lemongrass Chicken Coconut Curry
  • One pot chicken with dates, saffron and red wine.
    Braised Chicken with Dates and Saffron

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MrnMrsindkitchen says

    July 10, 2023 at 4:23 pm

    5 stars
    This Chicken Shawarma Skewer recipe is our reminder that we are into summer grilling because it taste like summer with the Wonderful bright spices. Paprika, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Cumin all go together and that's why this is in our top 10 sunner go to recipes. Some other ones are https://littleferrarokitchen.com/grilled-sockeye-salmon/ and https://littleferrarokitchen.com/potato-salad-no-mayo/.

    Reply
  2. ShaRon says

    January 26, 2023 at 6:10 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! The entire family enjoyed including my toddlers.

    Reply
    • Samantha Ferraro says

      January 27, 2023 at 3:54 am

      Fantastic. Thank you so much for the feedback. Samantha.

      Reply
  3. Sabrina says

    June 25, 2022 at 7:17 am

    5 stars
    great dish, thank you, a nice change to my much more generic chicken recipe. I appreciate the flavors in this dish!

    Reply
  4. Katie says

    June 23, 2022 at 5:34 am

    5 stars
    Such a perfect recipe for summer! The whole family loved this skewers!

    Reply
  5. Natalie says

    June 23, 2022 at 2:16 am

    5 stars
    Love your chicken skewers and the Mediterranean spices are my favorite. Thank you Samantha!

    Reply
  6. nanc says

    June 22, 2022 at 2:12 pm

    5 stars
    total flavour bomb. i loved the skewers and wished i made more!

    Reply
  7. Crystal says

    June 22, 2022 at 1:36 pm

    5 stars
    This is my kind of meal! These chicken skewers go perfectly with hummus, and the flavors are on point!

    Reply
  8. Jess says

    June 22, 2022 at 12:32 pm

    5 stars
    This is so delish!

    Reply
5 from 18 votes (10 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Samantha! I started this blog for my love of world cuisine and cultural flavors! You’ll find everything here from Jewish recipes, Middle Eastern, Italian and more!

More about me →

Mediterranean Favorites

  • Greek shrimp saganaki recipe with feta in a rich tomato sauce.
    Greek Shrimp Saganaki
  • Pearled couscous with colorful roasted vegetables.
    Israeli Couscous Salad with Roasted Vegetables
  • One pot Dutch oven chicken thighs are cooked with rice and chickpeas and seasoned with lemon and cumin.
    One Pot Chicken and Rice with Lemon and Chickpeas
  • Easy and creamy homemade hummus is garnished with olive oil and sprinkle of paprika on top.
    Creamy Homemade Hummus
  • Greek quinoa salad with chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, artichoke hearts, olives and cubes of feta cheese. The quinoa salad is tossed with a lemon vinaigrette and fresh mint and fresh dill.
    Greek Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas and Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Roasted chicken with turmeric, fennel and citrus.
    Roast Chicken with Fennel and Citrus
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from IndieBound
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Amazon
One Pot Mediterranean
Buy now!

Order My Latest Cookbook!

One Pot Mediterranean cookbook cover

Subscribe to receive weekly recipes and a FREE Mediterranean Dinner Meal Plan!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Footer

↑ back to top

Featured In

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 · Samantha Ferraro · Little Ferraro Kitchen · All Rights Reserved

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.