Description
This Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma recipe offers a flavorful and tender Middle Eastern classic made easy with a slow cooker. Marinated in a fragrant yogurt and spice mixture, the chicken thighs cook low and slow, achieving perfect tenderness before a final broil or sear to caramelize and crisp the edges. Served with fresh vegetables, warm pita, and optional tangy sauces, it’s a simple yet delicious way to enjoy shawarma at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 2 1/2–3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt (or thick dairy-free yogurt)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (or sweet paprika)
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional but recommended)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
Optional Toppings and Sauces
- Warm pita or flatbreads
- Chopped tomatoes
- Chopped cucumbers
- Chopped lettuce
- Pickles
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Fresh parsley
- Garlic yogurt sauce (1 cup yogurt + 1 grated garlic clove + lemon juice + salt)
- Tahini-lemon sauce
- Sumac or extra paprika for garnish
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken thighs and toss well to coat all pieces thoroughly. Cover and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate up to 12 hours for deeper flavor infusion.
- Load the slow cooker: Scatter the sliced yellow onion evenly in the slow cooker base. Place the marinated chicken along with all the marinade on top of the onions. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is very tender but still maintains some structure unless you prefer it shredded.
- Chop or shred the chicken: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker onto a cutting board and roughly chop into bite-sized pieces or coarsely shred with two forks, depending on your preference. Spoon off any excess liquid from the slow cooker, then return the chicken with some onions and juices to keep it moist.
- Crisp for shawarma texture: For classic caramelized edges, spread the chicken in a single layer on a foil-lined sheet pan. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place on the top rack of the oven and broil until the chicken is browned and crisp at the edges, about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Alternatively, sear the chicken in a hot skillet for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and more lemon juice if needed.
- Build and serve: Warm the pita or flatbreads. Assemble the shawarma by layering the crispy chicken, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, pickles, red onion, and parsley inside the bread. Drizzle with garlic yogurt sauce or tahini-lemon sauce and garnish with a sprinkle of sumac or extra paprika. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a dairy-free option, substitute plain whole-milk yogurt with thick dairy-free yogurt.
- Marinating overnight enhances the flavors but marinating at least 30 minutes at room temperature works well for quicker prep.
- Broiling the chicken at the end adds authentic caramelized edges similar to traditional shawarma grills.
- If broiling is not an option, searing in a hot skillet will add good texture and flavor.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best bright flavor; bottled lemon juice can alter the taste.
- Leftover chicken shawarma keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: Chicken Shawarma, Slow Cooker Shawarma, Middle Eastern Chicken, Slow Cooker Chicken, Shawarma Recipe, Easy Chicken Shawarma
