Chicken Shawarma Salad Bowl (Printable Version)

Spiced chicken over crisp greens with fresh vegetables and tangy garlic sauce. A satisfying Middle Eastern-inspired meal ready in under 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken Marinade

01 - 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp ground coriander
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
11 - 3/4 tsp salt
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Salad Base

13 - 6 cups mixed salad greens
14 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
15 - 1 large cucumber, diced
16 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
17 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Garlic Sauce

18 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
19 - 1 clove garlic, finely grated
20 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
21 - 1 tbsp olive oil
22 - 1/4 tsp salt
23 - 1 tbsp water

# How to Make:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add chicken thighs and toss thoroughly to coat. Marinate for 15 minutes up to 2 hours.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook marinated chicken 5 to 7 minutes per side until browned and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing into strips.
03 - Combine Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth, adding water 1 teaspoon at a time to achieve drizzling consistency.
04 - Divide mixed greens among 4 serving bowls. Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley over greens. Top with sliced chicken.
05 - Drizzle garlic sauce generously over each bowl. Serve immediately while chicken is warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The spice blend hits every warm earthy note you crave from shawarma without needing a vertical spit
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes including marinating time
  • The homemade garlic sauce is dangerously close to what youd find in a proper restaurant
02 -
  • Dont skip the resting time after cooking the chicken or the juices will run out onto your cutting board instead of staying where they belong
  • The spice mixture can double easily and keeps for weeks in a jar
  • Warm chicken over cold vegetables creates the best temperature contrast
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before marinating for better browning
  • Use a microplane or very fine grater for the garlic in the sauce
  • Let the spice blend sit for a minute in the hot oil before adding the chicken
Go Back