Description
These Chicken Shawarma Bowls are the perfect quick dinner idea, packed with bold Middle Eastern flavors. Juicy, spiced chicken shawarma is served over fluffy rice with a fresh, tangy salad and a creamy shawarma sauce. These bowls are not only healthy and easy to make but also a high-protein dinner option thatโs great for meal prep. Enjoy this fine dining recipe at home in just 30 minutes!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Rice:
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1 3/4 cup water
- Pinch of salt
For the Chicken Shawarma:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 4 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon each: ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, salt
- 1/2 teaspoon each: allspice or 7 spice, ground cinnamon, garlic powder, black pepper
For the Salad:
- 3โ4 Persian cucumbers, chopped
- 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 red onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup olives of choice
- 2 tablespoons minced parsley
- 1 teaspoon each: lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Serving:
- Hummus
- Shawarma white sauce
- Feta cheese
- Pickled red onions or favorite pickles
Instructions
-
Cook the Rice:
- Wash rice until the water runs clear.
- In a medium saucepan, bring 1 ยพ cups of water to a boil with a pinch of salt.
- Stir in the rice, bring it back to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 more minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and keep warm.
-
Prepare & Cook the Chicken:
- While the rice is cooking, slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally or pound them thinner.
- In a large bowl, mix chicken with yogurt, lemon juice, oil, garlic, and spices until well coated.
- Heat a large pan over high heat and cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until cooked through (165ยฐF internal temp).
- Let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice into bite-sized pieces.
-
Make the Salad:
- In a bowl, mix cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and parsley.
- Drizzle with lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil. Toss and season with salt and pepper.
-
Assemble the Bowls:
- Add ยฝ cup of cooked rice to each bowl.
- Top with sliced chicken shawarma, salad, hummus, feta, pickled onions, and a drizzle of shawarma white sauce.
-
Serve & Enjoy!
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
- Swap basmati rice for cauliflower rice to make it low-carb.
- Add pita bread or roasted chickpeas for extra texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 100mg