Description
This Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma is a flavorful and tender Middle Eastern-inspired dish made with boneless skinless chicken thighs slow-cooked in a blend of aromatic spices and yogurt. The chicken is finished under the broiler to achieve crispy edges, perfect for serving in wraps, salads, or over rice. This easy recipe requires minimal prep and delivers authentic shawarma flavors with a simple slow cooking method.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Dash of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
Instructions
- Prepare the Shawarma Sauce: In a small bowl, combine cumin, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, minced garlic, lemon juice, and plain yogurt. Stir well to form a smooth and aromatic sauce.
- Add Chicken and Onions to Slow Cooker: Place the boneless skinless chicken thighs and the sliced yellow onion into the slow cooker. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken and onions, then stir gently to coat everything evenly with the spice mixture.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The chicken should be tender and fully cooked through.
- Broil to Crisp: Once cooked, preheat your oven’s broiler. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken and onions to a baking sheet, leaving the cooking juices behind in the slow cooker. Shred the chicken using forks and spread it out evenly on the sheet pan. Place the pan in the middle rack of the oven and broil for 3-5 minutes until the edges of the chicken become crispy and lightly browned. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Enjoy your slow cooker chicken shawarma with pita, rice, salad, or your favorite accompaniments.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts, but thighs remain juicier and more flavorful for this dish.
- If you prefer a spicier shawarma, increase the cayenne pepper slightly.
- Leftover juices from the slow cooker can be spooned over the finished dish for extra flavor or used as a dipping sauce.
- This recipe is perfect for meal prep and tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
- To keep this dish gluten-free, serve with gluten-free pita or over rice.
