Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma: Easy Weeknight Dinner
Make authentic-tasting chicken shawarma with minimal effort using your slow cooker. This recipe delivers juicy, flavorful shredded chicken perfect for bowls, pitas, or wraps.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 6 hr
- Total Time: 6 hr 15 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, coriander, turmeric, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper to create the marinade.
- Place the chicken breasts or thighs into the slow cooker insert.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, turning to coat evenly.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board.
- Use two forks to shred the chicken. Alternatively, for a more traditional texture, you can slice the chicken thinly against the grain.
- Return the shredded or sliced chicken to the slow cooker and toss it with the remaining cooking juices to keep it moist.
- Serve immediately with warm pita bread, tahini sauce, and your favorite fresh vegetables for homemade chicken shawarma bowls.
Notes
- For the best flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours before cooking, even if you are using the slow cooker.
- To mimic the slightly charred flavor of rotisserie shawarma, quickly broil the shredded chicken for 2-3 minutes after shredding, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Serve this juicy shredded chicken over rice or mixed greens for a healthy slow cooker lunch idea.
- Prepare a simple tahini sauce by whisking together 1/2 cup tahini, 1/4 cup water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 5 oz cooked chicken)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 9
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 44
- Cholesterol: 135