Description
Fire up your grill and get ready for a flavor-packed adventure with this Chicken Shawarma with Yogurt Sauce. Juicy, spice-marinated chicken thighs are grilled to perfection and paired with a creamy, herby yogurt sauce that’s both refreshing and zesty. This dish is perfect for quick dinners, weekend cookouts, or even healthy meal prep. With bold Middle Eastern flavors and cooling contrast, it’s one of those easy recipes you’ll want to make again and again. A fantastic addition to your list of dinner ideas, food ideas, and especially for those searching for healthy snacks or a quick, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
0.75 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
0.75 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 cup Greek yogurt (for sauce)
0.5 cup cucumber, grated and drained
1 tablespoon lemon juice (for sauce)
1 clove garlic, minced (for sauce)
2 tablespoons fresh dill or parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a bowl, mix yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, turmeric, paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper to form the marinade.
2. Add chicken thighs to the marinade, coat well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. In a separate bowl, combine yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, dill or parsley, salt, and pepper to make the yogurt sauce. Chill until serving.
4. Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Thread marinated chicken onto skewers.
5. Grill chicken skewers for 4–5 minutes per side, until nicely charred and cooked through.
6. Remove from heat and let the chicken rest for a few minutes.
7. Serve hot with yogurt sauce and optional sides like pita, rice, or salad.
Notes
Squeeze excess water from cucumber to avoid a runny sauce.
Marinating the chicken overnight makes the flavor more intense and the meat more tender.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F for safety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg