Easy Chicken Shawarma Plate with Yogurt Sauce
This chicken shawarma plate recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner. What I love about this chicken dinner is how easy it is to make, full of super food benefits, and is a great flavorful way to season chicken.
I've been making this for quick weeknight meals when I want something satisfying but don’t feel like turning on the oven.
If you like this dish, you should try my Za'atar Chicken, Greek Chicken Meatballs, Old Bay Chicken Wings or my Chicken Fajita Casserole.
It is amazing over rice or in a pita pocket and makes for a delicious shawarma flavored meal. You don't HAVE to add the yogurt dressing but it really gives it a juicy addition. I also finds it's great with an extra squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
Why You Will Love This Dinner
Versatile meal – Serve it with rice, over salad, or in a pita!
Easy cooking – Everything comes together quickly in one pan.
Healthy ingredients – Protein-packed chicken with anti-inflammatory spices and healthy fats.
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs – A high-protein option that cooks quickly and absorbs flavor well.
- Olive oil – Helps crisp the chicken and carry the spices.
- Turmeric, cinnamon, cumin – Warm, earthy spices that give this dish classic Middle Eastern flavor.
- Salt & pepper – Simple seasoning to enhance the rest.
- Greek Yogurt- To add a creamy element to the sauce
- Lemon juice – Adds brightness and balances the richness of tahini.
- Water – Loosens the tahini to make it drizzle-able.
Substitutions and Variations
- Swap chicken for tofu or chickpeas for a plant-based version
- Add chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, or red onion for crunch
- Serve over quinoa, couscous, or in a pita wrap
The spices for the turmeric chicken recipe sound a little crazy and a lot to throw together, but I promise its very simple and healthy! Hello to anti-inflammatory and blood sugar stabilizing super foods.
How to make
Step 1:
In a bowl, toss diced chicken with olive oil, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, salt, and pepper. Let sit for 10–15 minutes if you have time.
Step 2:
Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through.
Step 3:
In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt sauce. Add more water as needed for a thinner consistency.
Step 4:
Assemble your plate: Add rice, greens, or pita, top with cooked chicken, and drizzle with yogurt dressing.
Tips and Notes
- Dice chicken evenly to ensure even cooking
- Adjust spices to your liking, add paprika or garlic powder for extra punch
- Great for meal prep, double the recipe and enjoy throughout the week
Serving Suggestions
- Over a bed of rice or quinoa
- In a warm pita with greens and veggies
- On top of a big salad with pickled onions and cucumbers
- Alongside roasted sweet potatoes or cauliflower
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storage:
Store chicken and dressing in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating:
Reheat chicken in a skillet over low heat or microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
Freezer Instructions
1. Cool completely.
Never freeze hot food. Let it cool completely first (you can even refrigerate it overnight). Before sealing, wipe away any condensation inside the container to help prevent ice crystals from forming.
2. Portion it for real life.
Freeze the amount you'll actually use. If your family won't eat a whole casserole in one night, divide it into smaller portions instead. Smaller portions also thaw much faster.
3. Leave a little room.
Don't fill containers all the way to the top, foods expand slightly as they freeze.
4. Label everything.
Write the recipe name and the date on each container so you know exactly what's waiting in your freezer.
5. Freeze.
I love freezing meals in 2-cup silicone freezer cubes. They're the perfect size for lunches or small dinners, stack beautifully, and thaw much faster than one giant frozen block.
How to Reheat
For best results, transfer your meal to the refrigerator the night before.
If it's still a little frozen in the center, microwave on the Defrost setting in 5-minute intervals until it can be broken apart easily.
Then simply reheat like you would any leftovers:
- Bake casseroles in the oven.
- Warm soups, pasta, and skillet meals on the stovetop.
- Use the microwave for quick meals.
- The air fryer works great for foods that should stay crispy.
My favorite freezer rule: Reheat food the same way you originally cooked it whenever possible. It almost always gives you the best texture.
Storage Tip: For the best flavor and texture, enjoy freezer meals within about 3 months.
I hope you are Over the Spoon for this recipe!
If you loved this recipe, please leave a review or a star rating below
Meal prep can be so easy and still flavorful. Don't let your chicken dishes be boring!
Easy Chicken Shawarma Plate with Yogurt Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless and boneless chicken thighs (diced into cubes)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Yogurt Dressing
- ½ cup plain yogurt (full-fat Greek yogurt preferred)
- 1 tablespoon mayonaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together all spices.
- Dice chicken and coat chicken in spices.
- Heat olive oil on medium heat and cook chicken on stove top making sure to flip chicken for approximately 10 minutes or until cooked through.
- For the sauce, whisk together all ingredients until smooth.
- Serve chicken with either rice, over lettuce, in a pita pocket, or by itself- drizzling yogurt sauce on top to serve.
The tahini dressing came out rather thick so I wasn't able to drizzle it. Suggestions?
Hi Nancy! Thanks for reaching out. You can keep adding water, about a teaspoon at a time, and whisk until desired consistency. This should not change the flavor but it will make it easier to drizzle.
This was so quick and easy! Served it with spinach, tomatoes, and cauliflower rice!
Was looking for a new (and healthy) chicken recipe for dinner and discovered this. This tahini dressing makes it so flavorful. It has a great flavor and it was simple to make.. Yum! Thanks for posting this recipe.
Totally making it again for sure!
This has become a staple in our house!!