Homemade Spicy Shawarma Recipe
This homemade shawarma packs a punch of aromatic spices and a smoky, crispy finish. Tender chicken thighs marinated in a bold blend of turmeric, cumin, and cayenne mingle with tangy lemon and tomato paste for a flavor-packed bite. Perfect for a quick dinner that feels like a street‑food adventure.
Recipe by thegoldenbalance· Structured by ReelsMeals
From: TikTok(view original)
Rate this recipe
Save this recipe to your cookbook
Saving public recipes is free. Keep the source, add notes, and find it again without searching the feed.
Watch the recipe video
Video plays from the original creator's platform. View the original video
Prep Time
Cook Time
Servings
One recipe link, ready for anywhere
Use it in Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, email, or a creator bio. It always opens this recipe and keeps the original source attached.
Publishing this recipe elsewhere? Add a visible credit link back to this page.
Publisher & backlink kit+
Give publishers a useful, properly credited asset. Backlinks only happen when another site chooses to publish and credit it.
Download the card, upload it to Google Lens, then use the outreach message for relevant uncredited copies. Contact only sites that actually reuse the asset.
About this saved recipe
Source-aware card
ReelsMeals turns tiktok.com into a kitchen-friendly checklist while keeping the original source attached.
Cooking context
50 min estimated total time for 4 servings.
Explore related saves
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 1/5 lb chicken thighs
- 1 cup baby dill pickles
- 4 pita bread
- to taste garlic sauce
Spice Rub
- to taste turmeric
- to taste garlic powder
- to taste cumin
- to taste paprika
- to taste allspice
- to taste coriander
- to taste onion powder
- to taste cardamom
- to taste clove
- to taste cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp MSG
- to taste salt
- to taste sugar
Instructions
- 1In a bowl, combine all the spices (turmeric, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, allspice, coriander, onion powder, cardamom, clove, cayenne pepper, MSG, salt, and sugar) to make the shawarma spice rub.
- 2Add olive oil, lemon juice, white vinegar, and tomato paste to the spice rub and whisk until a smooth paste forms.
- 3Place the sliced chicken thighs in a large container and pour the spice paste over them, ensuring every piece is evenly coated.
- 4Cover and refrigerate the marinated chicken overnight or for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to penetrate.
- 5Heat a cast‑iron skillet over high heat until it is extremely hot. Add a small amount of olive oil to the pan.
- 6Cook the marinated chicken pieces in batches, avoiding overcrowding, until they develop a crispy crust and are cooked through (about 4–5 minutes per side).
- 7While the chicken is cooking, warm the pita bread in a separate pan or microwave for a few seconds.
- 8Assemble each shawarma by placing a few cooked chicken pieces on a pita, topping with sliced pickles, a generous amount of garlic sauce, and any additional desired toppings.
- 9Wrap the assembled shawarma in parchment paper and aluminum foil, then toast it briefly on a grill or in a hot skillet to seal the wrap and add a subtle smoky flavor.
- 10Serve immediately, optionally with extra garlic sauce on top.
Helpful tips while cooking
AI-assisted notes grounded in this recipe's ingredients, timings, and method—not additional creator instructions.
Marinate Ahead
Cover the chicken with the spice paste and refrigerate overnight or at least 2 hours before cooking.
Avoid Overcrowding the Pan
Cook the chicken pieces in batches on the extremely hot skillet to develop a crispy crust.
Warm the Pita Briefly
Heat pita bread in a separate pan or microwave for a few seconds before assembling the shawarma.
Made this recipe?
Tap a star to rate it — ratings help other cooks decide what to make next.
Rate this recipe
This recipe card was structured automatically from the original source. Always check the source for allergens or details the extraction may have missed.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take to make Homemade Spicy Shawarma?
- About 50 minutes in total: 30 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking.
- How many servings does this Homemade Spicy Shawarma recipe make?
- This recipe makes 4 servings as written; ingredient quantities on this page can be scaled.
- Where does this Homemade Spicy Shawarma recipe come from?
- It was shared by thegoldenbalance on tiktok.com. ReelsMeals structured the original post into this step-by-step card; the original is linked above.