Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma

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This easy Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma recipe will solve all your “what’s for dinner” problems. A simple spice mixture takes boring chicken thighs to the next level and will make you look like a professional chef!

Air fried chicken shawarma with tahini sauce on a piece of pita bread.

Table of Contents

This quick and easy recipe combines tender, spiced chicken with a medley of aromatic flavors, all cooked to perfection in your air fryer.

Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a lazy Sunday dinner, this Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma is a fantastic choice that the whole family will love.

If you love the flavors of this recipe, you should also check out my Chicken Shawarma Bowls or this vegetarian-friendly Shawarma Tofu Salad!

Why This Recipe Works

Quick and easy: Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays, this recipe is super simple to make!
Customizable: You can switch up the meat by using beef or turkey for a unique twist on the classic recipe.
Meal prep: This recipe is perfect for weekly meal preps! Just store the chicken and toppings in separate containers. You can make rice bowls, salads, or wraps out of it all!

Jordan

Ingredients You’ll Need

Labeled ingredients for air fryer chicken shawarma.

Chicken – boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin slices. If you don’t want to use chicken breast, chicken thighs are also delicious and get nice and crispy in the air fryer!
Seasonings – you will need garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, paprika, cardamom, and coriander. All together, they create a rich tapestry of earthy, spicy, and savory flavors that give this dish its irresistible and unmistakeable taste.
Greek yogurt – is great for tenderizing the chicken while adding a creamy tanginess that makes the marinade rich and indulgent.
Lemon juice – adds zesty freshness but also tenderizes the chicken, making it perfectly tender and moist.
Tahini paste – I like to use tahini paste for its nutty creaminess that creates a velvety texture in the sauce.
Minced garlic – brings a pungent aroma and punch that adds more flavor to the tahini sauce.
Lemon juice – its tangy brightness that balances the richness of the tahini paste.
Cumin – adds a warm and earthy flavor to tahini sauce. It complements the nutty and slightly bitter taste of tahini, enhancing its overall depth and complexity.

*For a detailed list of instructions, ingredients and measurements, please reference the recipe card down below.

Substitutions/Additions

While this recipe calls for a number of spices, you can always buy shawarma seasoning from your local grocery store if you don’t have these spices on hand!
I like to make an air fryer chicken shawarma wrap! I serve the chicken wrapped in pita bread with thinly sliced red onions, tomatoes, and lettuce.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma

Making tahini sauce in a food processor.

Combine tahini ingredients: In a food processor, place the tahini paste, garlic, lemon juice, ground cumin, and salt. Pulse a few times until you get a smooth consistency.

Mix well: Keep pulsing while adding the water slowly until you get a creamy consistency.

Mixing spices in a bowl with oil and greek yogurt.

Marinate the chicken: In a medium mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings.

Marinate chicken: Add the thinly sliced chicken to the marinade and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for maximum flavor.

Marinated chicken in the air fryer basket.

Air fry the chicken: Drain the excess marinade from the chicken, and arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Air fried chicken shawarma with onions, tomato, and lettuce.

Serve: Warm up your pita bread and set out your air fried chicken, along with all of your various toppings. The creamy tahini sauce should go on the side. Let your everyone put together their shawarma wraps with their preferred fillings, then enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

What is chicken shawarma?

Native to the Middle East, this chicken shawarma is made of tender slices of marinated chicken, infused with aromatic spices like cumin, turmeric, and paprika. Traditionally, it’s cooked on a vertical rotisserie or spit. The marinated chicken is often served in pita bread with various toppings and condiments like tomatoes, lettuce, onions, tahini sauce, or hummus.

Do you have to flip raw chicken in air fryer?

While it technically isn’t absolutely necessary to flip or turn your chicken while it cooks in an air fryer because air fryers circulate the hot air, I do recommended flipping it.
When you flip or turn your chicken in the air fryer, it exposes more of the chicken’s surface area and results in a more balanced and even cook and crispy-ness.

How to store leftover chicken shawarma?

You can make this recipe ahead of time, starting by marinating the chicken overnight. You can also store the cooked chicken shawarma in the refrigerator to serve later. First, allow the cooked chicken shawarma to cool down to room temperature, and then place it in an airtight container. Refrigerate the chicken shawarma promptly after it has cooled down. Place the containers in the refrigerator for no more than 3 or 4 days. If you want to store chicken shawarma for a longer period, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

How to reheat chicken in the air fryer?

When you’re ready to enjoy the your leftover chicken shawarma, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight if it was frozen. Once thawed or if it was refrigerated, preheat your air fryer to 350° F and cook for about 5-8 minutes, flipping the slices or portions halfway through the cooking time.

Air fryer chicken shawarma on a piece of pita bread with tahini sauce.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

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