Chicken Shawarma Wrap

You are going to love the mouthwatering aromatic flavors in these easy Chicken Shawarma Sandwiches. This sandwich will become your new favorite because it’s big on flavor, low on cost, and easily customizable to use ingredients you have on hand. 

Post includes Weight Watchers points.

What is Shawarma?

Chicken Shawarma is traditionally cooked on a rotating spit that gives the meat a tender but smoky char-grilled flavor.

Grilling the chicken will help provide that authentic Middle Eastern street food flavor in a fraction of the time. This popular street food is well worth your time and effort.

Budget-Friendly Chicken Shawarma

Middle Eastern spices lend incredible flavor to this simple dish. And it’s also a great choice when you want to feed a crowd without spending a lot of money.

These grilled chicken shawarma wraps are also easy to prep in advance. All of the ingredients can be made ahead of time. Assemble the sandwiches when you are ready to eat.

It’s great for lunch boxes, picnics, game day, easy dinner, and cookouts. And my children love it, so that’s a win in my books.

And if you like sandwiches, then check out this Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and these really delicious Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps.

Why Make This Recipe

• Easy To Make – Marinate and grill the chicken, then add to a wrap along with some veggies and the delicious yogurt sauce for a filling and hearty grilled chicken sandwich. 
• Flavorful – The depth of flavor in rotisserie-style chicken shawarma is so complex and satisfying. You enjoy every bite.
• Make Ahead – Most of this recipe can be made or prepared ahead for easy assembly when you are ready to eat. See our make-ahead tips below. 

What’s Needed

It is simple ingredients, and you can make your spice combination if you like.

• Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are juicy and inexpensive, but chicken breasts also work well. Rotisserie chicken or any leftover chicken is a great, budget-friendly option, especially when you can purchase them on sale. Simply toss shredded chicken with half of the shawarma marinade and reheat it in a grill pan or skillet, then proceed with the recipe as directed. 
• Shawarma Spices – You can pick up a jar of the sweet spices in your grocery store or local ethnic market. The warm spice blend contains cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and a blend of warm spices such as cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. You can easily make your own Shawarma spice blend.  Add in extras such as garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat.
• Filling – We’ve suggested pickled red onions, sliced cucumbers, and purple cabbage, but use what you have on hand. Lettuce and tomato are traditional, but improvise and use your favorites to bulk this up by adding romaine lettuce, peppers, cherry tomatoes, olives, avocado, hummus, chickpeas, or whatever you have on hand.
• Yogurt – Use plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt. 
• Fresh lemon juice – lemon juice adds a great flavor to the tangy yogurt sauce.
• Garlic – I used minced garlic to add to the sauce for a nice garlic flavor.
• Wraps – Pita wraps (not pita pockets) are the best option for this sandwich. Use homemade or store-bought naan bread. Naan is a tiny bit thicker, but makes a delicious sandwich.

How To Make This

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Combine olive oil and shawarma spices to create a paste. Rub half of the paste over the chicken and allow it to marinate for a few minutes.
2. While the chicken marinates, chop and prepare the vegetables you will be using and make the yoghurt sauce in a small bowl with the yogurt, lemon juice, and crushed garlic. 
3. Heat a BBQ grill or a grill pan, or a cast iron skillet, and grill the marinated chicken over medium-high heat until cooked through and lightly charred. Slice and top with the remaining marinade paste. 
4. To assemble the sandwich, layer sliced chicken and veggies on the sandwich wrap, top with yogurt sauce, wrap chicken shawarma, and serve. 

Bintu’s Tips And Variations

I love tips to make things, so here are some to help you.

• Pound the chicken thighs (or chicken breast) to get even thickness across each piece. This will help you maintain juicy, evenly cooked chicken pieces. 
• Marinate the chicken. You can go directly to the grill with this chicken, but the longer you marinate (up to 24 hours), the more flavorful the meat. 
• Always use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C. 
• Prep the sauce in advance for the best flavor. Let the yogurt sauce refrigerate for at least an hour to develop the flavors. 
• Warm the pita bread in the microwave oven for a few seconds, and the sandwiches will be easier to roll. 
• Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing.
• You can use the meat to make a plate, bowl, or salad, too. No need to buy wraps if you don’t have any on hand. 
• You can easily feed a crowd without having to go overboard on any one ingredient. Bulk up a bit on the more budget-friendly ingredients like lettuce and tomatoes.

Delicious Toppings And Sauce Ideas

The options are endless for this delicious sandwich. Apart from the garlicky yogurt sauce, other suggestions include tzatziki sauce, garlic sauce, plain Greek yogurt, hummus, tahini sauce, and, for some fun, add some feta cheese.

Storage

This Chicken Shawarma wrap recipe is perfect for prepping ahead.

• Prep Ahead – You can prepare the chicken and prep the veggies for these sandwiches in advance. Just reheat the chicken in a skillet and assemble the sandwiches when ready to eat. You can also marinate the chicken up to one day in advance and let it sit in the fridge until ready to cook. 
• Store – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You should store the components separately so the sandwiches do not become soggy. 
• Freeze – Pre-marinate and freeze chicken thighs so they are ready to go anytime you need them. Mix the marinade ingredients and rub on chicken thighs. Place chicken thighs in freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. 
• Thaw the chicken overnight in the fridge and cook as instructed according to the recipe below. 
• Reheating on the grill or air fryer is the best method, as the chicken can get rubbery when reheated in the microwave.

More Recipes You Might Like

For more easy chicken recipes and other delicious easy recipes, you might like – try these below.

• Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. So, so, so good and easy.
• Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip. Serve with pita bread or chips.
• Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken. A delicious chicken snack or main meal.
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken. So loved by everyone.
• Bacon Chicken Ranch Wrap. It’s great for lunchboxes.
• Spicy Chicken Stuffed Buns. Great portable lunch on the go.
• Egg Salad Sandwich. Use up leftover eggs easily.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Serving suggestions

I love serving these with French fries, rice pilaf, and shredded salad. You can also make these variations if you want to avoid the pita bread:

• Shawarma Plate – Serve the chicken on a plate over a bed of rice or tabbouleh or with a side salad.  Serve a bit of yogurt sauce for dipping. 
• Shawarma Bowl – Fill a bowl with the cooked grain of your choice and top with sliced chicken, veggies, and the yogurt sauce.
• Shawarma Salad – Fill a bowl with chopped lettuce of your choice and top with sliced chicken, veggies, and the yogurt sauce.

Get The Chicken Shawarma Recipe: