Tender, juicy chicken shawarma helps you hit your protein goals in a delicious, flavorful way! Warm, smoky flavor with just enough heat tastes amazing tucked into a pita or on top of a Greek salad.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nNot too long ago, I wanted to expand my collection of slow cooker chicken breast recipes to include a Mediterranean flavor.<\/p>\n
I wanted those delicious Greek spices we already enjoyed in Greek Quinoa Salad<\/a> and Greek Pasta Salad<\/a>, but something a bit simpler, more hands-off, and that would have plenty left over so I could cook less later in the week.<\/p>\n That\u2019s how I came up with this slow cooker chicken shawarma recipe!<\/p>\n Chicken shawarma is juicy, flavorful meat marinated in warm spices like turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, and garlic, traditionally cooked on a rotisserie and thinly shaved. Shifting that low-and-slow cooking method to the slow cooker makes for an easy, hands-off meal anyone can make!<\/p>\n Now, you could technically pick up some of Trader Joe\u2019s chicken shawarma, but you\u2019d be missing out because this crockpot shawarma recipe is:<\/p>\n Plus, this chicken shawarma is a great way to hit your protein goals!<\/p>\n Looking for more ways to increase your protein? Try one of my favorite high-protein recipes \u2013 I always have these on my meal plan and keep them stocked in my fridge. This way, I always have a protein-focused meal to put on my plate! Grab<\/em> High Protein Recipes on Repeat here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n There are a lot of spices in this chicken shawarma recipe, but you likely have most of them, so don\u2019t get overwhelmed. And once you mix them all up, you just dump them in the slow cooker<\/a> with the chicken (or put everything into a resealable bag<\/a> for the freezer)!<\/p>\n Note: Notice that my shwarma recipe does NOT call for olive oil or plain Greek yogurt<\/a>. Yogurt is super common among Mediterranean-style dishes or Middle Eastern dishes, but I didn\u2019t think the yogurt added anything significant to this recipe in my testing.<\/p>\n If it doesn\u2019t make the recipe better, why waste the money<\/a> by using the ingredient? If you DO like yogurt in your Greek-inspired dishes, you can make a yogurt sauce to drizzle on top of your chicken shwarma.<\/p>\n Step 1: Place the chicken in the <\/strong>slow cooker<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> Pour the lemon juice over the chicken and sprinkle the spices evenly over the meat.<\/p>\n Step 2: Cook on high for 2 hours for boneless skinless chicken breasts, <\/strong>or 3 hours for boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can also cook the chicken breasts on low for 4 hours, and the chicken thighs on low for 6 hours.<\/p>\n Step 3: Slice the chicken shawarma or shred the chicken using two forks <\/strong>(or use your KitchenAid mixer<\/a>) and serve immediately.<\/p>\n Store leftovers in an airtight container<\/a> in the refrigerator. It also freezes well if you make a big batch!<\/p>\n Make Shawarma Roasted Vegetables:<\/strong> Use the spice blend as a seasoning for Roasted Potatoes<\/a> or vegetables<\/a> as well as for your slow cooker chicken shawarma.<\/p>\n Make Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma:<\/strong> Combine the spices and chicken in a large bowl, toss them together to coat the chicken well, then layer the chicken in a 9\u00d713 baking dish<\/a> or a rimmed sheet pan<\/a> and bake for 40-45 minutes at 375F.<\/p>\n Make Grilled Chicken Shawarma:<\/strong> Use the spice blend from this recipe and the juice of 1 lemon as a marinade for shawarma chicken on the grill!<\/p>\n Crisp the Chicken in the Oven:<\/strong> If you want your slow cooker breast chicken shawarma to have a crispy outside, place the cooked chicken on a baking sheet and broil for 3 minutes. Then serve using the suggestions below!<\/p>\n Make Beef Shawarma:<\/strong> Follow the recipe instructions as written, substituting a 3-pound chuck roast or shoulder roast instead of the chicken. You will need to increase the cooking time to 6-8 hours on low for tender, juicy beef shawarma.<\/p>\n If you have extra time, the best way to enjoy chicken shawarma is to make a batch of <\/strong>Homemade Pita Bread<\/strong><\/a> or flatbreads and serve the shawarma like you would lamb gyros!<\/strong><\/p>\n Tuck some of the shredded chicken shawarma inside a pita (or a tortilla<\/a> for less authentic flavors but still delicious option) and add some toppings, like:<\/p>\n JUST LIKE THAT, you\u2019ve got Mediterranean for dinner!<\/p>\n Since this chicken shawarma recipe is simply chicken and seasonings, you\u2019ll get nearly all of your calories from protein \u2013 a whopping 34.5 grams per serving!<\/p>\n Once you add in your side dishes, you\u2019ll be able to easily hit your protein goals for the meal. And you can make it fit with your macros by choosing how to serve it:<\/p>\n Want to learn more about macros, nutrition goals, and accurately tracking what you eat? Grab my free guide here<\/a> to start achieving your real body goals by eating the foods you love.<\/em><\/p>\n Typically, the shawarma sauce is made up of a blend of Mediterranean spices, an acid (usually lemon juice), and sometimes a bit of yogurt<\/a>. You can make a really basic yogurt sauce! Simply whisk up 1 cup of yogurt with the zest and juice of 1 lemon, plus a sprinkle of salt and pepper (or any leftover spices from making this crockpot shawarma). Drizzle this creamy sauce over your chicken shawarma.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat is chicken shawarma?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN SHAWARMA RECIPE<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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![\"Seasonings](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Shawarma-2_resized.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHOMEMADE CHICKEN SHAWARMA RECIPE INGREDIENTS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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HOW TO MAKE SHAWARMA CHICKEN<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nCROCKPOT SHAWARMA CHICKEN VARIATIONS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Shawarma-6_resized.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWHAT TO SERVE WITH SLOW COOKER CHICKEN SHAWARMA<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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PROTEIN PACKED CHICKEN SHAWARMA<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Shawarma-5_resized.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nCHICKEN SHAAWARMA RECIPE FAQS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What is shaawarma sauce made of?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What does chicken shawarma taste like?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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