You know those mouth-watering shawarma spits you see spinning in restaurants? Well, we’ve figured out how to make those same delicious flavors using our trusty air fryer.
While traditional shawarma might take hours on a rotating spit, our air fryer chicken shawarma recipe comes together in just about 30 minutes of actual cooking time.
The best part? You don’t need any special equipment or hard-to-find ingredients. Just use your basic spices and the air fryer that’s probably sitting on your counter right now.
Ingredient Notes
For the Chicken
Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. The chicken thighs stay juicier and more tender than breast meat; and the higher fat content helps carry the spices better.
For the Spices
We encourage you to choose your spices carefully.
🔹Ground cumin and coriander: Try to use freshly ground if possible; they lose flavor quickly when pre-ground
🔹Cardamom: You can use green cardamom powder, not black cardamom, which has a smokier taste
🔹Paprika: Regular sweet paprika works best; smoked paprika will change the flavor profile
🔹Turmeric: Besides flavor, it gives the chicken that beautiful golden color
For the Marinade
🔹Olive oil: Use regular olive oil rather than extra virgin, which can smoke in high heat
🔹Lemon juice: Fresh is best—about 1 medium lemon should do it
🔹Garlic: Try to use fresh minced garlic; pre-minced won’t give you the same punch of flavor
💡Pro Tip: Try to use the freshest ingredients possible! The better the quality of your ingredients, the better your shawarma will taste.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma?
Prepare the Marinade (10 minutes)
🔹Grab a large bowl and mix together your olive oil and lemon juice. This will create the base that helps all those spices stick to your chicken.
🔹Add in your minced garlic and all those wonderful spices: cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, and cayenne.
Prep the Chicken (5 minutes)
🔹Take your chicken thighs and slice them into strips about 1 inch wide
🔹Try to keep them fairly the same in size; this will help them cook evenly
🔹Put these strips into your marinade and use your hands (or tongs if you prefer) to make sure every piece is well-coated.
Marinating Time (2-24 hours)
Cover your bowl and pop it in the fridge. While you can cook it after 2 hours, we’ve found that overnight marinating gives the best results.
Air Frying (20 minutes)
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
- Place your marinated chicken pieces in a single layer; don’t crowd them! Work in batches if needed.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes total, but here’s the key: at the halfway mark (5-6 minutes), shake the basket.
- Make sure that your chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- If you’re working in batches, keep the cooked pieces warm in your oven on low heat.
💡Pro Tip: If your chicken starts to brown too quickly, cover it loosely with foil. Also, to make your chicken juicy, let it rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking.
Remember: The key to perfect air fryer chicken shawarma is keeping an eye on the cooking process and not overcrowding your basket.
FAQs
Q1: My chicken is sticking to the air fryer basket—help!
Try these solutions:
🔹Spray the basket lightly with oil before adding chicken.
🔹Shake the basket more frequently during cooking.
🔹Make sure your air fryer is preheated properly.
🔹Remove excess marinade before cooking.
Q2: Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?
Yes, but reduce the cooking time by 2-3 minutes and keep an eye on it to prevent drying. Chicken breast won’t be as juicy or flavorful as thighs.
Q3: I’m missing some spices; what can I substitute?
While each spice adds its own character, you can:
🔹Skip cardamom if unavailable.
🔹Replace fresh garlic with garlic powder.
🔹Use garam masala as a substitute for some of the warming spices.
🔹Skip turmeric (though you’ll lose the golden color).
Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma
Ingredients
For the marinade
- 2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1,5 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
For serving
- Pita bread or flatbread
- Tahini sauce
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced cucumbers
- Sliced red onions
- Fresh parsley
- Pickled turnips (optional)
- Hummus (optional)
For tahini sauce
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Pinch of cumin
Instructions
- Combine all marinade ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
- Slice chicken thighs into 1-inch strips and add to the marinade. Mix thoroughly to coat all pieces evenly.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
- Place marinated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if necessary. Don't overcrowd.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- While chicken cooks, warm the pita bread and prepare your toppings.
- Serve the chicken in warm pita bread with your choice of toppings.
Notes
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Share Your Experience!
👩🍳We’d love to know how your air fryer chicken shawarma turns out!
✨Start by marinating your chicken tonight, and tomorrow you’ll be enjoying the most flavorful, juicy shawarma wraps you’ve ever made! Don’t forget to save this recipe.
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