Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma Recipe
This Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken infused with aromatic Middle Eastern spices. Perfect for an easy meal, the chicken is slow-cooked to juicy perfection and served with fresh parsley, pita bread or rice, and a tangy yogurt or tahini sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes (low) or 3 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
Additional Ingredients
- 1 large onion, sliced
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Pita bread or rice (for serving)
- Yogurt or tahini sauce (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Mix well to create a fragrant marinade.
- Layer onions in slow cooker: Arrange the sliced onion evenly at the bottom of your slow cooker to form a flavorful base for the chicken.
- Add and marinate chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs on top of the onions. Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken, making sure each piece is thoroughly coated with the spices and oil mixture.
- Slow cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6 hours or on high heat for 3 hours. The goal is for the chicken to cook until tender and fully cooked through.
- Shred the chicken: Once the chicken is done, use two forks to shred the meat directly in the slow cooker. Stir the shredded chicken to mix it evenly with the cooking juices and onions for enhanced flavor.
- Serve: Spoon the shredded chicken into warm pita bread or serve over rice. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and drizzle with yogurt or tahini sauce for a creamy finish.
Notes
- For extra heat, increase the cayenne pepper or add a pinch of red chili flakes.
- Leftover chicken shawarma can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, serve with rice instead of pita bread.
- For a smoky flavor, consider adding a small amount of smoked chipotle powder in place of some paprika.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can remove some of the cooking liquid and reduce it on the stovetop before serving.
Keywords: chicken shawarma, slow cooker recipes, Middle Eastern chicken, easy chicken dinner, slow cooked chicken thighs, shawarma spice blend
Find it online: https://freshrecipehub.com/slow-cooker-chicken-shawarma-recipe/
