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    Home » Recipes » Mediterranean and Middle Eastern

    Chicken Shawarma Tacos

    Published: Sep 18, 2022 · Updated: Oct 20, 2022 by Saif Odeh with 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Chicken Shawarma Tacos is a Middle Eastern-inspired taco recipe that contains spiced baked chicken, onion, parsley, and tomatoes and drizzled with tahini sauce in tortilla bread. It is nutritious, low in cholesterol, and a delicious sandwich.

    Shawarma Tacos with filling of chopped chicken shawarma, parsley, red onion & tomatoes drizzled with white sauce on a mini tortilla bread
    Jump to:
    • What is this recipe?
    • Recipe Ingredients for the Tortilla Bread
    • Recipe Ingredient for Marinated Chicken
    • Ingredients for Tahini Sauce and Vegetable Fillings
    • How to make the Tortilla Bread
    • Cooking Instruction
    • Variation and Substitution
    • Frequently Asked Question
    • Related Middle Eastern Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe Card
    • 💬 Comments

    As a half Arab, I love shawarma, and it is one of my favorite sandwiches I have ever eaten. When I was young living in the Middle East, chicken shawarma was the first sandwich I tried in my life. It is rich in Arabian spices, and the white sauce makes it better.

    Shawarma is a very popular staple food in the Middle East and Arab countries where we served pita bread with fillings of meat, pickles, and toum sauce. In addition to that, the locals also serve with tahini sauce instead of garlic sauce.

    But in this post, I am going to make something different, where instead of pita bread, I am will be using a small tortilla bread for my taco recipe.

    Shawarma Tacos with filling of chopped chicken shawarma, parsley, red onion & tomatoes drizzled with white sauce on a mini tortilla bread

    What is this recipe?

    Shawarma Tacos with filling of chopped chicken shawarma, parsley, red onion & tomatoes drizzled with white sauce on a mini tortilla bread

    It is made from homemade tortilla bread which is loaded with marinated chicken that is baked in the oven. It contains slices of red onion infused with sumac, chopped parsley, and tomatoes. Lastly, I drizzle my taco with tahini sauce or yogurt garlic sauce since they both blends well in this recipe.

    My chicken shawarma taco is not traditional since this is an Arabian and Mexican fusion dish. But the taste is so delicious that it will melt in your mouth.

    Recipe Ingredients for the Tortilla Bread

    Here are the ingredients you need to make the tortilla bread.

    Flour: I am using all-purpose white flour

    Vegetable Oil: You can use canola oil, or any neutral flavored vegetable oil

    Baking Powder: This will help make the flour rise up

    Other Ingredient: Salt & Water

    Recipe Ingredient for Marinated Chicken

    These are the ingredients you need to make this delicious chicken shawarma tacos:

    Chicken: You can use either Boneless chicken breast or chicken thigh

    Yogurt and Lemon: They will help tenderize the chicken. Also, the lemon helps enhance the flavor of the marinated meat by adding an acidic flavor.

    Tomato Paste: This one serves more as food coloring where you make the chicken red.

    Olive Oil: I am using extra virgin olive oil

    Spices: Here are the important spices when marinating the chicken:

    • Coriander Powder
    • Garlic Powder
    • Cumin
    • Cinnamon
    • Cardamom
    • Turmeric
    • Allspice
    • Salt & Black pepper

    Ingredients for Tahini Sauce and Vegetable Fillings

    Tahini Sauce: For the sauce, all you need is just water, lemon juice and tahini paste

    Vegetable Fillings: For the fillings for taco, you will need parsley, red onion and tomatoes.

    How to make the Tortilla Bread

    • Firstly I mix the white flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl.
    • After that, I pour water, and then I mixed to stir. Make sure you knead with your hand until the dough is soft and fluffy.
    • Next, I transfer the dough to the large wooden board where I use my hand to roll it into a cylindrical shape. Use the knife to cut and divide into 4 pieces.
    • Use your hand to make it into a ball shape.
    • Use the rolling pin to make a large round dough, like you are making a pizza.
    • Next, I use a small cup to press it down and make a small tortilla bread. Make as many mini tortilla bread as you can and separate them on a plate
    • Lastly, in a skillet, I place the flatbread on it and let it cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until there is a light brown spot. I flip to the opposite side and repeat the process.

    Cooking Instruction

    I. For Marinating and Baking the Chicken

    • I place the boneless chicken breast into the bowl where I then mixed the spices, yogurt, lemon, and olive oil. Mix gently using the spoon.
    • After that, I store it in the fridge for 6 hours since this will help the chicken absorb the flavor of the spices.
    • It is preferred but optional if you store it in the fridge overnight. Also, if you have limited time, you can just marinate the chicken and keep it in the fridge for 1 hour.
    • Once it is already in the fridge for long enough, I remove the chicken and transfer it into the baking pan with foil on it.
    • Transfer into the oven and let it bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 220 C or 420 F.
    • Once done, I broil or place the chicken on the upper rack and let it bake for 5 more minutes or until it turns into a light charred at 250 C.
    • Lastly, I remove it from the pan and let it cool down for 5 minutes before I chopped it into smaller pieces.

    II. Assembling the Shawarma Tacos

    Shawarma Tacos with filling of chopped chicken shawarma, parsley, red onion & tomatoes drizzled with white sauce on a mini tortilla bread
    • On each tortilla bread, I put first the chopped tomatoes followed by parsley.
    • Next, I add the baked chopped chicken shawarma and then the red onion mixed with sumac.
    • You can serve it either before or after drizzling the tacos with tahini sauce.

    III. Making the Tahini Sauce

    Making the tahini sauce is easy and straightforward. All you have to do is combine ¼ cup of water, 2 tablespoons of tahini paste, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a plate bowl. Stir to combine until it reaches your consistency. Just remember the sauce is not supposed to be too thick or too watery.

    Variation and Substitution

    • If you like it spicy, you can add red hot sauce to the taco
    • Instead of parsley, you can use chopped cilantro
    • You can use whole wheat flour for the tortilla if you want low-carb
    • If you are not a fan of tahini, you can use yogurt garlic sauce. It blends well with my chicken shawarma taco
    • In the Philippines, instead of using tortilla bread or any flatbread, people like to serve their dish as chicken shawarma rice which is served on turmeric rice with slices of cucumber, tomatoes, and lettuce, and then it is drizzled with white garlic sauce served on a plate.

    Frequently Asked Question

    1. How long can it last in the fridge?

    The chicken shawarma can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days but the tortilla bread for the taco will last up to 2 months if you keep it in the freezer

    2. What other sauce to use instead of tahini?

    If you are not a fan of tahini, you can use yogurt garlic sauce. It blends really well with my chicken shawarma taco

    3. How to warm the chicken shawarma?

    You can warm the chicken by using a microwave where you can heat it for 1 to 1 ½ minutes in a medium-high setting

    Related Middle Eastern Recipes

    Here are other delicious and similar food recipes that you can make at home:

    • Jerusalem Mixed Grill
    • Chicken Fatayer

    📋 Recipe Card

    Chicken Shawarma Tacos

    Chicken Shawarma Tacos

    Saif Odeh
    A shawarma tacos which contain marinated baked chicken shawarma with fillings of red onion sumac, lettuce and tomatoes drizzle with tahini sauce
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Baking Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Fusion, Middle Eastern
    Servings 15 serving
    Calories 127 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Baking Oven
    • 1 Rolling Pin

    Ingredients
      

    Tortilla Bread

    • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ¾ cups Water

    Chicken Shawarma

    • 300 grams Boneless Chicken Breast
    • 2 tablespoons Plain or Greek Yogurt
    • 1.5 tablespoons Lemon
    • 2 teaspoon Tomato paste
    • 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • ½ teaspoon Cardamom
    • 1 teaspoon Cumin
    • ½ teaspoon Turmeric
    • 2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Allspice
    • ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon Coriander Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

    Vegetable Fillings

    • 2 Medium Tomatoes
    • 2 Small Red Onion
    • ½ Teaspoon Sumac
    • 4 Tablespoons Parsley

    Tahini Sauce

    • 3 Tablespoons Tahini Paste
    • ¼ Cups Water
    • 2 Tablespoons Lemon

    Instructions
     

    For Making Tortilla Bread

    • Add White flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Mix together
    • Pour water in the bowl and stir to mix. Knead with your hand until the dough smooth and fluffy.
    • Transfer the dough into the wooden board. Use your hand to roll into a cylindrical shape and divide them into 4 portions.
    • In each portion of the dough, use your hand to make into a round shape like pizza
    • Use a small cup or plate bowl to make into a mini tortilla bread by pressing it down. This will be good for 15 mini flatbread. (Look at the picture in the recipe post for better idea).
    • Put the skillet or pan in an electric or cooking stove in low heat.
    • Place the tortilla bread and let it cook in each side till you can see a light brown spot.

    Tahini Sauce

    • Combine water, lemon and tahini paste in a large bowl. Mix to stir till consistency.

    Marinating and Baking the Chicken

    • Place the boneless chicken breast into the bowl. Mix all the spices, salt & black pepper, yogurt, lemon, and olive oil together.
    • Store in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Preferably overnight or at least 6 hours.
    • Transfer into the baking pan with foil under the marinated chicken.
    • Transfer into the oven and let it bake for 30 to 35 minutes in 220 C or 420 F.
    • Once done, broil or place the chicken on the upper rack and let it bake for 5 more minutes or until it turns into a light charred in 250 C.
    • Remove from the pan and let it cool down for 5 minutes before chopping into smaller pieces.

    Assembling the Shawarma Tacos

    • To serve the taco, put the chopped tomatoes first followed by parsley on each tortilla bread
    • Next, add the chopped chicken shawarma and then slices of red onion mixed with sumac spice
    • Drizzle the tacos with tahini sauce before or during serving. Bon Appetite!

    Notes

    • You can use Yogurt Garlic Sauce instead of Tahini Sauce.
    • This recipe is good for making 15 shawarma tacos

    Nutrition

    Serving: 15PiecesCalories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 15.3gProtein: 8.1gFat: 3.7gSaturated Fat: 0.7gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 177mgPotassium: 180mgFiber: 1.1gSugar: 1.2gCalcium: 31mg
    Keyword chicken shawarma tacos, shawarma tacos
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 12 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. MacKenzie

      September 23, 2022 at 3:35 am

      5 stars
      These were perfect. My family loved how the flavors came together.

      Reply
    2. kushigalu

      September 23, 2022 at 5:04 am

      5 stars
      Totally love the flavors in the tacos here. Making this for dinner tonight.

      Reply
    3. Tara

      September 23, 2022 at 6:18 am

      5 stars
      The touch of lemon and yogurt really boosted the flavor in these tacos. Loved the taste. Will definitely make again!

      Reply
      • Saif Al Deen Odeh

        September 23, 2022 at 1:04 pm

        Thank you Tara. I am glad you like it.

        Reply
    4. Ieva

      September 23, 2022 at 7:24 am

      5 stars
      This has exceeded my expectations! Chicken and lemony tahini go so well! Honestly, one of the best homemade tacos I've had in years 🙂

      Reply
      • Saif Al Deen Odeh

        September 23, 2022 at 1:00 pm

        Thanks Leva. I am glad you like my taco recipe.

        Reply
    5. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      September 23, 2022 at 7:54 am

      5 stars
      Loved the tahini sauce in these tacos. It will be perfect on lots of salads and sandwiches and so easy to do too.

      Reply
      • Saif Al Deen Odeh

        September 23, 2022 at 1:02 pm

        Thanks Amanda. It definitely pairs well with most salad and sandwiches.

        Reply
    6. Kels

      September 08, 2023 at 1:57 am

      5 stars
      I used the chicken spices portion of this recipe for what I was doing tonight and it was amazing. I can't wait to try the full recipe one day!

      Reply

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    Hello everyone! This is Saif and his mother Chelly. We are Jordanian-Filipino family that love to cook and share delicious Halal Friendly Filipino, Asian, Middle Eastern and other foods from around the world. 

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