Chicken Shawarma with Toum Garlic Sauce – Easy Homemade Recipe
If you love authentic street-style shawarma but want to make it at home, this Chicken Shawarma with Toum Garlic Sauce is the perfect recipe. Juicy chicken breasts are marinated overnight with fresh citrus zest, warm shawarma spices, garlic, and yogurt, then pan-fried until golden and tender. Wrapped in soft pita bread with the famous creamy Lebanese toum sauce, crispy fries, and pickles — it tastes just like your favorite takeaway, but fresher and better.
This homemade chicken shawarma is incredibly easy, budget-friendly, and full of flavor. The bright orange and lemon zest combined with classic shawarma spices and a hint of cardamom creates a bright, aromatic marinade that makes the chicken extra juicy and delicious. The star of the dish is the bold, garlicky toum sauce — a creamy Lebanese garlic dip that takes the sandwich to the next level.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 4 chicken breasts
- Zest of 1 orange
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2–3 tablespoons shawarma spice mix
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom (هيل)
- Pita bread (خبز تنور) for serving
- Toum garlic sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Fried potatoes and pickles for the sandwiches
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, mix the chicken breasts with orange zest, lemon zest, shawarma spices, minced garlic, yogurt, salt, black pepper, and cardamom. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 8 hours) for the best flavor.
- Cook the chicken: The next day, cut the chicken into long thin strips. Heat a little oil in a wide pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken strips, sprinkle with extra shawarma spices and cardamom, and cook while stirring until golden, dry, and fully cooked (about 8–10 minutes).
- Assemble the sandwiches: Warm the pita bread. Spread a generous layer of toum garlic sauce inside, add the hot chicken strips, fried potatoes, and pickles. Roll tightly into a wrap.
- Toast the wrap: Place the rolled sandwich back in the same pan and toast on all sides until golden and crispy.
- Serve immediately with extra toum sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Overnight marination is key for maximum flavor and tenderness.
- Use fresh citrus zest — it makes a big difference in taste.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan so the chicken gets nicely browned.
- For extra crispiness, toast the wraps well in the pan.
- Toum sauce is the star — don’t skip it!
Enjoy this juicy and flavorful homemade Chicken Shawarma with Toum Garlic Sauce — a restaurant-quality meal made easily at home! صحتين وعافية 🍗