You may not have access to a rotating spit at home, but you can marinate chicken thighs and bake them for a flavorful chicken shawarma experience.


How to Make Shawarma: Easy Baked Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Shawarma is a Middle Eastern style of cooking that involves stacking slices of marinated meat on a vertical rotisserie. The caramelized outer layer of meat is shaved off and served over rice or in a flatbread sandwich. The word *shawarma* comes from the Arabic *šāwirma*, which comes from Turkish *çevirme*, "to rotate." 

The vertical spit emerged in the Ottoman Empire in the nineteenth century and remains prevalent in Turkey, where it is known as <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-doner-kebab' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-doner-kebab","linkCopy":"doner kebab","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>doner kebab</a>. Doner kebab spread throughout the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula, where it's now known as shawarma. The Greek interpretation of doner kebab is the gyro, served on pita bread [with tzatziki sauce](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-greek-tzatziki). In Mexico, [tacos al pastor](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-gabriela-camaras-tacos-al-pastor-recipe) feature sliced pork cooked on the same vertical rotisserie.

The key to perfect shawarma is choosing a fatty cut of meat that won't dry out during prolonged cooking. Ideal options include:

1. __Lamb__: Lamb and mutton are the traditional shawarma meats. For a shawarma-style weeknight dinner at home, try roasting a marinated lamb shoulder.
2. __Chicken__: When it comes to chicken shawarma, [thighs are your best bet](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/white-meat-vs-dark-meat-chicken-whats-the-real-difference); chicken breasts will turn out dry.
3. __Turkey__: In Israel, some shawarma vendors make theirs with turkey. Slices of dark-meat turkey are layered with lamb fat on the vertical roasting spit. 
Shawarma is so flavorful that it stands up to a variety of sides, and combines perfectly with starch. Consider serving shawarma with:

1. __Bread, rice, or fries__: Shawarma is delicious on flatbread, [such as pita bread](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/easy-homemade-pita-bread-recipe-how-to-make-traditional-pita-bread) or Lebanese mountain bread. It also goes well with rice pilaf, for a gluten-free alternative, and French fries, for a late-night street food experience.
2. __Vegetables__: Combine shawarma with sliced iceberg lettuce, cabbage, sauerkraut, or salt-brined cucumber pickles. Top it off with fresh herbs such as basil and dill or thinly sliced red onions marinated in lemon juice, <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-sumac-learn-how-to-use-sumac-with-tips-and-8-sumac-recipes' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-sumac-learn-how-to-use-sumac-with-tips-and-8-sumac-recipes","linkCopy":"sumac","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>sumac</a>, and salt. 
3. __Condiments__: [Harissa (a North African red pepper condiment)](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-harissa-paste), tzatziki (yogurt sauce), [tahini sauce](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-tahini-learn-how-to-use-tahini-in-cooking), hummus, and garlic sauce all pair perfectly with shawarma.


You may not have access to a rotating spit at home, but you can marinate chicken thighs and bake them for a flavorful chicken shawarma experience.

Shawarma is a Middle Eastern style of cooking that involves stacking slices of marinated meat on a vertical rotisserie. The caramelized outer layer of meat is shaved off and served over rice or in a flatbread sandwich. The word shawarma comes from the Arabic šāwirma, which comes from Turkish çevirme, &quot;to rotate.&quot;

What Is Shawarma?

The vertical spit emerged in the Ottoman Empire in the nineteenth century and remains prevalent in Turkey, where it is known as <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-doner-kebab' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-doner-kebab","linkCopy":"doner kebab","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>doner kebab</a>. Doner kebab spread throughout the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula, where it&#39;s now known as shawarma. The Greek interpretation of doner kebab is the gyro, served on pita bread <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-greek-tzatziki' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-greek-tzatziki","linkCopy":"with tzatziki sauce","category":null}'>with tzatziki sauce</a>. In Mexico, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-gabriela-camaras-tacos-al-pastor-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-gabriela-camaras-tacos-al-pastor-recipe","linkCopy":"tacos al pastor","category":null}'>tacos al pastor</a> feature sliced pork cooked on the same vertical rotisserie.

A Brief History of Shawarma

The key to perfect shawarma is choosing a fatty cut of meat that won&#39;t dry out during prolonged cooking. Ideal options include:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Lamb: Lamb and mutton are the traditional shawarma meats. For a shawarma-style weeknight dinner at home, try roasting a marinated lamb shoulder. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Chicken: When it comes to chicken shawarma, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/white-meat-vs-dark-meat-chicken-whats-the-real-difference' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/white-meat-vs-dark-meat-chicken-whats-the-real-difference","linkCopy":"thighs are your best bet","category":null}'>thighs are your best bet</a>; chicken breasts will turn out dry. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Turkey: In Israel, some shawarma vendors make theirs with turkey. Slices of dark-meat turkey are layered with lamb fat on the vertical roasting spit. </li></ol>

3 Types of Meat to Use for Shawarma

Shawarma is so flavorful that it stands up to a variety of sides, and combines perfectly with starch. Consider serving shawarma with:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Bread, rice, or fries: Shawarma is delicious on flatbread, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/easy-homemade-pita-bread-recipe-how-to-make-traditional-pita-bread' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/easy-homemade-pita-bread-recipe-how-to-make-traditional-pita-bread","linkCopy":"such as pita bread","category":null}'>such as pita bread</a> or Lebanese mountain bread. It also goes well with rice pilaf, for a gluten-free alternative, and French fries, for a late-night street food experience. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Vegetables: Combine shawarma with sliced iceberg lettuce, cabbage, sauerkraut, or salt-brined cucumber pickles. Top it off with fresh herbs such as basil and dill or thinly sliced red onions marinated in lemon juice, <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-sumac-learn-how-to-use-sumac-with-tips-and-8-sumac-recipes' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-sumac-learn-how-to-use-sumac-with-tips-and-8-sumac-recipes","linkCopy":"sumac","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>sumac</a>, and salt. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Condiments: <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-harissa-paste' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-harissa-paste","linkCopy":"Harissa (a North African red pepper condiment)","category":null}'>Harissa (a North African red pepper condiment)</a>, tzatziki (yogurt sauce), <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-tahini-learn-how-to-use-tahini-in-cooking' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-tahini-learn-how-to-use-tahini-in-cooking","linkCopy":"tahini sauce","category":null}'>tahini sauce</a>, hummus, and garlic sauce all pair perfectly with shawarma. </li></ol>

How to Serve Shawarma

Baked Chicken Shawarma Recipe

You may not have access to a rotating spit at home, but you can marinate chicken thighs and bake them for a flavorful chicken shawarma experience.