This tender, juicy chicken shawarma is one of my favorite slow cooker chicken recipes because it’s so quick and easy to pull together, and the delicious Greek flavors really shine. You’ll love it wrapped up in a pita with all the toppings!
I’ve been making Greek night with a combination of Instant Pot Yellow Rice, Greek Pasta Salad, grilled chicken that’s been marinating in my homemade Greek Salad Dressing, and a big green salad using up the rest of the dressing.
Not too long ago, I wanted to expand my collection of slow cooker chicken breast recipes to include a Mediterranean flavor.
I wanted those delicious Greek spices we already enjoyed, but something a bit simpler, more hands-off, and that would have plenty left over so I could cook less later in the week.
That’s how I came up with this slow cooker chicken shawarma recipe!
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN SHAWARMA RECIPE
Now, you could technically pick up some of Trader Joe’s chicken shawarma, but you’d be missing out because this crockpot shawarma recipe is:
- Tender, juicy chicken full of AMAZING flavor and high protein.
- Hands-off and made in the slow cooker.
- Made with simple ingredients, without anything unnecessary.
- Freezer-friendly, both before and after cooking.
- Versatile and excellent as leftovers. Whether you serve as-is or tucked in a Homemade Pita, or on top of a Greek Salad, or in wraps, you can’t go wrong!
Plus, making this chicken shawarma recipe at home means no extras jumping into your grocery cart!
WHAT IS CHICKEN SHAWARMA?
If you’ve ever wondered exactly what is chicken shawarma, here’s a brief explanation. Shawarma is juicy, flavorful meat marinated in spices like turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, and garlic. Traditionally, you would cook chicken shawarma on a rotisserie rather than skewered like kebabs or cooked in the slow cooker, like we’re doing here (but I don’t know too many people who have a rotisserie oven in their kitchen, so we’re working with what we’ve got!).
Chicken shawarma is often served with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, but pickled fruits and vegetables are a common topping too. However, shawarma can also stand on its own as a delicious meal.
HOMEMADE CHICKEN SHWARMA INGREDIENTS
There are a lot of spices in this chicken shawarma recipe, but you likely have most of them, so don’t get overwhelmed. And once you mix them all up, you just dump them in the slow cooker with the chicken (or put everything into a resealable bag for the freezer)!
- Ground cumin
- Paprika
- Clove
- Turmeric
- Granulated garlic
- Ground cinnamon
- Cayenne pepper (or red pepper flakes)
- Salt
- Lemon juice
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts (or boneless chicken thighs)
Note: Notice that my shwarma recipe does NOT call for olive oil or plain Greek yogurt. Yogurt is super common among Mediterranean-style dishes, but I didn’t think the yogurt added anything significant to this recipe in my testing.
If it doesn’t make the recipe better, why waste the money by using the ingredient? If you DO like yogurt in your Greek-inspired dishes, you can make a yogurt sauce to drizzle on top of your shwarma.
HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN SHAWARMA
Step 1: Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Pour the lemon juice over the chicken and sprinkle the spices evenly over the meat.
Step 2: Cook on high for 2 hours for boneless skinless chicken breasts, or 3 hours for boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can also cook the chicken breasts on low for 4 hours, and the chicken thighs on low for 6 hours.
Step 3: Slice the chicken shawarma or shred the chicken using two forks (or use your KitchenAid mixer for this hack) and serve immediately.
CROCKPOT SHAWARMA CHICKEN VARIATIONS
Make Shawarma Roasted Vegetables: Use the spice blend as a seasoning for Roasted Potatoes or vegetables as well as for your slow cooker chicken shawarma.
Make Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma: Combine the spices and chicken in a large bowl, toss them together to coat the chicken well, then layer the chicken in a 9×13 baking dish and bake for 40-45 minutes at 375F.
Make Grilled Chicken Shawarma: Use the spice blend from this recipe and the juice of 1 lemon as a marinade for chicken shawarma on the grill!
- Set your grill or skillet to medium-high heat.
- Use skewers and place about 4-5 sliced chicken pieces on each skewer (depending on the size of the skewers).
- Grill the chicken skewers until cooked through and slightly charred, being sure to turn them throughout cooking, about 10-12 minutes total.
Crisp the Chicken in the Oven: If you want your slow cooker breast chicken shawarma to have a crispy outside, place the cooked chicken on a baking sheet and broil for 3 minutes. Then serve using the suggestions below!
Make Beef Shawarma: Follow the recipe instructions as written, substituting a 3-pound chuck roast or shoulder roast for the chicken. You will need to increase the cooking time to 6-8 hours on low for tender, juicy beef shawarma.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH SLOW COOKER CHICKEN SHAWARMA
I mentioned earlier that we like to serve chicken shawarma with other Mediterranean dishes on the table.
- Instant Pot Yellow Rice
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Green Salad with Greek Dressing
Sometimes I also make Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables or Oven-Roasted Potatoes for delicious sides that pair well with a variety of flavors, including this chicken shawarma.
If you have extra time, the best way to enjoy chicken shawarma is to make a batch of Homemade Pita Bread and serve the shawarma like you would lamb gyros!
Tuck some of the shredded chicken shwarma inside a pita (or a tortilla for a less authentic but still delicious option) and add some toppings, like:
- Pickled Red Onion
- Sliced tomatoes
- Diced cucumbers
- A bit of shredded lettuce
- A smear of Homemade Hummus (or tahini sauce)
- Dollop some tzatziki sauce (or yogurt garlic sauce) on top
JUST LIKE THAT, you’ve got Mediterranean for dinner!
CHICKEN SHAAWARMA RECIPE FAQS
What is shaawarma sauce made of?
Typically, the shawarma sauce is made up of a blend of Mediterranean spices, an acid (usually lemon juice), and sometimes a bit of yogurt. You can make a really basic yogurt sauce! Simply whisk up 1 cup of yogurt with the zest and juice of 1 lemon, plus a sprinkle of salt and pepper (or any leftover spices from making this crockpot shawarma). Drizzle this creamy sauce over your chicken shawarma.
What does chicken shawarma taste like?
Chicken shawarma tastes warm and cozy with a hint of spice. It’s a great dish for hosting company because it’s not one that many people make!
How do you reheat chicken shawarma in the oven?
Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until warmed through.
What are some other yummy slow cooker chicken recipes?
If you’re not in the mood for chicken shawarma, try my All-Purpose Slow Cooker Chicken, Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos, or Slow Cooker Quinoa Chicken Cacciatore.
MORE EASY MEDITERRANEAN RECIPES
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Grilled Cheese
- Vegetable Greek Salad
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Greek Couscous
- Instant Pot Yellow Rice
- Homemade Pita Bread
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This tender, juicy chicken shawarma is one of my favorite slow cooker chicken recipes because it’s so quick and easy to pull together, and the delicious Greek flavors really shine. You’ll love it wrapped up in a pita with all the toppings!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-6 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes – 6 hours, 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Pour the lemon juice over the chicken, and sprinkle the spices evenly over the meat.
- Cook on high for 2 hours for boneless skinless chicken breasts, 3 hours for boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can also cook the chicken breasts on low for 4 hours, and the chicken thighs on low for 6 hours.
- Slice the chicken, or shred the chicken using two forks (use your KitchenAid mixer for this hack!), and serve immediately.
Notes
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: high for 2 hours, low for 4 hours
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: high for 3 hours, low for 6 hours
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 117
10/10, I served with corn and mash which was actually great.
Was a bit concerned might be dry but defs wasnt (I only have a small crock pot) and thought it might be a bit bland, I often double the herbs and spices in recipes but didnt for this and it was excellent. Considered adding more pepper but actually it is nice and warming as per the recipe, could be tempted to add a little more if I was making for spice lovers.
Will l definitely make again and will be checking out your other slow cooker recipes.
everything was good, except for some reason my chicken came out really dry. I threw in about a half cup of water to restore moisture. I did put the lemon juice in but it didn’t seem like it was enough.
I had my doubts with the cinnamon but it totally works! This was a winner!! I served them on pitas with garlic hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, dill, red onions and feta cheese. Delish!! Will try again and make tzatziki sauce. Thank you!
Are you suppose to use thawed chicken? Trying to make this for dinner tonight and forgot to thaw the chicken. Oops!
Hello Jordan,
Yes, it’s best to thaw the chicken before placing it in the slow cooker.
Absolutely amazing!! I made this for the second time and it is such a hit! Everyone loves it! So easy in the crockpot. The flavors are so rich and bold and right on with shawarma flavoring. Thanks for this scrumptious recipe!
Do you use all the seasoning that’s made?
Hi Chrissy,
Yes. 🙂
Answer to my kitchen cupboards.
Thank you for sharing this recipe!! Delicious as written! So moist! (even my husband who is a dried chicken police) couldn’t believe how moist it stayed. We loved the flavor! We’ve tried a couple other schwarma recipes, but this is the best!! Just like the doner kebabs at the food trucks when we lived in Germany!! If you have a sauce you use, could you please share? Thank you!
I am having such a good chuckle at ” dried chicken police” lol
Perfect. I used one pound breast and one pound thighs.
Delicious! I unfortunately didn’t have any clove so I used all spice instead but kept everything else as is. Also quick pickled some red onions and made some toum to go with it and a simple Romaine, cucumber, and tomato salad. Definitely will be making this often ♡
So good! Added sliced red onions with the chicken. Served with homemade hummus, lavash, pickles red onion, cucumber, and tomato. Thank you!
This was very good. I was worried that it was going to be too salty with 2 tsp of salt, but it was great. My 12 year old boy like it, too. I didn’t have cloves so I subbed 1/2 t. Cloves for 1/4 t. Allspice and it turned out well. I also added 2 T olive oil because I was afraid it would turn out too dry in my large crockpot. I also subbed the 1/2 tsp garlic powder for 1 tsp minced garlic from a jar. I’m sure the recipe is also good as written, but just thought I’d share. Thank you!
Made for me and wife, came out very well
If I only make one pound do I reduce the cooking time?
This combination of spices was so flavorful! My whole family enjoyed it.