Shawarma spice blend was created in 18th-century Ottoman Empire using Lebanese seven-spice that predates Mexican tacos by 200 years.
Chicken Shawarma Tacos
Get ready to elevate your taco night with these mouthwatering Chicken Shawarma Tacos! Juicy, spiced chicken is wrapped in warm corn tortillas and topped with a drizzle of creamy garlic sauce, melty cheese, and zesty pickles. This fusion delight is sure to tantalize your taste buds and bring a burst of flavor to your dinner table!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(8)
- 12-16 corn tortillas
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- I used store bought garlic sauceoptionalhomemade garlic sauce
- 2 Tbsp hot pepper paste (30 ml)
- 1/4 cup hot pepper paste (60 ml)
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice (15 ml)
- 2 tbsp water (30 ml)
- Wild cucumber picklesoptional
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 2 tbsp beef tallow or oil (30 ml)optionaloil
- 2lb lbs chicken thighs (907 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- Cheese of choice (1-2 cups) (240 ml)optional
- 1.5 cup sour cream (360 ml)
- ¼ cup yogurt (60 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 2 tbsp honey (30 ml)
- 2 tbsp oil (30 ml)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (15 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(9)
- ½ tsp allspice (2.5 ml)
- 1 tsp cardamom (5 ml)
- 1 tsp coriander (5 ml)
- ¼ tsp clove (1.25 ml)
- ½ tsp cumin (2.5 ml)
- 1 tsp paprika, chili powder (5 ml)
- Salt chicken directly to taste
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (5 ml)
📦Other(2)
- 2-3 chipotles in adobo, blended
- ½ tsp msg (2.5 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Marinate the chicken thighs with yogurt, lemon juice, hot pepper paste, garlic, shawarma spice blend, salt, and olive oil. Massage well and let it marinate.
- 2
Preheat the oven and cook the marinated chicken on a high broil for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- 3
Prepare corn tortillas on a hot oiled flat top, add cheese, and let it melt.
- 4
Assemble the tacos with garlic sauce, pickles, and the cooked chicken shawarma.
- 5
Mix hot pepper paste, water, and oil to create a glaze, and drizzle it over the tacos.
- 6
Serve with chipotle sour cream made by blending chipotles in adobo with sour cream, paprika, chili powder, honey, and salt.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Marinate chicken thighs for minimum 4 hours or overnight because yogurt's lactic acid breaks down proteins while its fat content prevents over-tenderizing that can make meat mushy.timing4+ hours minimum
- ✓Use chicken thighs with 20-25% fat content instead of breasts because the higher fat and collagen content prevents drying under high broiler heat while developing better browning.ingredient20-25% fat content
- ✓Position broiler rack 4-6 inches from heating element and preheat for 10 minutes to achieve surface temperatures of 500°F+ for proper charring without overcooking the interior.equipment4-6 inches, 500°F+
- ✓Score chicken thighs in 1/2-inch crosshatch patterns before marinating to increase surface area by 40% and allow deeper penetration of acids and spices.technique1/2-inch crosshatch, 40% surface increase
- ✓Heat tortillas on a 400°F griddle for 30-45 seconds per side until they puff slightly, indicating steam has created internal layers for better texture and flexibility.timing400°F, 30-45 seconds
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Shawarma spice blend was created in 18th-century Ottoman Empire using Lebanese seven-spice that predates Mexican tacos by 200 years.
Chicken Shawarma Tacos
Get ready to elevate your taco night with these mouthwatering Chicken Shawarma Tacos! Juicy, spiced chicken is wrapped in warm corn tortillas and topped with a drizzle of creamy garlic sauce, melty cheese, and zesty pickles. This fusion delight is sure to tantalize your taste buds and bring a burst of flavor to your dinner table!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(8)
- 12-16 corn tortillas
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- I used store bought garlic sauceoptionalhomemade garlic sauce
- 2 Tbsp hot pepper paste (30 ml)
- 1/4 cup hot pepper paste (60 ml)
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice (15 ml)
- 2 tbsp water (30 ml)
- Wild cucumber picklesoptional
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 2 tbsp beef tallow or oil (30 ml)optionaloil
- 2lb lbs chicken thighs (907 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- Cheese of choice (1-2 cups) (240 ml)optional
- 1.5 cup sour cream (360 ml)
- ¼ cup yogurt (60 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 2 tbsp honey (30 ml)
- 2 tbsp oil (30 ml)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (15 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(9)
- ½ tsp allspice (2.5 ml)
- 1 tsp cardamom (5 ml)
- 1 tsp coriander (5 ml)
- ¼ tsp clove (1.25 ml)
- ½ tsp cumin (2.5 ml)
- 1 tsp paprika, chili powder (5 ml)
- Salt chicken directly to taste
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (5 ml)
📦Other(2)
- 2-3 chipotles in adobo, blended
- ½ tsp msg (2.5 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Marinate the chicken thighs with yogurt, lemon juice, hot pepper paste, garlic, shawarma spice blend, salt, and olive oil. Massage well and let it marinate.
- 2
Preheat the oven and cook the marinated chicken on a high broil for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- 3
Prepare corn tortillas on a hot oiled flat top, add cheese, and let it melt.
- 4
Assemble the tacos with garlic sauce, pickles, and the cooked chicken shawarma.
- 5
Mix hot pepper paste, water, and oil to create a glaze, and drizzle it over the tacos.
- 6
Serve with chipotle sour cream made by blending chipotles in adobo with sour cream, paprika, chili powder, honey, and salt.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Marinate chicken thighs for minimum 4 hours or overnight because yogurt's lactic acid breaks down proteins while its fat content prevents over-tenderizing that can make meat mushy.timing4+ hours minimum
- ✓Use chicken thighs with 20-25% fat content instead of breasts because the higher fat and collagen content prevents drying under high broiler heat while developing better browning.ingredient20-25% fat content
- ✓Position broiler rack 4-6 inches from heating element and preheat for 10 minutes to achieve surface temperatures of 500°F+ for proper charring without overcooking the interior.equipment4-6 inches, 500°F+
- ✓Score chicken thighs in 1/2-inch crosshatch patterns before marinating to increase surface area by 40% and allow deeper penetration of acids and spices.technique1/2-inch crosshatch, 40% surface increase
- ✓Heat tortillas on a 400°F griddle for 30-45 seconds per side until they puff slightly, indicating steam has created internal layers for better texture and flexibility.timing400°F, 30-45 seconds