A quick and easy chicken marinade – lemon and yogurt tenderize the lean chicken breasts while fresh garlic, parsley, and spices add tons of flavor.
Recently the American Dairy Association Mideast asked me to share an easy, back-to-school dairy recipe. While you know I drink smoothies like it’s my day job (oh wait..), I decided to take the savory route this time around. Truth is: I eat more plain, unsweetened yogurt in savory dishes than anything else.
Whenever I travel I try to make time to sample the local cuisine. As I’ve mentioned before, I grew up eating dim sum in San Francisco, tacos in Tucson and Greek food in Chicago. With that said, Lebanese food was first on our agenda during a recent trip to Dearborn, Michigan – home to the most concentrated Arab-American population in the nation.
My maternal grandparents emigrated from Syria and settled in West Michigan so although I grew up eating Middle Eastern food, there are only a handful of Lebanese restaurants on this side of the state.
While I love my local spots, the hummus and meat-stuffed grape leaves we enjoyed in Dearborn blew them all out of the water. I felt like I was eating a meal prepared by my Great Aunt Vieve or Aunt Paula and that is not a compliment I give lightly.
If you’re looking for quick and easy chicken breast recipes for the busy school year, this Chicken Shawarma Pita with Tahini Garlic Sauce does not disappoint. I almost always have lemons, garlic and plain yogurt in the house and I’m pretty sure I’ve never run out of allspice, cayenne or cinnamon in my life. We decided to wrap it into a pita with our favorite tahini garlic sauce but it is great on its own served with rice pilaf and a green salad.
Plain yogurt is a healthy way to tenderize lean chicken breasts while also adding an addictive tanginess. Added bonus? It’s packed with protein as well as magnesium and potassium – two powerful minerals that when combined with calcium have been shown to help maintain low blood pressure. I love yogurt in sweet dishes but don’t forget about it in savory dishes too!
Your fork is waiting.
Chicken Shawarma Pita with Tahini Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
Tahini Garlic Sauce
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons warm water
- 1 clove garlic (grated)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 pitas
- slices lettuce (tomato and red onion to serve)
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together chicken marinade: lemon juice, yogurt, minced parsley, grated garlic, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and cayenne.
- Pour marinade over chicken breast cubes in a resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- While chicken is marinating, whisk together tahini garlic sauce in a small bowl. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
- To cook chicken, pre-heat grill or broiler to high heat. Spray grill or foil-lined broiler pan with non-stick spray. Grill or broil for 4-5 minutes per set or until chicken is cooked through.
- To serve, spread a quarter of the tahini garlic sauce down the center of each pita. Top with cooked chicken pieces, lettuce, tomato, and red onion slices. Wrap tightly and slice in half before serving.
paula
Thank you for posting this recipe! I lived in Bermuda and got totally addicted to this and the fact that you have made it healthy is awesome-particularly for those of use trying to manage a heart health diet.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh my gosh that’s so awesome!
madhu
Thank you :-)
madhu
Hi ,
What is the substitute for allspice powder? Can I prepare it at home ? If so what is the recipe ?
Madhu
Liz DellaCroce
If you don’t have allspice I like to use a little cloves.
Nikki
Hi! I love your recipes. I grew up in Michigan and started eating middle eastern food when I had a Chaldean roommate in college. My question for you is where do you buy the kind of pita that you show in your picture (i.e. Pita that you can roll instead of stuff). I live in Atlanta now and never see this at my local grocery store. Do I need to go to a specialty grocery store?
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Nikki!! So glad you said hi!! Yes I get them at a specialty store – usually any international grocery store or Middle Eastern grocery store has it. Sometimes they keep it in the freezer. I hope you can find it!
C.D.
Forgive me if this comes off as rude, it truly is not my intent, however i feel misled. After finding your website that is advertised and marketed as “Healthy”, I was so excited. I started pinning items and planning out my next shopping trip. It was easy to scroll down and see 250 calories, 20+ G of Protein and then it hits you !!! 1000+ MG of SODIUM !!! per wrap. Thats not in any way healthy. And with the growing crisis of heart disease your dish is 200 mg shy of the Doctor recommended daily intake of 1200 MG for a healthy person. While it may be low calorie and low fat, it certainly is not healthy if you have that much sodium. I think your recipes should reflect such, especially for those who are health conscious. Sodium is the least talked about factor that contributes to heart disease. Even the Marine Corps and the Department of the Navy are finally started addressing this publicly to spread awareness to all persons about the negative effects of sodium. If you are like me, and trying to find healthy alternatives to foods that you love, to save the life of someone you love, then I’m sure you can imagine the shock value your nutrition label offers. Good luck to you, and I hope you are able to offer suggestions to recipes that truly are Healthy.
Liz DellaCroce
Hi CD – Thank you very much for taking time to write candid feedback. I completely understand where you’re coming from and respect your opinion. To lower the sodium content of this recipe and others, I recommend looking for chicken with low sodium (most store bought chicken has high content so I reflect those numbers since that’s what most people are purchasing). Also, you can lower the sodium content further by reducing or eliminating the salt. Please let me know if I can help you reduce the sodium in any other recipes! Thanks again and have a great weekend.
Sarah Solberg
This looks delicious! I feel like I’ve been in chicken slump lately (so bored of it); I’m excited to try something new!
Scott
I made your recipe for my girlfriend and I tonight as we have been craving Shawarma, I marinated the chicken over night and it was delicious, the tahini sauce worked perfect on it, thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
Isn’t that tahini sauce the best? So glad to hear!!
shakila
I’m excited to try this recipe! I stumbled across ur website off of Pinterest. Do you have a recipe for kafta bil saniyeh (beef with potatoes in red sauce)? Thanks! :)
Liz DellaCroce
I’m glad you found me!! No I don’t but that sounds AMAZING!!!!!
Carlee
Another incredibly tasty chicken recipe! I can’t believe I love cooking chicken again, thanks to your recipes!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much Carlee!! That means so much to me!
Aggie
two things…I’ve never had shawarma or tahini sauce – it’s killing me because I know I would totally love both!!! This whole dish, it’s totally perfect.
I want to visit dearborn and hit up that restaurant with you!! Those grape leaves and hummus are calling my name!!!
Liz DellaCroce
Dude you would totally love them both!! I so wish we could enjoy this together!!! Maybe virtually one day. :)
Jeanette
My kids love chicken Shawarma – whenever I make it I barely get a taste.
Liz DellaCroce
I can’t believe how much I have to hide food from my son if I want to eat anything – haha. :-) I’m so glad your kids like shawarma!!
sheila
two words Yumma LUmma!
Liz DellaCroce
I love your words.. :)
Julia
I am now craving hummus and that delicious looking shawarma! Love this recipe.
Liz DellaCroce
So funny – I want hummus all the time lately!!!! Almost made it yesterday but my food processor was dirty from making baked kibbee!! A good problem I suppose. :)
Coty and Mariah
Love the addition of tahini! Can’t wait to make this; thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
I just bought a giant jar because I’ve been using it so much lately!! :)
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
Sooooo good! I have been making these yummy Shawarma salads all summer and now I am craving another after seeing this!
Liz DellaCroce
I have been on such a Lebanese food kick lately!!
Paula - bell'alimento
Another great lunch box option! Adding it to our back to school menu board : )
Liz DellaCroce
You will love this Paula!! So easy and so flavorful. :)
Kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts
Liz,
This looks yummy! My favorite Lebanese butcher in Falls Church, VA, just down the road from Saturday morning wheelchair basketball practice, served their chicken shawarma with slices of pickled turnips, too. I loved the whole thing, but especially those turnips. I’ve attempted to recreate my own, but I’d love to find a real pickled turnip recipe, as I’m starting to get turnips in the fall farm share.
Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
I LOVE pickled turnips!! Honestly is there anything better?? I hope you enjoy this!
Nikki @Seeded at the Table
And there’s that sauce I love so much!!!
Susan
Hi Liz! I’m really excited to try this recipe. I think I got into liking middle eastern food because I had a Lebanese boyfriend who taught me how to make hummus, and introduced me to tahini, pitas and string cheese. I don’t have any tahini in the house right now, but I have everything else. And I’ve already warned my husband that it’s coming. I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing more recipes from this part of the world, because they really know how to cook!
Kim |Just For Clicks
Love your background of cuisines…. Beautiful heritage! I will definitely try this (as a way to use chicken breasts in a new & non-boring way). Pinning it now…
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much Kim!! I’m definitely an American mut!! :) xo
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg
Been wanted to make shawarma at home. Thanks for the recipe! I, too, am of Middle Eastern background and love grape leaves, shawarma, all of it.
Liz DellaCroce
Isn’t it the best food in the world?? Enjoy!!
Marie @ Not Enough Cinnamon.com
I love me some good shawarma pita! When we were living in Paris we used to go at least once a week to this delicious Lebanese spot that had delicious pita sandwiches and now that we’ve moved, I totally miss Lebanese food! Your recipe sounds delicious, I’ll try it sometime soon!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I had some of my best Lebanese food when I lived in London!! Europe knows how to do it!! I hope you enjoy this!!
allie
I just ran across your blog today for the first time and love it! I also love the looks of this recipe. We just moved to the country of Georgia, and I am not sure I would be able to find tahini…do you have another sauce to suggest that would also complement this recipe? Thanks!
Allie
Thanks so much for responding! I will def try it out!
Lizzie
I made this tonight and it is soo good. Best flavors didn’t know chicken could be so yum. Healthy too!! Thx
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed it Lizzie!
Gaby
What a perfect dinner for busy nights!! I need to make this soon!
Liz DellaCroce
This would be fab with your fattoush!! Or you can get crazy and add the fattoush to the pita… :)
ashley - Baker by Nature
Want. This. Now. (!!!)
Liz DellaCroce
It’s funny – so do I!!! I’ll trade you for a babka!!
Lane @ Supper for a Steal
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to try the tahini garlic sauce. I’m pretty sure I would put that on everything. Our local Lebanese restaurant closed, but luckily we have a Middle Eastern market nearby and I’m able to buy all the ingredients to cook at home.
Liz DellaCroce
I totally make extra of the tahini sauce and put it on everything. It’s really good as a dipping sauce for roasted cauliflower or raw crudite. Ok you’re making me hungry – haha. I’m so glad you have a Middle Eastern market available!!
Rachel Cooks
uhhhh you know I love this!
Liz DellaCroce
I am still dreaming of my Lebanese meal in Dearborn!!
Liz
Great recipe. Thank you. You have experienced many foods and that’s why your recipes are super.
Liz DellaCroce
You are so sweet Liz – thank you!
Sarah @ The Chef Next Door
I eat chicken shawarma almost every time I eat out at a Middle Eastern restaurant. Will definitely be trying your homemade recipe soon. It looks delish!
Liz DellaCroce
Isn’t it just the best?? We will be making more often, that’s for sure!
Lindsay
I love your site! I live in Michigan and was wondering what are the restaurants you visited in Dearborn? I’d love to try them as well!
Liz DellaCroce
I went to Le Pita in Dearborn! Highly, highly recommend!! :) So glad you found my blog! Enjoy!
Jeanne (NanaBread)
Liz, I share your love of middle eastern foods. Just looking at warm pita makes my heart sing and discovering we’re almost out of tahini terrorizes me. We make hummus & muhammara frequently and I’ve made chicken shawarma before, but it’s been so long I’d almost forgotten. We’ll be giving your recipe a shot very soon. Thanks for sharing it!
Liz DellaCroce
So funny I’m almost out of tahini too and I’m so worried I’ll forget to buy more! I love that you love Middle Eastern food as much as I do!! There’s really nothing better than warm pita. Do you have a muhammara recipe?
Erin | The Law Student's Wife
It has been WAY too long since I made chicken shawarma, and your version looks way easier and healthier than ones I’ve used in the past. Pinned for next week’s dinner!
Liz DellaCroce
Really?? Maybe yours is better!! I just sort of made this version up but it was so freaking good!!
Matissa
Why do people think it’s acceptable to use “freaking”, as in “it’s so freaking good”? These placeholders are just as offensive as the words they replace. Think before you speak.
Megan {Country Cleaver}
I love eating food influenced by family and region. I’ve never had shwarma, but this makes me crave it!!
Liz DellaCroce
I do too!!! Like the time I went to Seattle and had the best king crab legs and wild salmon of my life!! xo I hope you make this!! So good and easy.
Cookin Canuck
I will now be thinking of grape leaves all day…one of my favorite lunches. This pita would likely rank right up there with the grape leaves. Great flavors, Liz!
Liz DellaCroce
It’s so funny you say that – I’ve been wanting to make grape leaves too!!! I could eat 20 of them. :)
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles
I love hearing about your heritage, Liz. This looks like a fabulously flavorful meal!
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you Brenda!! Basically lots of lemon, garlic and olive oil run through my veins. :)