Chicken tawook, a traditional Lebanese dish, becomes juicy and tender from a simple marinade of fresh lemon juice and garlic.
If I could eat one food every single day for the rest of my life, it would be Lebanese food. People often ask how I came up with “The Lemon Bowl” and ultimately it all goes back to my Middle Eastern roots. Lemon is the star ingredient in almost every Lebanese recipe and I have been watching my mom and aunts use lemons to flavor food since I could reach the counter.
I could go on for days about my love of lemons but today I’m going to talk specifically about using lemon as a meat tenderizer. Similar to yogurt or vinegar, the acid in lemon juice helps break down the muscle fibers in meat. This is especially important when you’re working with lean cuts of meat like boneless chicken breasts.
Lemon juice plays the star role in everything from Indian Spiced Grilled Chicken to Beef Shawarma to Chicken Souvalaki and much, much, more.
Chicken Tawook, a native dish of Lebanon and Syria, is marinated chicken cubes that are typically grilled on skewers. Since we live in Michigan where the grill is covered in snow 75% of the year, we most commonly sauté the chicken in a pan with a little olive oil. I’ve also broiled the chicken in the oven which works well too.
Leftovers taste delicious wrapped in a pita with cucumber laban and hummus or served on top of my Spelt Tabbouleh with Jalapeño Vinaigrette.
Your fork is waiting.
- 20 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts - cut in cubes
- 1 juice and zest of lemon
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- fresh parsley to serve
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Place chicken breasts cubes in a glass bowl or large resealable plastic bag.
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Add lemon juice, zest, grated garlic, salt and pepper to the chicken toss until chicken is evenly coated with marinade. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or up to overnight.
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Heat pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Add chicken to the pan along with all of the marinade. Sauté chicken, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes.
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Serve with fresh minced parsley on top.
Do you think this could be made in a crockpot?
It could but it would be more of a shredded chicken situation which is also delicious. Have you tried my slow cooker chicken shawarma? https://thelemonbowl.com/2016/01/slow-cooker-chicken-shawarma-pitas-with-cucumber-sauce.html
We will make this again! I liked the marinade a lot. I’ve learned it’s important to salt meat well, I find many don’t do this and it leaves it tasting rather deflated.
We grilled it on skewers with chunks of bell pepper and red onion, served over a garlic rice pilaf from Annie’s Eats, and really enjoyed this!!
Thank you for the recipe!
You’re so right – salt is key!! So glad you enjoyed it!!
I hardly ever post comments on recipes but this one deserved it! I absolutely avoid making chicken because it usually comes out plain, overcooked, and bland. This recipe was perfect. I adore lebanese cooking, order it all the time and this shish tawook is on par with what I’ve had in lebanese restaurants and also made by my Lebanese friends’ Moms. SO EASY, SO DELICIOUS. thank you :)
Wow thank you so much! You truly made my day!!! I hope you make it again and again!
Made the chicken tawook tonight. The favors are fabulous… I overcooked though to get it the light brown color, will know better next time. Great recipe, thank you!
I’m glad you tried it!! Make it again soon!
Fantastic recipe! Made it twice so far, with the second a double batch so I could have lots of leftovers for salads and sandwiches. :-)
If I prepare it on skewers in the oven, what temperature and cooking time do you recommend?
I’m so glad you like it Andrew!!! So tasty right? As for the skewers in the oven, I would actually broil them for about 3-4 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of your cubes.
Hey Liz:
Sabrina’s sister in-law here…she recommended your site and I’m blown away by your awesome recipes!!! Cooked up Chicken Tawook for the family last night and they were practically licking their plates…a real winner! Keep up the great work!!
Hey Leann,
Thank you so much for writing!! Such a small world. I’m so glad you like the chicken tawook -it’s a family favorite and a staple in our house!! Hope to see you at Hannah’s Bat Mitzvah!
Do you know how to make that amazing garlicky paste/dip that comes with Shish Tawook? I would love a recipe for it! Just tried this recipe and it is delicious. Thanks!
YES! My Aunt just dropped me off a fresh batch! Let me get her recipe – stay tuned!!
Thanks! It is truly one of my favorite things :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufDD773NQMY
I haven’t tried this yet but just found this video tutorial for making Toom! Wonder if your aunt thinks this is good or has a different opinion! Am loving your recipes and happy I found my way to your blog. Thanks.
I really love this recipe. Wanted to let you know that I featured it in my monthly round-up of 25 Deliciously Healthy Low-Carb Recipes. I hope a lot of my readers will come over here and try it!
Absolutely love love love this recipe and just shared it on my blog in a post called Friday Foodie Faves where I share my favorite foodie finds from around the web.
Aww thank you so much Vicky!!! You’re the best!
I with the other responders. The color and the flavor make this both a fun and tasty dish. Good job.
Thank you so much Carol!
Made this last night because I had everything on hand. It was super easy and really tasty! Adding it to my list of go-tos! I have no idea what it should be served with so we just had it with roasted beets, corn on the cop, fresh peaches, and some fresh bread. I’m sure that’s not traditional but it was awesome!
Oh I’m so thrilled you made it and enjoyed it Melissa!! And I LOVE what you served it with!! We typically serve it with salad and rice but honestly your menu sounds even better this time of year!
WOW! This lebanese chicken is calling my name! No, really, did you hear that? lol! Definitely am going to be making this asap, all the lebanese recipes I’ve made from you are so good!
haha I do hear it! MAKE ME! PHI! MAKE ME!
I made this for dinner last night – a double batch, in fact! We loved the tang of the chicken and I appreciated how quick and easy it was. I did add a few shakes of red pepper flakes because my family enjoys a bit of heat. Otherwise we followed the directions exactly. The leftovers would be fantastic on a salad or in a pita with tomatoes and cucumber. Thank you for such a great recipe, Liz!
This comment has made my day, Dara! And I’m laughing to myself because in all truth, I almost always add chili flakes too!!! Or sriracha. ;) Too funny!! Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully you have some leftovers for a pita today with hummus. :)
You speak my husband’s language with this one! His absolute favorite dish from a local Middle Eastern restaurant we love is shish tawook. If I made it at home? He’ll be in heaven. Not sure why I never did, but he’ll be thrilled if I add this to the rotation. This looks great and I have to admit I’d do it just to get the leftovers with labneh on pita – yum!
Oh my gosh I hope he loves it!!!! Yay!! And yes, I ALWAYS make a double batch for the sandwich the next day!
The Hub and Kidzilla loved this. So easy and so good…I think this will end up a regular item on our rotation. Leftovers tonight!
Oh I’m so thrilled!! Thanks for reporting back!
I need something simple, healthy and tasty for dinner tonight. This is what I’m making! I’ll be sure to report back. :)
I can’t wait to hear what you think! We eat this at least once a week. :)
This looks amazing! I need to make it soon!
I can’t wait to try this! I love Lebanese food and this sounds like such a great weeknight meal. Pinning for later!
Let me know what you think!!
Add lemon to almost anything and I will be happy! This sounds amazing and I totally share your love of lemon!
That is the absolute truth. Thank you Sophia!!
The first sentence of this post is why you are the COOLEST person ever!!!
Aww I heart you!!!
My favorite—pinning!
Yay I knew you’d like this one!
Uh YUM! I’m coming over for dinner like, SOON!!! xo
Will you bring me some olive oil gelato for dessert? :)
Love how simple this is and full of flavor!
Simple is the name of the game!
I love how this recipe is so simple and easy! I normally have all of these ingredients stocked up so I will pin this recipe for later. Thanks for sharing!
Yes this is always my backup plan too – I always have the ingredients on hand!
This looks awesome!!
See, I don’t just make smoothies!
Well da. You make chicken and smoothies. Now if you post something like a chilled mint cucumber soup my mind would REALLY be blown.
So simple yet so delicious and healthy! I will marinade it overnight to get maximum flavor, thanks!
Let me know what you think Caroline!!
I love the flavor in this dish. My husband will absolutely adore it. I need to make it for him ASAP.
It is one of my husband’s favorites!
I had no idea lemon tenderized meat! The more you know… ;)
Anywho, this chicken? Yeahhhh, I need it in my life like yesterday.
Yes girl!!! I’ll swap you marinade tricks for baking tips – haha.
My kind of food, this sounds wonderful.
You would love this Kalyn!! Low carb and SO tasty. xo
Ohhh this looks like the perfect dinner dish for tonight!
Let me know what you think Renee!!