Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma Pitas with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce are so healthy and easy to make, you will be making this chicken dinner recipe again and again!
Although I use my slow cooker all year round, I have been using it almost 3-4 nights a week this winter with our grill completely covered in snow. With the high energy of the #HealthyNewYear challenge in full force, I have been meal planing consistently throughout the month of January which means my slow cooker is getting a lot of extra attention!
Of course, just like all of you, I am always looking for more fast and easy slow cooker chicken recipes. Since my family loves eating Beef Shawarma with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce in the summer months I decided to find a way to enjoy shawarma without the help of my trusty grill.
We happened to have a pack of Kroger Simple Truth boneless, skinless chicken breasts on hand but you could certainly swap it out with chicken thighs, pork shoulder or even a beef chuck roast. The real star of the dish is the fragrant yogurt marinade filled with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and all-spice.
These slow cooker chicken shawarma pitas are topped with a cool and creamy cucumber yogurt sauce, tomato slices and red onions. Make an extra batch and use leftover shredded chicken for salads, soups, pastas, tacos and more. The options are truly endless.
Your fork is waiting.
Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma Pitas
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole milk plain yogurt
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon cayenne optional
- 1 lemon juiced about ¼ cup
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- whole wheat pita pockets
- Cucumber Laban sliced tomatoes and sliced red onion – to serve, Lebanese Yogurt Sauce
Instructions
- Place the yogurt, chicken broth, spices and lemon juice in the slow cooker insert and whisk well.
- Add chicken to the slow cooker and toss to coat with the spiced yogurt mixture.
- Heat on low for four hours or high for two hours. Shred chicken and and stuff inside pita pockets. Serve with Cucumber Laban , tomato and onion slices
Chef’s Notes
Nutrition
More Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes are waiting for you on Pinterest!
Emily
Let me preface by saying as a fellow American with Lebanese heritage, I have SO many recipes of yours pinned to try! I tried this in the crockpot and the results were a bit disappointing. I used Greek yogurt, so I’m not sure if that made a difference, and the 2 tbsp of cinnamon seemed a bit high compared to your grilled shawarma recipe, but I decided to try it as written. The yogurt curdled and made it all rather unappetizing, and the cinnamon was just too much. I’m going to try the marinated version instead and see how that goes! My husband loves shawarma so I’m always on the hunt for the best recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Emily – Greek yogurt is the culprit I’m afraid. You’ll notice I never use it in Lebanese recipes as it’s not really an ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. Greek yogurt is delicious but I prefer it with granola or in smoothies. You’ll want to use Plain yogurt (ideally whole milk) – NOT Greek yogurt. The issue with greek yogurt is that it’s a completely different texture and 100x more acidic. The cinnamon helps balance the acid and chicken broth but you do need a good amount of cinnamon as plain chicken breasts are quite bland. Of course though you’re welcome to make this recipe your own – for example, i like to add a bit more cayenne for a kick of heat!! Have you tried any of mny other recipes yet?? I highly recommend the Lebanese Green Beans and Beef! http://thelemonbowl.com/slow-cooked-lebanese-green-beans-and-beef/
Nika
So I followed the recipe to the Tee however I tripled it using 5lbs of chicken instead. The first day it came out it tasted amazing all with that tangy taste shawerma has. The next day, I don’t know what happened, but the dish became so spicy it was overbearing and impossible to eat. Maybe my rating is undeserved and I’m sorry. Maybe it’s a dish I have to eat right away. I’m not sure.
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Nika, I’m a little confused – you said the flavor turned from mild to spicy as it sat in your fridge? I’ve never experienced this. I make it all the time and it’s great as it sits. Did you add anything spicy? Cayenne?
Liz Pease
This was wonderful! I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to like the spice blend – it smelled to me like pumpkin pie cooking, which is nice, but not what I want when I’m thinking about chicken. But OMG it was so incredibly good with the yogurt sauce, red onion, and fresh tomatoes from the farmers market! I almost never want seconds of anything – but I wanted another helping of this!
As an aside, I used unsweetened coconut yogurt in this recipe, and in the yogurt sauce, to make this non-dairy, and it came out great! No weird taste or anything! Definitely recommend if you have any dairy concerns in your household!
Yet another awesome recipe from The Lemon Bowl – haven’t had a single one I didn’t like yet! Thank you for the inspiration!
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so happy to hear this!!!
laura violette
Is the chicken already cooked before it goes in the slow cooker?
Liz DellaCroce
Nope you want raw boneless skinless breasts. :)
Jackie
I’ve just volunteered to do this for a school fair! :) And two baked items as well! :O So I am going to need to spread things out over the week. How far in advance can I cook this, and how long will it keep? I’m thinking four days in a fridge won’t dry it out.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad to hear it!! You can cook it 1 day ahead of time and it will keep up to 3 days!
Jaimee
This sounds so good, I’m trying it this weekend! I live alone, can the leftover cooked chicken go in the freezer?
Liz DellaCroce
You know this type of chicken I don’t typically freeze because I don’t believe it will have enough moisture to protect it. That said, I could be wrong so if you try it and it works please let me know! Otherwise I would use leftovers during the week for lunches or repurposed in tacos, salads, soups, pastas etc.
Natasha
Hi Liz. How do I improvise as I don’t have a slow cooker.
Love your recipes and stunning photos.
You really are my inspiration as I’m just about to pop with my 2nd baby and can’t wait to get back into shape.
Stay blessed
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Natasha –
Oh my goodness you must invest in a slow cooker, especially if you’re about to have your 2nd baby!! I’m not sure how to do it without one but I’ve heard you can use your oven on a low temp. Try googling it a bit but in the meantime I would highly recommend you get a slow cooker before your 2nd baby. I love this one and use it 3-4 nights a week! http://amzn.to/1KcoUqI
Natasha
Thank you so much for your reply Liz. I certainly will have a look online and in local stores for any deals on them!
Love your recipes and your page!
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you so much Natasha!! Appreciate it!
Sadye
Oh, this was SO GOOD and incredibly easy. I can’t wait to make it again — definitely a dish that is even better as leftovers! We had ours over rice and eggplant, and it was such a great, filling meal. Awesome work, Liz!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!!!!!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS! Your photos are gorgeous, and now all I can think about is eating a delicious pita sandwich :)
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you so much!!! I hope you try it and love it!!
Nutmeg Nanny
I love the look of these little stuffed pitas. Please deliver one to me? :)
Liz DellaCroce
Yes!! We can make Knorr minute sides to eat on the side!! PS: Not kidding.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I love to use my slow cooker all year too but I use it even more when it’s cold. Can’t wait to make that Cucumber Yogurt Sauce to go with these pitas!
Liz DellaCroce
I do too Angie!! I hope you like this!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious
I so love shawarma and lucky to have an awesome Lebanese place right by my house to eat it all the time :)
Liz DellaCroce
You are so lucky to have one nearby!!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
What a great use for leftover chicken! Looks delicious. :)
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you lady!!
Liz
Thank you Liz. Love this recipe.
Liz DellaCroce
So glad you do Liz!! Enjoy!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
I ADORE shawarma!! We always have it in pitas with cucumber sauce too. SO crazy good!
Liz DellaCroce
Sometimes I just come up with recipes that allow me to make cucumber sauce – haha!
Donna
What would happen if I used nonfat yogurt?
Liz DellaCroce
Not a thing at all!