Healthy & Flavourful Chicken Shawarma Bowls

Bowls are a staple dinner for us when we want something healthy yet delicious and these Chicken Shawarma Bowls are one of my all time favourites! The chicken is marinated in the most flavourful sauce, there’s a creamy homemade hummus and tons of fresh vegetables.

If you have never had shawarma before, it is a Middle Eastern Street food, made from lamb, beef or chicken. The meat is marinated in tons of bold spices like cumin, garlic, and cinnamon, then served in a pita or wrap. For this version we are serving it over rice and a bed of creamy homemade garlic hummus.

These chicken shawarma bowls are such an easy meal to make that is packed with protein and nutrients. You start by marinating the chicken for at least 3-4 hours. Then you make the hummus by simply blending all the ingredients until smooth. Grill up the chicken, and cook so white rice, then serve it all together topped with fresh vegetables, pickles onions and crumbled feta cheese. I am telling you, the flavor in these bowls is unmatched!

I love these Shawarma bowls because they are a beautifully balanced meal full of protein, carbs, fats and fibre. They not only look beautiful but taste even better. A hint of spice, a little sweetness and the pickled onions add a perfect little tang. These bowls make an amazing week night meal or delicious meal prep.

Tips for Making Perfect Chicken Shawarma Bowls

1. Give the chicken at least 3-4 hours to marinate. Overnight is always best if you can, but you want at least a few hours to the flavor to really get into the chicken.
2. When making the hummus, I like to peel majority of the chickpeas after I rinse them. They have a thin clear coating on them, and while it is fine to eat, you get an even silkier hummus by removing it. Once the chickpeas are we you can just gently rub your fingers through them and it slides off.

Chicken Shawarma Bowl Ingredients

Chicken– You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs. We also prefer thighs as they are extra juicy.

Hummus– My recipe is simple with just chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon and cumin. If you don’t want to make it you can just use store bought.

Rice- Any white rice you like is great.

Feta Cheese– This adds a delicious salty finish to the bowls.

Vegetables– I like a combo of tomatoes, cucumbers and pepper. Sometimes cabbage. Use what you like.

Pickled Red Onions– Any kind of pickles you like would be great. We love pickled red onions or pickled radishes on these.

Olive Oil– This is the base of the marinade.

Lemon– Fresh squeezed lemon juice is your acidity in the marinade.

Maple Syrup– Adds a touch of sweetness to the chicken to balance out the spices.

Garlic– There is a ton of fresh garlic in the chicken. Always use fresh over pre minced if you can.

Spices– You need ground cumin, cinnamon, oregano, cayenne and smoked paprika.

The Steps

1. Start by stirring together all of the chicken ingredients in a small bowl (excluding the chicken).
2. Then, place the chicken in a baking dish or a large zip loc bag, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Mix the chicken all around so that all of it gets coated in the sauce.
3. Seal or cover the chicken and refrigerate for minimum 3 hours or up to 24. The longer you can let it marinade the better.
4. Next, make the hummus by adding all of the hummus ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Start with a pinch of salt then add more until your desired taste.
5. Boil the rice or cook in a rice cooker until tender.
6. Finally, heat your grill to 400F (you can do this in the oven too).
7. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for a few minutes each side or until internal temp reaches 165F. Remove from the grill.
8. To serve up the bowls, start by layering a big spoonful of the hummus on the bottom.
9. Next, add a serving of rice, then all of your desired vegetables.
10. Slice the chicken into strips, then top the bowls with chicken, some crumbled feta cheese and some pickled red onions or pickled radishes. Enjoy!

If you give this recipe a try, leave a comment or a recipe review below!

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