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These Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs are even better than my beef recipe! Juicy seasoned chicken tortillas, and bold spices come together on skewers and hit the grill for a delicious bite. This light recipes is perfect for weeknight dinners, tailgating, backyard cookouts, or casual entertaining.
The seasoned chicken filling is layered between tortillas on skewers, grilled, the edges are charred, and the tortillas get lightly crisp from the heat of the grill. It’s a simple way to take an everyday chicken dinner and turn it into something completely different.
Looking for more kebab or skewer recipes with bold flavor then check out my Beef Kebabs, or the Viral Pan Sheet Kebabs.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love These Chicken Shawarma Kebabs
- Ingredients needed to make Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs
- How to Make Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs
- Recipe Tip
- Prepare the Tortillas
- Assemble the Kebabs
- Recipe Tip
- Recipe Tip
- How to make an Easy Garlic Sauce
- Recipe Tip
- Serving Suggestions
- Final Thoughts
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- More Easy and Flavorful Grilled Skewers:
- Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs Recipe
Why You’ll Love These Chicken Shawarma Kebabs
There is a lot to like about this recipe.
Big shawarma flavor. The chicken is seasoned with a warm blend of spices that gives it the signature savory, aromatic flavor associated with chicken shawarma.
Easy grilling recipe. Everything comes together quickly, making this a great option when you want something different without spending hours in the kitchen.
Fun presentation. Adding tortillas to the skewers makes these kebabs unique and gives you crispy, charred pieces of tortilla between bites of chicken.
Perfect for family dinner. Put the kebabs on a platter with a few sauces and sides and let everyone build their own plate.
Ingredients needed to make Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs
- Ground chicken: this type of chicken is best for this recipe because it’s spreadable. You can also mix with pork to add some fattiness.
- Tortilla: large flour burrito tortillas are used a dividers.
- Veggies: I used colorful veggies to add brightness and flavor to the recipe. Red bell pepper, fresh garlic, parsley and shredded onion.
- Seasoning: chicken shawarma seasoning and salt to bring out the middle easter aromatics.
How to Make Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs
Prep the Chicken
For this Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebab recipe is the perfect lean and healthy meal recipe that doesn’t skip on flavor. Alternative proteins can work here as well! You can use ground turkey or do half/half chicken and pork. Adjust this recipe to your food and lifestyle preferences.
In a large mixing bowl, add 2 lbs of ground chicken, shredded yellow onion and diced red bell pepper. Add in chopped parsley, minced garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, plain greek yogurt and season with Chicken Shawarma seasoning and add salt.
Mix it all together and set aside.
Recipe Tip
The greek yogurt helps keep the chicken moist and tender.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
Prepare the Tortillas
Extra large burrito flour tortillas work best for this recipe. These will produce 4 stacked Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs.
Take 6 tortillas, stack one on top of the other and cut them into even squares.
Add a handful of the chicken mixture onto the first tortilla and spread it thinly across the entire surface. Top if with a new tortilla and repeat the process until you run out of tortillas or meat.
Assemble the Kebabs
When your tortilla and filling stack is assembled, cut it into 4 equal parts. Turn them over on the side and it’s time to skewer.
Insert 4 skewers, evenly spaced apart, and cut between each one to create the kebabs.
Place the Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs in the freezer for 30 minutes for the chicken to firm up before hitting the grill.
Recipe Tip
Use metal skewers to avoid the ends from catching fire.
Grill to Perfection
Preheat your grill to medium heat. Place the kebabs directly over direct heat and grill for about 15-20 minutes, turning every 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Tip
Rotating the kebab frequently prevents the tortillas from charing.
Make sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken. While the outside might look done, because the layers are tightly packed, the inside might need a few more minutes on the grill. Remove once the chicken reaches 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit. The edges will be golden and crispy and the inside fully cooked.
Rest
Remove the Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes. Resting is crucial when grilling of cooking any protein. It slows down the cooking process as well as redistributes the juices for a tender and juicy bite each time.
How to make an Easy Garlic Sauce
A creamy garlic sauce is one of my favorite pairings with shawarma-style chicken.
The rich garlic flavor works perfectly with the smoky grilled chicken.
In a blender add 5-6 garlic cloves, equal parts mayo and sour cream, freshly squeezed lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. Blend the ingredients together until everything is purified and smooth.
Other toppings or sauces to consider are humus or tzatziki sauce.
Recipe Tip
For a healthier version use greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
Serving Suggestions
These kebabs are versatile enough to serve with just about anything.
For a complete chicken shawarma dinner, try serving them with:
- Grilled veggies
- Cucumber and tomato salad
- Pickles, or pickled onion
Final Thoughts
These Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs are a fun way to bring bold shawarma flavor to the backyard grill.
You’ve got juicy grilled chicken, warm spices, crispy tortilla edges, and plenty of sauce for dipping. It’s everything I want in an easy grilled chicken recipe without making dinner complicated.
I also love how customizable these kebabs are. Keep them simple with chicken and tortillas, or add vegetables, extra spice, different sauces, and your favorite toppings.
So fire up the grill, grab some skewers, and give these grilled chicken shawarma kebabs a try. They’re a fun twist on traditional shawarma and an easy way to make chicken night a whole lot more interesting. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, these Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs can be replicated in the oven, stove top or air fryer. You do not need an outdoor grill to replicate any of my recipes.
Personally, I prefer metal skewers. They are reusable, more sturdy and do not burn. Wooden skewers should be soaked in water before grilling to avoid catching fire.
Flour tortillas are a great choice because they are soft and flexible while still getting crispy and charred on the grill.
More Easy and Flavorful Grilled Skewers:
Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs
Ingredients
Chicken Shawarma Ingredients
- 2 lbs Ground chicken
- 4 Garlic cloves
- 1 Bell pepper
- 1/2 Yellow onion
- 1 Juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 cup Parsley
- 1/4 cup Plain greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp Chicken shawarma seasoning
- 1 tsp Salt
- 6 Large flour burrito tortillas
Garlic Sauce Ingredients
- 4 Garlic cloves
- 1 Juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup Mayo
- 1/2 cup Sour cream
- 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt and pepper
Instructions
- To a large mixing bowl add the ground chicken, diced bell pepper, shredded onion, grated garlic, parsley and seasonings. Add greek yogurt and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix it well and set to the side.
- Stack the burrito tortillas and cut off round sides shaping it into a square.
- Add a handful of the chicken mixture to the first tortilla and spread it thinly across the entire surface. Top if with a new tortilla and repeat the process until you run out of tortillas.
- Cut the stacked tortillas into 4 equal pieces.
- Flip each section over with the meat side facing up and the tortilla side facings sideways.
- Insert skewers carefully through each rectangle to secure the layers. Slice between the skewers.
- Place the kebabs in the freezer for 30 minutes for the chicken to firm up before hitting the grill.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat and set for direct heat. Place the kebabs directly on the grates and cook for about 15-20 minutes, turning every 1-2 minutes.
- Remove once the beef reaches 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let them rest for 10 minutes.
- While the skewers rest, make the garlic sauce. Add all the ingredients to a blender and mix until smooth.
- Drizzle the tangy garlic sauce of the Chicken Shawarma Tortilla Kebabs and enjoy!
Notes
- Use any protein. Ground turkey or a equal blend of chicken and pork
- Replace a regular tortilla for a gluten free option or a low carb. alternative
- Replace sour cream with greek yogurt
Our new weekday favorite! These are so flavorful and delicious. I hope you give it a try.