Pan-Seared Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Yogurt Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

Thinly sliced chicken thighs marinated in Middle Eastern spices, pan-seared and served with a tangy garlic yogurt sauce. This Middle Eastern recipe, ready in about 27 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken thighs, olive oil, ground cumin for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs sliced thinly, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground paprika, 1/2 tsp ground turmeric, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground allspice, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix well and marinate for at least 1 hour in the fridge.
2. Step 2: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken in a single layer and cook for 5-6 minutes on one side until edges are golden and crisp, then flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes until fully cooked and slightly caramelized.
3. Step 3: While the chicken cooks, whisk together 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt with 1 tbsp lemon juice and a pinch of salt to create a garlic yogurt sauce.
4. Step 4: Serve the warm chicken shawarma slices drizzled with the garlic yogurt sauce alongside pita bread or fresh salad.