Description
Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma combines the ease of a slow cooker with authentic Middle Eastern flavor. Tender, spiced chicken is slow-cooked, then crisped in olive oil and finished with an optional creamy tahini sauce for a healthy, paleo, and gluten-free meal.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup water
- For the spice mix:
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground sumac
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Generous pinch ground cloves
- For frying:
- ¼ cup olive oil, divided
- For optional tahini sauce:
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water (or as needed for consistency)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- Generous pinch fine sea salt
Instructions
1. Place chicken in the bowl of your slow cooker and add ½ cup of water. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
2. Remove the chicken and slice each breast against the grain into thin strips.
3. In a bowl, combine all the spice mix ingredients. Toss sliced chicken in the spice mix until coated.
4. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and fry without moving for 1–2 minutes until crisp.
5. Pour 1 tablespoon more olive oil over the chicken, flip, and fry another 1–2 minutes until golden. Add remaining oil if needed.
6. To make tahini sauce, combine tahini, lemon juice, garlic, water, and salt in a blender or whisk until smooth.
7. Serve immediately with rice, pita, or salad, and drizzle with tahini sauce if desired.
Notes
Make the chicken and spice mix ahead of time for quick weeknight prep.
Use chicken thighs for extra tenderness and deeper flavor.
Keep chicken pieces close together in the pan to retain moisture.
Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker and Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg