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A close-up of a chicken shawarma bowl topped with garlic sauce.
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5 from 1 vote

Chicken Shawarma Bowl

These easy Chicken Shawarma Bowls are delicious for dinner or meal prep. They have marinated chicken, veggies, couscous, and garlic sauce!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: middle eastern
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 611kcal
Author: Taylor Stinson

Ingredients

Chicken marinade

  • 1 lb chicken cutlets or chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Couscous

  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup pearl couscous or white rice
  • 1 pinch salt

Garlic sauce - to save time, use store bought hummus and/or tzatziki

  • 1/2 cup sunflower oil
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened plain soy milk
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp honey
  • 1 pinch salt

Toppings

  • 1 red onion sliced
  • 1 tsp sumac
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup cucumber diced
  • 1 plum tomato diced
  • 1 cup pickled turnips or regular pickles
  • 1 cup parsley finely chopped

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a bowl or ziptop bag under the chicken marinade heading and let marinate for at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile, add couscous or rice and water to a rice cooker and cook until liquid has absorbed.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add chicken with marinade. Cook for about 10-12 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through. Let rest for 10 minutes, then slice chicken against the grain.
  • Add a bit of olive oil to a small skillet over medium heat, then add onions, sumac and a pinch of salt, sauteeing for 5-10 minutes until softened.
  • While chicken and onions are cooking, add ingredients for garlic sauce to a blender and blend for 30 seconds until thickened. At the same time, prepare toppings.
  • Divide couscous among bowls, then divide chicken and onions. Add toppings, then drizzle with garlic sauce. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

If you can't find pickled turnips, you can make your own! I love this easy recipe: https://dinnerthendessert.com/pickled-turnips/ 
Make your own shawarma spice blend for easy prep.
Swap out the couscous for white or brown rice, quinoa, farro or even cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
Use any extra chicken to make a shawarma wrap or loaded fries.
Store all the components in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat the chicken and couscous (optional), then assemble your bowls.
Freeze the raw marinated chicken for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge then cook as normal.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 611kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 26g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 761mg | Potassium: 855mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3752IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3mg