Baked Chicken Shawarma Tacos dish

Baked chicken shawarma tacos with shirazi salad and tahini sauce.

Baked Chicken Shawarma Tacos feature crunchy taco shells stuffed with savory shawarma chicken and melty parmesan cheese. Topped with refreshing shirazi salad and a generous drizzle of tahini, they’re a crowd-pleasing twist on traditional tacos!

What is Chicken Shawarma?

Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern street food. Traditionally, it features meat stacked and slow-roasted on a vertical spit. Then, the meat is shaved off as the spit rotates.

Shawarma is typically made with lamb, mutton, or chicken. However, you can also find beef shawarma recipes. Most commonly, you will find shawarma served as wraps or on a platter with seasoned rice or fries and salad like we do with our sheet pan chicken shawarma.

However, for these chicken shawarma tacos, we combine two go-to dinners, adding seasoned shawarma chicken meat to crisp taco shells. They bake until warm and melty, it’s a great family-friendly recipe that will tantalize your tastebuds!

Ingredients You Need

Chicken Shawarma

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – We prefer to use chicken breasts because they absorb the taste of the marinade well. However, boneless skinless chicken thighs also work.
Seasonings – Smoked paprika, cumin, onion powder, coriander, salt, and black pepper create a bold, savory, slightly smokey flavor.
Yogurt – Plain full-fat yogurt forms the base of the marinade, adding a tangy flavor and keeping the chicken tender.
Tomato Paste – Adds richness and depth.
Lemon – Use freshly squeezed lemon juice to tenderize the chicken and add a bright, refreshing taste.
Olive Oil – Combines all the ingredients and enhances the flavor of the marinade.
Garlic Cloves – Use whole garlic cloves, and mince them yourself for the finest flavor.

For the Tacos

Hard Taco Shells – Do not substitute soft taco shells, or your tacos will become soggy!
Cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds a satisfying, cheesy flavor.

Toppings

Shirazi Salad– Use this as a topping for nutrients, a refreshing flavor, and a slight crunch.
Tahina Sauce – Drizzle tahini over the tacos for a nutty taste and a boost of healthy fats.

Shredded chicken shawarma stuffed in hard taco shells in a baking dish.

Hard shell tacos in a baking dish stuffed with shredded chicken shawarma and cheese.

Upgrade Your Taco Tuesday with this Baked Chicken Shawarma Tacos Recipe

Create the marinade. Combine the seasonings, yogurt, tomato paste, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic cloves in a bowl.
Marinade. Place the chicken in a baking dish, and coat it with the marinade mixture. Let the chicken marinate overnight.
Bake. Arrange the chicken on a greased baking sheet, and transfer it to a preheated oven. Bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Shred. Allow the chicken to rest for at least five minutes. Then, use a hand mixer or two forks to shred it into pieces.
Fill the tacos. Arrange the taco shells upright in a baking dish. Fill each shell with shredded chicken, and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
Bake again. Transfer the baking dish to the oven, and bake just until the cheese is melted and the tacos heat through.
Serve. Top your shawarma tacos with shirazi salad, optional red onions, and tahina sauce, and enjoy!

Can I Store Leftovers?

These tacos are finest enjoyed right away while they’re still warm. They tend to become soggy as they sit.

However, if you have leftovers, you can transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for one to two days.

Reheat your shawarma tacos in the oven just until heated through. If they start to brown, cover the dish with foil, and continue to bake.

Common Questions about Chicken Shawarma Tacos

Can I use store-bought shawarma seasoning?

Definitely. If you’re short on time or ingredients, a good quality shawarma spice blend will work great.

What kind of tortilla or flatbread works finest?

We use hard taco shells! But you can also use flour tortillas, pita, naan, or even lettuce wraps for a low-carb version.

How spicy is the chicken?

The marinade is flavorful and warmly spiced but not necessarily hot. You can adjust the heat by adding cayenne pepper or chili flakes if you want a kick.

Can I turn this into a rice bowl or salad?

Yes! Skip the tortilla and layer the shawarma chicken over rice, greens, or grains with your go-to toppings and sauce.

Chicken shawarma taco topped with shirazi salad.

More Taco-Inspired Recipes

Need more ways to satisfy your taco cravings? We have you covered with these incredibly simple recipes!

Chicken shawarma tacos topped with shirazi salad and tahini sauce.

the Ayyem kitchenServings: 8 servings

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Marinade Time: 12 hrs
Total: 12 hrs 55 mins

Combine two of your go-to meals into one tasty dish with these simple baked chicken shawarma tacos topped with shirazi salad and tahini! Email

Ingredients

2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon coriander
2 teaspoons salt to taste
1 teaspoon black pepper to taste
3/4 cup yogurt
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
Juice of 1/2 lemon or 3 tablespoons
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves
4 large chicken breasts

For Serving:

Hard shell tacos
1/4 Parmesan cheese

For Topping:

Shirazi salad
Tahina sauce

Instructions

In a bowl, mix together smoked paprika, cumin, onion powder, coriander, salt, black pepper, yogurt, tomato paste, lemon juice, olive oil, and minced garlic cloves.2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon coriander, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 3/4 cup yogurt, 3 Tablespoons tomato paste, Juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 garlic cloves
Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish, and coat it evenly with the marinade mixture. Marinate overnight.4 large chicken breasts
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until cooked through.
Once cooked, remove the chicken from the oven, and use a hand mixer to shred it.
Arrange hard shell tacos in a baking dish.Hard shell tacos
Fill each taco with the shredded chicken mixture, and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese over the top.1/4 Parmesan cheese
Bake the tacos for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tacos are heated through.
Remove the tacos from the oven, and top them with Shirazi salad and Tahina sauce before serving.Shirazi salad, Tahina sauce