Crockpot Chicken Shawarma

Introduction

Crockpot Chicken Shawarma brings all the exotic, spiced flavors of traditional Middle Eastern cuisine straight to your home, with the unbeatable convenience of slow cooker magic. This set-it-and-forget-it recipe is a game changer—delivering juicy, ultra-flavorful chicken with minimal prep, making it a fantastic option for busy weeknights and easy meal prep.

Why Crockpot Chicken Shawarma is a Flavor-Packed Favorite

This dish stands out because of its bold blend of garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and warm spices that infuse the chicken during hours of gentle slow cooking. The result? Tender, aromatic chicken that pairs perfectly with pita, rice bowls, or salads. It’s not just easy—it’s reliable, fuss-free, and a total crowd pleaser that’s guaranteed to disappear fast.

Building Signature Shawarma Spice Flavor

Authentic flavor is built on a foundation of spices: paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and a hint of cayenne. Mixing these with fresh garlic and lemon juice creates a marinade that penetrates deeply as the chicken simmers in your crockpot. The slow cooking process allows every morsel to soak up the robust seasonings, resulting in a dish bursting with flavor in every bite.

Layering and Slow Cooking for Maximum Tenderness

To assemble, simply layer sliced onion and chicken thighs in your slow cooker, pour the marinade over, and let it work its magic. The chicken becomes irresistibly tender—easily shredded with a fork—while the onions caramelize and lend a subtle sweetness to every serving.

Serving Suggestions for Show-Stopping Shawarma

Serve your Crockpot Chicken Shawarma traditionally inside warm pita or flatbread, generously topped with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled onions, and a dollop of creamy yogurt or tahini sauce. Alternatively, spoon over a rice or quinoa bowl for a hearty, nutritious meal. Fresh parsley or cilantro finishes the dish beautifully.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 6 servings, each around 250–300 calories (excluding bread or sides). The chicken is high in protein and, thanks to the slow cooker method, requires little to no added fat during cooking—a flavorful, nutritious option for family or meal prep.

Crockpot Chicken Shawarma Recap

Infused with bold spices and melt-in-your-mouth texture, this Crockpot Chicken Shawarma is a versatile meal that’s endlessly customizable and sure to become a staple in your meal rotation. Simplicity, flavor, and hands-off cooking make it an unbeatable choice.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create a categorized shopping list with every ingredient sorted by store section—making grocery trips and weekly meal planning effortless.

Instructions

1. In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne (if using), salt, black pepper, and lemon juice.
2. Arrange sliced onions in the bottom of the crockpot. Lay chicken thighs on top.
3. Pour spice marinade evenly over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated. Toss gently with tongs, if needed.
4. Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until chicken is tender and easily shredded.
5. Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker and mix with the onions and juices.
6. Serve warm inside pita with desired toppings, or over rice, salad greens, or in bowls for easy meal prep.

Weekly Meal Planning

Crockpot Chicken Shawarma is tailor-made for weekly meal prep—cook once and enjoy flavorful lunches or dinners for days. Save and schedule this recipe to organize your week, generate streamlined ingredient lists, and time your slow cooker meals for maximum freshness.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically combines ingredient amounts across all your planned recipes
• Groups grocery items by store section, preventing backtracking at the store
• Eliminates duplicated shopping and forgotten ingredients
• Simplifies batch cooking and portioning for the week

Pro tip: When planning multiple slow cooker and weeknight recipes, schedule your meals in CookifyAI to catch overlapping ingredients—saving you time and cutting needless food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6–7 hours on LOW (or 3–4 hours on HIGH)
Total Time: 7 hours (hands-off, perfect for busy days!)

Enjoy the vibrant flavors and simplicity of Crockpot Chicken Shawarma in your next meal rotation!