Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma
on May 16, 2025
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A simple recipe that can be the base of so many delicious meals, this Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma will the new favorite family meal.
Table of Contents
What Makes This Recipe Great
Craving the vibrant flavors of chicken shawarma but don’t have hours to marinate and roast? Look no further! This Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma recipe is your secret weapon for achieving incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful shawarma in a fraction of the time. Say goodbye to takeout and hello to a homemade delight that will tantalize your taste buds.
This recipe uses simple pantry staples and your trusty Instant Pot to create a dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights, meal prepping, or even a fun weekend feast. Get ready to experience the magic of perfectly spiced chicken that shreds effortlessly and tastes absolutely divine.
Ingredient List
- Chicken Thighs– any mix of thighs and breast will work
- Chicken Breasts
- Cumin
- Paprika– feel free to be flexible with the amount for the spices, make it just how you like it
- Turmeric
- Granulated Garlic
- Ground Allspice
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cinnamon– the cinnamon adds a warmth and
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
- Chicken Broth– any broth will work in this recipe
Pro Tip
Lettuce Wraps= Lettuce , cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions and tahini sauce chop and prep all the veggies at the beginning of the week and assemble when you are ready to eat.
Bowl= Prep the rice and let it cool before you make the individually bowls adding lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, chopped red onions and tahini sauce.
Wrap= Naan/pita, lettuce, cucumbers, chopped tomatoes, red onion and tahini sauce. Leave everything off the bread until you are ready to eat, or it will get soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fill the instant pot with chicken?
- Ensure the chicken is in a single layer for even cooking. If you have a lot of chicken, cook it in batches.
Chicken for Every Day of the Week
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Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma
Ingredients
- 1 – 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 – 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup chicken broth or stock
Instructions
- Slice chicken breasts and thighs into strips and place into your instant pot.
- In a small bowl combine all of spices (cumin – cinnamon).
- Pour the spice mix over the chicken with a pinch of salt and some pepper.
- Mix it all together so the spices evenly coat the chicken. Add chicken broth to the pot and secure the lid.
- Place it on the poultry setting and get the time to 15 minutes.
- Once the time is up let it depressurize on its own for 10 minutes then turn the steam release to venting until all the pressure is released.
- Serve with veggies or on sweet potato toast drizzled with tahini sauce.
Notes
- If making in a slow cooker, follow the same instructions and cook on low for 4 hours.
Hi Kelsey,
I am excited to try your recipe. But am wondering why granulated garlic instead of fresh? Hoping to avoid adding another jar to my overflowing spice drawer! Thanks!
You can use fresh! I just use garlic powder a lot because it is so much easier!
If I cook this in a different make of electric pressure cooker, instead of a poultry setting, should I use low pressure? 15 minutes at high pressure for chicken cut up seems too much. Thanks.
Ooo I am not sure about other pressure cookers! They are thighs so they can handle a little longer!
Made these tonight and they were AMAZING!!! My hubby and kids had two servings each and said that I could add this recipe to our bi weekly rotation of dinners. This recipe took a boring night of chicken and made it fabulous. Thank you for the amazing recipe!
Made this recipe last night on a whim to try something new. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!!! The whole family loved the chicken and asked for seconds and thirds. Thank you for a new recipe for our family.
That is awesome to hear!!
Loved it! Super easy. This will be a regular on the menu from now on.
Making this for the second time tonight! First time my husband was out of town and my niece and I are most of it. She begged me to send the leftovers back to the dorm with her. Can’t wait for my husband to try it too!
That’s great!!
Love love love this recipe! Tonight I put the chicken on some greens with green pepper and used the leftover broth as dressing and drizzled it with tahini and it was amazing!
Great to hear!
Quick and tasty. Definitely make the tahini sauce too. I’m kind of addicted now
I made the instapot chicken shawarma. Very tasty. My family loved it too.
Love when the family approves!!