Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowls

This middle eastern spiced Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl recipe is a healthy & delicious meal! Succulent air fried chicken marinated in a homemade shawarma spice mix, served with fresh salad, rice and hummus! You need to try this AMAZING recipe! Perfect for lunch, meal prep or even for dinner!

What is chicken shawarma

Chicken shawarma is chicken that has been marinated in the middle eastern, Lebanese shawarma spice mix. The chicken is most commonly grilled or added to a kebab rotisserie but this chicken shawarma rice bowl recipe works well in the air fryer too!

What do you serve with chicken shawarma

You can serve chicken shawarma with an array of accompanying dishes. I love to serve air fryer chicken shawarma in a rice bowl with hummus and salad. Shawarma is also often paired with garlic sauce as a flavourful creamy condiment. Here are some other popular ways to serve air fryer chicken shawarma:

• Wraps
• Sandwiches 
• Inside a pitta 
• Kebabs
• Meal prep salad bowls

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Where is chicken shawarma from

Chicken shawarma originates form the middle eastern country of Lebanon.

What is shawarma spice 

Shawarma spice is the foundation seasoning that brings together shawarma marinades. The aromatic dried spice blend can be used to marinate chicken, lamb, and even fish and vegetables. Shawarma spice can be purchased but I like to make my own as it so easy to do and can be used for other dishes when batch made in bulk. Essentially all you need to do is mix the following ground spices to create shawarma spice. (Get the FULL recipe including measurements + cooking instructions at the bottom of this page)

• Allspice
• Black pepper 
• Cinnamon 
• Cumin 
• Cardamon 
• Ginger 
• Chilli powder 
• Ground nutmeg 
• Ground coriander 

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Is chicken shawarma healthy

Full of protein and healthier when air fried or grilled / barbequed, chicken shawarma is defiantly a healthy addition to your meal! It can be even healthier when using lean chicken breast fillets rather than thighs to reduce the amount of saturated fat per serving.

How to marinate chicken shawarma

To marinate chicken with shawarma, add chicken thighs to a large bowl, pour over the fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and then mix. Once combined mix in shawarma dried spice until all the chicken pieces are fully coated in the marinade. At this stage you can marinate the chicken overnight for extra flavour or air fry straight away!

What temperature to cook chicken thighs in an air fryer

For tender juicy air fryer chicken thighs, I find they cook best at 170c / 340f.

How long to cook boneless chicken thighs in an air fryer

Boneless chicken thighs cook a lot quicker in the air fryer compared to when the bone is still inside the thigh. For the best results I like to air fry boneless chicken thighs for 18 minutes. If you unsure about whether chicken is cooked I highly recommend buying an affordable kitchen prob to confirm accurate internal temps of cooked food. The chicken should be 75c/167f or over in temperature once fully cooked. 

How to make air fryer chicken shawarma thighs 

Making chicken shawarma is quick and easy to do, once the chicken is marinated in the shawarma spice it’s placed into the air fryer basket to air fry until cooked! 

What is a rice bowl

A rice bowl is a combination of ingredients paired with rice, similar to a buddha bowl. They are usually great for lunch when topped with proteins, vegetables, hummus, sauces, seeds and salads. 

How to make a rice bowl

To assemble a chicken shawarma rice bowl spread spoonful’s of hummus at the base of the bowl, add rice to the other side of the bowl, then top with sliced pieces of chicken shawarma and salad. You can also add your favourite dressing on top too! Garlic yogurt & chilli sauce works quite well with the shawarma flavours.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN AIR FRYER

Air frying is such a great way of cooking food! The popular small counter top electric air fryer convection oven, mimics the process of “frying food” without having to deep fry in oil! Here are some of the top benefits of cooking with an air fryer;

• Healthier – Air frying is a much healthier alternative to deep or shallow frying food. Up to 80% less fat can be achieved in certain air fried meals by using this cooking method rather than frying conventionally in oil.
• Even cooking – Because the fan in an air fryer circulates at a high speed within a small space, food tends to crisp up quicker and cook evenly throughout. 
• Time efficient –  Although some air fryers have a pre heat setting, air fryers generally heat up very quickly. Due to their size, cook times are substantially lower compared to an oven, which can take up to 15 minutes to pre heat fully and come up to temperature.
• Easy to use – Using Air fryers is very easy and is a great kitchen tool for cooks that might not be as confident in the kitchen.
• Saves space – As air fryers are small and portable, they are great for people who may not have access to a fully functioning kitchen. For example a college student or someone who lives in a studio apartment where you may not have access to a full size oven. 
• Versatility – Air fryers are probably the most versatile kitchen gadgets available. Not only can you air fry food, you can also bake, grill, toast, steam and roast ingredients in the air fryer.

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