Chicken Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern dish, originally served as a rotisserie-style street food.

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• Breads
• Sauces & Dips
• Salads
• Rice & Stew Dishes
• Fried Sides
• 📖 Recipe
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Whether you’re going all-out authentic and cooking it on a vertical skewer or taking it easy in the oven, your chicken shawarma is sure to be delicious!

Now you’ve decided on your main, you may be wondering what to serve with chicken shawarma. You’re going to be spoiled for choice – Let’s get cooking!

Breads

1. Homemade Pita Bread

So, what goes with chicken shawarma? This homemade pita bread will be some of the best you’ve ever had, and it’s so easy to make!

All you need is flour, water, a little milk, yeast, salt, and sugar. The dough comes together easily with minimal kneading, and you make these pitas in the oven (so you won’t have to worry about hot oil).

You can serve these pitas as a side or a starter, or use them to make mini chicken shawarma wraps. Yum!

2. Za'atar Bread - Lebanese Flat Bread

If you’re looking for something a little more flavorful and complex, za’atar bread is absolutely delicious and still pretty simple to make.

This bread is crispy and flakey with a soft and chewy center, and is topped by delicious seasoning!

Za’atar seasoning can vary slightly based on region of origin but is generally comprised of thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, oregano, and sea salt.

You can find it at a local food store or easily online if you don’t want to make your own. This recipe combines the seasoning with lemon juice and olive oil, making it stick well to the bread and giving it a boost of distinct Mediterranean flavor.

3. Indian Flatbread Recipe - Parotta Bread

If you’re after a buttery, flaky flatbread that goes so well with chicken shawarma, check out this parotta recipe!

It only has four ingredients: flour, water, salt, and ghee (or butter), and it only takes thirty minutes to come together (including rising time!).

The cooking method is a little more involved as you make it in a hot pan and will need to flip the dough, but the payoff is steaming hot, fresh parotta dripping with melted butter.

4. Trader Joe's Copycat Cornbread Mix

When it comes to what to eat with chicken shawarma, you can’t go wrong with this cornbread recipe!

The sweetness and butteriness of this copycat cornbread pairs perfectly with chicken shawarma.

You can whip this up in the oven in a baking dish, or even in a cast iron skillet! I like adding frozen corn kernels for an extra pop of texture, then serving this bread with a generous smear of softened butter or margarine.

Sauces & Dips

5. Tahini Sauce

Tahini sauce is commonly served alongside shawarma, either for dipping or in a wrap.

It’s so simple for how delicious it is, with only five ingredients (tahini, water, lemon juice, salt, and garlic). It’s light and naturally dairy-free!

If you do not want to slather your shawarma with this tahini sauce (which I absolutely recommend), try serving it as an appetizer (or meat-free option) with falafel balls instead!

6. Mint Yogurt Sauce

This mint yogurt sauce is cool, tangy, and refreshing – meaning it pairs perfectly with savory and hearty chicken shawarma!

Plus, all you need to do is mix mint leaves, salt, and garlic powder into Greek yogurt (or labneh). It doesn’t get much easier than that!

If you want to really upgrade this dish, try adding cucumber or cherry tomatoes for an extra pop of color and freshness.

7. Hummus

What sauce goes with chicken shawarma? No list of Mediterranean dips could be complete without hummus!

This creamy, flavorful, and protein-packed delicacy is an absolute staple with so many meals.

When I’m serving it with shawarma, I like to use it as an appetizer alongside pita bread, pita chips, or fresh veggies. However, it’s also great smeared on the inside of a chicken wrap!

8. Baba Ganoush

Baba Ganoush is a Lebanese dip made from smoked eggplants. It’s just so smooth and creamy, while still being vegetable-based. This makes it super nutritious as well!

This baba ganoush recipe uses tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and olive oil to highlight the delicious aubergine flavor.

I also sometimes add paprika, black pepper, or red chili flakes if I’m looking for an extra kick.

This sauce is amazing in shawarma wraps, but if you’re serving it as a dipping sauce, try adding coriander, toasted pine nuts, or za’atar for an extra yummy, crunchy, and perfectly presented side!

9. Toum

Toum is pretty much Middle Eastern mayonnaise, but it doesn’t use egg or the dairy found in many creamy sauces – making it accidentally vegan!

Of course, this doesn’t matter too much when serving it with chicken shawarma, but it’s still good to know for other meals or if you’re looking to provide a meat-free option at your event.

Instead of animal products, this simple sauce uses canola oil (or another neutral vegetable oil), lemon, salt, and garlic. These ingredients are then processed until they reach a whipped and buttery final phase.

I’d recommend serving toum in shawarma rather than as a side, as it’s a little rich for straight dipping. It’s completely up to you though, of course!

10. Labneh

This Labneh recipe can also be used as the base for the mint yogurt sauce if you’re wanting it extra thick and creamy!

All you need to do to make labneh is to strain and salt whole milk yogurt through a cheesecloth.

This recipe doesn’t take many ingredients or a lot of active effort, but it does take some time.

For the best results, you’ll want to leave it to drain naturally for up to 36 hours to let as much excess liquid remove itself as possible.

Salads

11. Fattoush

This light salad is great alongside shawarma, and keeps the Mediterranean vibes going!

It’s a pretty simple side and only requires lettuce, tomato, cucumber, parsley, and scallions (as well as dressing).

However, the real magic in this salad comes from the crunchy pita chip topping. It’s so quick (like thirty seconds quick) to make fried pita chips, and they act as the perfect crouton-like addition to this dish.

12. Tabbouleh salad

If you’re after something a little more satisfying, tabbouleh is the clear choice.

By combining bulgur with tomatoes, scallions, and seasonings, you’re sure to have the perfect side (or even filling) for your shawarma!

13. Couscous Salad

This is another great grain-based salad recipe.

It has simple but delicate flavors, which complement chicken shawarma so well! If I’m serving this recipe as a side rather than a wrap filling, I sometimes use pearl couscous for a bigger and more satisfying bite.

14. Sumac Onions

What vegetables go with chicken shawarma? These onions are so quick and simple, but they really show that you’ve gone the extra mile to round out your meal!

They only take about five minutes (plus chopping time), and really, they’re just seasoned red onions. Nonetheless, sumac onions are a perfectly colorful and flavorful shawarma addition.

Rice & Stew Dishes

15. Vermicelli Rice

What is best paired with chicken shawarma when it comes to carbs?

This Lebanese vermicelli rice recipe goes amazingly with chicken shawarma, especially if you’re not serving it alongside bread or in a wrap (although I’d never discourage doubling up on the carbs!).

In this case, you’d technically be tripling up, as it combines long grain rice with pan-fried noodles, along with butter, and a little salt and parsley for topping.

16. Mujaddara

This lentil stew is a cold-weather favorite, although it’s just as amazing any time of year!

It’s so healthy, hearty, and easy, with just a handful of ingredients and very little prep and cooking active time required.

It’s great as an addition to shawarma, especially with a flatbread on the side. I like to top this stew with a dollop of yogurt or labneh to add a creamy aspect, as well as an appealing garnish.

Fried Sides

17. Halloumi Fries

If you’re really wanting to go all out, it could hardly get better than these halloumi fries!

They’re breaded, gooey, and the perfect snack to munch on while you’re waiting for your shawarma (or to serve with it to round out the plate).

This recipe includes an air fryer option as well if you want to make things even quicker and easier.

18. Parmesan Truffle Fries

Nothing says fancy quite like parm and truffles. These hand-cut potato fries are elevated by those decadent flavors, and you’re sure to be addicted instantly!

19. Lebanese Spicy Potatoes (Batata Harra)

You can still get your potatoes in even if you’re trying to keep things super authentic!

This traditional recipe flavors roast potatoes with garlic, cilantro, lemon, pepper, parsley, and olive oil for a flavorful and filling side dish. You can serve them warm or as a chilled potato salad.

20. Fried Potatoes and Onions

These country-fried potatoes are always a favorite! They’re crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, with caramelized onion goodness infusing the whole dish with unforgettable flavor.

📖 Recipe