Levantine · Dinner

Chicken shawarma rice plates

Name: Chicken shawarma rice plates
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 2 h 10 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Levantine
Ingredients: 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided; 2 lemons, zested and juiced, divided; 6 garlic cloves, finely grated and divided; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 2 teaspoons ground coriander; 2 teaspoons sweet paprika; 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, divided; 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed; 2 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken stock; 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt; 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped; 1 English cucumber, chopped; 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced; 1 teaspoon ground sumac; 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Deeply spiced roast chicken thighs over turmeric rice with chopped tomato-cucumber salad and a lemony garlic-yogurt sauce.

About 2 hr 10 minTotal

About 1 hr 10 minActive

$$Cost

EasyDifficulty

Makes 6 servings

Equipment

A similarly sized 13 × 18-inch rimmed pan works; smaller pans make a thicker pizza.
Best starting point
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet · 43100
View at Amazon
Another workable path: A similarly sized 13 × 18-inch rimmed pan works; smaller pans make a thicker pizza.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We compared exact half-sheet geometry, uncoated material, reinforced construction, heat limit, care, stable model identity, and the exact Amazon destination. Manufacturer specifications establish model 43100 and its UPC, while America's Test Kitchen reports comparative cooking and handling results. Kwilt has not baked with this pan.
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet · 43100: Its 13-by-18-inch footprint gives this soft dough the intended thickness, and the uncoated aluminum supports browning on the oiled bottom. Trade-off: Hand washing is recommended, and acidic tomato left on uncoated aluminum can discolor or pit the surface over time.
Another workable path: Use another rimmed half sheet only if its outside dimensions are close to 13 by 18 inches. A smaller pan makes a thicker pizza and needs its own bake adjustment.
Sources
Nordic Ware product details
America's Test Kitchen result
Nordic Ware model and UPC registry
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 6 servings

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 lemons, zested and juiced, divided
6 garlic cloves, finely grated and divided
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
2 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 English cucumber, chopped
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon ground sumac
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil with half the lemon zest and juice, 4 garlic cloves, cumin, coriander, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, allspice, cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and pepper. Coat chicken and refrigerate 1 to 12 hours.
Arrange chicken on a . Roast at 450°F for 20 to 25 minutes to at least 175°F, then broil 1 to 3 minutes for char. Rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Meanwhile heat remaining oil in a saucepan, toast rice and remaining turmeric 2 minutes, add stock, cover, and simmer on low 15 minutes. Rest off heat 10 minutes, then fluff.
Stir yogurt with remaining garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss tomatoes, cucumber, onion, sumac, parsley, remaining lemon zest and juice, and remaining salt.
Divide rice among plates and add sliced chicken, chopped salad, and garlic yogurt. Spoon collected chicken juices over the meat rather than mixing them into the crisp salad.

LevantLevantine household and grill cooking

From the table

About this recipe

Shawarma traditionally cooks layered meat on a turning vertical spit; this home adaptation preserves the Levantine spice profile and crisp-edged sliced thigh texture through hot roasting and a brief broiler finish.

Traditional shawarma cooks stacked meat on a vertical spit. A home oven cannot reproduce that machinery, so this is honestly a shawarma-spiced plate: marinated thighs, high heat, and a brief broil create concentrated edges while rice, salad, and sauce make a familiar complete dinner. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Follow the exceptional 584-vote flavor pattern while naming the home limitation honestly, then turn it into the familiar rice-plate format the roster promises.

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