
A recipe for a great keto chicken shawarma/chicken kebab is a good one to have. And, this recipe my friends is a keeper. Super easy, little mess and tastes amaze balls!
The Ingredients
Let’s keep this recipe super simple. I use chicken thighs. They are juicier and a little fattier than breast meat. I love how they bake or fry and they add so much flavour to your chicken kebab. Get them with skin on or skin off.
As for the spices, while I have my basics, you can add any spices you prefer, with or without garlic and chilli. I use cumin, coriander, cayenne, smoked paprika, garlic and thyme. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and olive oil round out the keto chicken kebab meat ingredients.
I have also included a very simple keto garlic yoghurt kebab sauce recipe. This is the sauce I have from a shop-bought kebab bowl if I have takeaway.
I also team this with our very delicious Keto Tabbouleh Salad.

How To Make It
I like to mix the kebab marinade ingredients in a non-reactive bowl. A non-reactive bowl is one not made of any metal that will oxidise with lemon. I marinate just for 30 minutes but you can marinate overnight if this is easier for you. Alternative miss the marinating if you wish. It may impart less of the spices to your chicken kebab but I am sure all the flavours together will still be great.
For your convenience I have added 3 methods of cooking, but you can even do more. (e.g. grill, barbecue, spit etc).
A chicken kebab can be bake, grilled, fried or barbecued. After marinating pick your favourite way. I prefer to cook whole fillets then slice the meat.
For a great chicken kebab in the Thermomix® you can coot it on the Sizzle function on the TM6. After marinating the chicken should be sliced then sautéed. Alternatively the chicken can also be threaded onto a metal skewer and steamed in the Varoma basket. Simply fill the mixer bowl with 1000ml of water and steam 14-15 min/Varoma/speed 3.
I have also included a quick sauté option using an Instant Pot (Ninja Foodie or similar multicooker). Seeing we have these appliances at home we may as well use them. While I did only include one way to cook it in the Instant Pot here are some alternatives.

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How To Make Keto Chicken Shawarma
Add the marinated chicken to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours. Shred or slice and serve as suggested.
To cook our keto chicken shawarma in the Instant Pot or Ninja under pressure simply;
Add the marinated chicken to the Instant Pot. Set to Pressure Cook; 8minutes and let natural release. Shred or slice and serve as suggested. (Or to brown off the chicken transfer to an oiled hot skillet and brown chicken.
And air fry just for good measure
- Preheat the air fryer to 170°C.
- Add chicken to the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 14-15 mins, turning after 10 minutes.

More Recipes To Try
Chicken dinners are so popular. With chicken being so versatile it is amazing what we can come up with. Here are just a few of my favourite keto chicken recipes.
- Low Carb Keto Butter Chicken
- Crispy Keto Chicken Wings
- Keto Chicken Milanese
- Za’atar Creamy Chicken Carbonara
- Chicken Alfredo Keto Pizza


Keto Chicken Shawarma (Chicken Kebab)
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Ingredients
- 400 g (14 oz) chicken thigh fillets See Note 1
MARINADE
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) olive oil
- Zest and juice of half a lemon
- 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) smoked paprika See Note 2
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon (1/4-1/2 teaspoon) cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 teaspoon) ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 teaspoon) ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 teaspoon) thyme leaves I just use dried thyme
- 2 cloves (2 cloves) garlic minced
- Pinch (Pinch) salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) chopped fresh parsley
GARLIC YOGHURT KEBAB SAUCE
- 1 clove (1 clove) garlic
- 200 g (7 oz) Greek yoghurt See Note 3
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) lemon juice (20g)
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) fresh dill finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
CONVENTIONAL METHOD
- Combine marinade ingredients in a large non-reactive bowl. Add chicken thigh fillets and marinate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 220°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
- Bake seasoned chicken 30-40 minutes, turning half way. Chicken should be browned with some crispy edges when completely cooked. Remove from oven and reserve.
- For Garlic Sauce; Finely mince garlic and place in small bowl. Add remaining ingredients seasoning to taste.
- Slice chicken into strips and serve on wraps with tabbouleh, garlic sauce and any chilli sauce.
THERMAL METHOD
- Place all marinade ingredients into mixer bowl. Mix 3 sec/speed 5. Transfer to a large non-reactive bowl. Add chicken thigh fillets and marinate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 220°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
- Bake seasoned chicken 30-40 minutes, turning half way. Chicken should be browned with some crispy edges when completely cooked. Remove from oven and reserve.
- For Garlic Sauce; Add garlic to mixer bowl and chop 3 sec/speed 7. Scrape and repeat if needed. Add remaining ingredients seasoning to taste and mix 10 sec/speed 4. Scrape and repeat. Transfer to small bowl.
- Slice chicken into strips and serve on wraps with tabbouleh, garlic sauce and any chilli sauce.
INSTANT POT METHOD
- Combine marinade ingredients in a large non-reactive bowl. Add chicken thigh fillets and marinate for 2 hours.
- Set pot to Sauté. Slice or sauté chicken fillets until browned with some crispy edges.
- While chicken is cooking make the Garlic Sauce. Finely mince garlic and place in small bowl. Add remaining ingredients seasoning to taste.
- Slice chicken into strips and serve on wraps with tabbouleh, garlic sauce and any chilli sauce.
Notes
- Chicken thigh fillets can be skin on or skin off. Alternatively chicken breast, white fish fillets, prawns, or beef could be used.
- Smoked paprika can be substituted with sweet paprika, Hungarian paprika, or any spice of preference.
- For a dairy-free chicken kebab use coconut yoghurt instead of Greek yoghurt.
- The Chicken Shawarma can be marinated overnight or up to 2 days before cooking. Once cooked consume within 3 days. It is great served hot or cold.
- Nutritional provided is just for the chicken and yoghurt sauce.
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
6 responses to “Keto Chicken Shawarma”
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Hi.
What wraps did you use in the picture?Many thanks
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I used my tortillas. You can get the recipe here. They are so good! https://madcreationshub.com/recipe/lchf-tortillas/
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This recipe sounds amazing. However, the INSTANT POT METHOD is missing the complete cooking instructions for the chicken.
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I will have a look and amend. Thanks Barbara
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AMAZING recipe!!!!!! I made the keto cauliflower wraps to go with this and it was a huge hit. My husband and I absolutely loved it!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
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Always good when you get the hubsters seal of approval lol. Glad you enjoyed it Kristine and thanks for coming back to leave a review too.
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