Easy Pita Pocket with Chicken Shawarma

These straightforward pita pockets are loaded with juicy rooster shawarma, crisp veggies, and creamy garlic yogurt sauce. Good for a fast weeknight dinner or meal prep for the week.

There’s one thing a few stuffed pita pocket that simply hits totally different. Possibly it’s the mix of heat, fluffy bread, juicy, spiced rooster, and creamy garlic yogurt sauce. Or perhaps it’s the truth that you’ll be able to maintain all that deliciousness in a single hand—no fork required!

This rooster shawarma pita pocket is all the pieces I really like about my rooster shawarma bowls, simply in a extra moveable (and enjoyable) type. It’s good for meal prep, nice for on-the-go lunches, and filled with daring flavors that make each chunk thrilling.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Massive taste, minimal effort – The rooster marinates in a heat, spiced mix that offers you most taste with little or no hands-on time.
Pita pockets = no mess – Not like a burrito or wrap, pita holds all the pieces inside, so that you get all of the toppings in each chunk (with out them spilling out).
Nice for meal prep – Make a batch of rooster shawarma forward of time, and also you’ll have straightforward lunches and dinners all week.
Completely customizable – Load it up together with your favourite toppings! Love pickled onions? Additional tahini? Extra recent herbs? Go for it.

Elements Wanted

You solely want a handful of recent substances and daring spices to make these pita pockets filled with juicy, flavorful rooster shawarma. Right here’s what you’ll want:

rooster thighs – boneless, skinless rooster thighs keep tender and juicy when marinated and baked.
lemon juice & olive oil – brilliant acidity and wholesome fat assist tenderize the rooster whereas including taste.
shawarma spices – a aromatic mix of cumin, coriander, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, paprika, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
pita bread – use smooth, recent pita for the most effective texture. Heat it up barely earlier than filling!
recent toppings – lettuce, tomatoes, purple onion, kalamata olives, and pickles or pickled turnips deliver a mixture of crunch, tang, and freshness.
tahini dressing & garlic yogurt sauce – these two sauces add creaminess and stability to the pita pocket. The tahini dressing has a wealthy ingredient, whereas the garlic yogurt sauce retains issues cool and creamy.
recent herbs – chopped parsley or cilantro provides a burst of freshness.

Substitutions & Variations

I really like how customizable these pita pockets are! Listed below are some straightforward swaps to suit your preferences or what you’ve gotten available:

Spice stage: Need it milder? Skip the cayenne. Choose extra warmth? Add a drizzle of harissa sauce or diced jalapeño.
Need a vegetarian possibility? Swap the rooster for crispy air fryer tofu or roasted chickpeas for a plant-based take.
Pita options: For those who don’t have pita, strive serving the shawarma filling in naan, lavash, and even lettuce wraps for a lower-carb possibility.
Additional creamy? For those who love a saucy pita, add a bit of hummus or tzatziki inside earlier than layering the fillings.

The best way to Make

These yummy rooster shawarma pita pockets come collectively in just some straightforward steps. Right here’s the best way to make them

Step 1: Whisk collectively the lemon juice, oil, and spices. Add the rooster and marinate within the fridge for at the very least 4 hours, ideally in a single day.

Step 2: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the marinated rooster on a baking pan (discard extra marinade) and bake for 25–half-hour, or till totally cooked. Let relaxation, then slice thinly and toss with the juices within the pan.

Step 3: Whereas the rooster bakes, combine collectively the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, tahini, salt, and pepper till easy. Style and regulate seasoning as wanted.

Step 4: Heat the pitas, unfold the yogurt sauce inside, then layer within the sliced rooster, lettuce, tomatoes, purple onion, olives, and pickles. Drizzle with tahini dressing and sprinkle with recent herbs. Get pleasure from!

Brittany’s Suggestions

Marinate for max taste: Letting the rooster sit within the marinade for at the very least 4 hours (or in a single day!) makes an enormous distinction. The longer it marinates, the extra flavorful and juicy it’ll be.
Toast the pita: Frivolously warming the pita in a skillet, oven, or microwave makes it smooth and pliable, stopping cracks whenever you stuff it. Plus, a bit of crispiness takes it to the subsequent stage!
Slice the rooster skinny: The thinner you slice the rooster, the simpler it’s to stuff into the pita and get a bit of of all the pieces in every chunk.

The best way to Serve

With crispy potatoes – You’ll be able to’t go improper pairing these with smashed potatoes or baked candy potato fries. The proper stability of crispy, savory, and satisfying!
With a recent salad – I really like serving these alongside Shirazi salad, Greek salad, or a simple quinoa salad for one thing recent.
As a part of a mezze platter – Skip stuffing the pita and serve all the pieces deconstructed with heat pita on the facet. Add some olives, feta, and further sauces (like my hummus) for the final word DIY state of affairs.
With a comfortable bowl of soup – A heat bowl of lentil soup or tomato basil soup would spherical this out right into a comforting meal.

The best way to Retailer & Prep in Advance

Pita pockets are nice for meal prep, however a couple of easy methods will maintain all the pieces recent:

Freeze the rooster – If you wish to prep additional upfront, the cooked rooster may be frozen for as much as 3 months. Let it thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat when prepared to make use of.

Make the rooster forward of time – The rooster shawarma may be cooked as much as 4 days upfront and saved in an hermetic container within the fridge. Simply reheat in a skillet or microwave earlier than assembling your pita pockets.

Prep the toppings – Chop the veggies, slice the pickles, and make the garlic yogurt sauce upfront. Retailer every ingredient individually in hermetic containers within the fridge for simple meeting.

Retailer assembled pita pockets fastidiously – For those who’re meal prepping, retailer the pita, rooster, and veggies individually to stop sogginess. Assemble proper earlier than consuming or wrap every pita tightly in foil or parchment paper for grab-and-go meals.

Often Requested Questions

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Completely! Swap the rooster shawarma for crispy air fryer tofu or roasted chickpeas for a plant-based model.

What’s the easiest way to maintain pita pockets from falling aside?

In case your pita bread is dry, heat it barely within the oven or microwave to make it extra pliable. You may as well wrap the underside in parchment paper or foil to carry all the pieces collectively.

What’s the easiest way to reheat the rooster?

Reheat the rooster shawarma in a sizzling skillet for a couple of minutes or microwave it briefly bursts till warmed by way of. A splash of water or broth may help stop it from drying out.

Can I eat this pita pocket chilly?

Sure! The flavors are simply pretty much as good chilled, making it a fantastic meal prep lunch. Simply retailer the sauce individually and drizzle it on when able to eat.