Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma Thighs: Air Fryer Recipe
If you're looking for a quick, flavorful, and hassle-free meal, try this Air Fryer Trader Joe's Shawarma Chicken Thighs recipe. With marinated chicken from Trader Joe's and an air fryer, you can have a mouthwatering Middle Eastern-inspired dish on your plate in just 20 minutes. Whether you're a novice cook or a seasoned pro, this recipe is sure to become a weeknight favorite that checks all the boxes for ease, taste, and satisfaction!
Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma Thighs: Air Fryer Recipe
Why I Love This Recipe
The marinating has already been done for you. One of the best things about this recipe is that the shawarma spice marinade has already been taken care of. The flavorful blend of Middle Eastern spices has had time to infuse into the meat, ensuring a delicious and well-seasoned dish.
It's super flavorful with tons of Middle Eastern spices. If you're a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine, you'll love this dish's bold and aromatic flavors. The chicken shawarma thighs are packed with a variety of spices like cumin, paprika, turmeric, and garlic, creating a delicious and well-balanced flavor profile.
It's chicken thighs, and they are so delicious and juicy. Chicken thighs are a great choice for this recipe because they are inherently juicy and flavorful. Unlike chicken breasts, which can sometimes dry out when cooked, thighs stay moist and tender.
Great, easy protein add to any meal. If you're looking to incorporate more protein into your meals, these chicken shawarma thighs are a fantastic option. They are a great source of lean protein and can be served alongside a variety of sides to create a well-rounded and nutritious meal.
It's air-fried, making it low mess and low oil. Air frying is a great cooking method for those who want to enjoy crispy and flavorful food without the excess oil and mess of deep frying. Plus, cleanup is a breeze with just a sheet pan to wash.
Great lazy dinner that feels so fresh and flavorful. The beauty of this recipe is that it allows you to enjoy a delicious and flavorful meal with minimal effort.
Why I Like Air Frying the Chicken Shawarma
The air fryer helps create that crispy outer texture by keeping it juicy on the inside. One of the best things about air frying chicken shawarma is that it creates a perfectly crispy and golden outer layer while keeping the inside juicy and tender. The hot air in the air fryer helps cook the chicken evenly and promotes browning, resulting in a delicious and satisfying texture. You get the best of both worlds - a crispy exterior and a moist interior.
It's easy to clean with just the sheet pan. Unlike traditional frying methods that can leave behind a greasy mess, air frying is a breeze to clean up. All you need to do is remove the basket or tray from the air fryer, wash it with warm, soapy water, and you're done.
Great for novice cooks. If you're new to cooking, air-frying chicken shawarma is a fantastic way to start. Just spray the chicken with avocado oil, place it in the air fryer basket, set the temperature and time, and let the air fryer handle the rest!
Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma Ingredients
Chicken shawarma: This can be found in Trader Joe’s refrigerated meats section. There's an array of meats to choose from. It’s been sitting in the juices for a while so it’s really nice and flavorful.
Rice: If you’re in a pinch, grab the Trader Joe's frozen basmati rice. If you want to make your own rice, use my recipe here.
Tzatziki: Yogurt is the perfect sauce to pair with this. Trader Joe’s sells a tzatziki you could grab. If you want to make your own, just mix together plain yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and dill.
Fresh vegetables: You can pair this with anything you want. You can roast veggies, cut some fresh veggies, or pair it with a side salad. I used my Shirazi salad recipe here.
What to Serve with the Chicken Shawarma
Tzatziki
Hummus
Tahini
Creamy garlic sauce
Yogurt sauce
On a pita
Over a Greek salad
With cherry tomatoes and cucumber
Over rice
What I Served With the Chicken Shawarma
Trader Joe’s frozen Basmati Rice: Just place 1 packet into the microwave for 3 minutes to cook. You end up with the most perfectly fluffy rice. Careful when opening it, though, it’s really hot
Trader Joe’s Tzatziki creamy garlic cucumber dip is the perfect pairing for the well-spiced shawarma!
Salad Shirazi: This is a traditional Middle Eastern salad that's made with cucumbers, tomato, and onion. I have a recipe for it up on my Substack here.
How to Make Air Fryer Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma
Remove the Trader Joe’s chicken shawarma from the packaging.
Spray an air fryer with avocado or olive oil spray.
Place the chicken in an even, single layer in the air fry basket.
Cook at 400F for 18-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
Tips
The chicken shawarma lets off a lot of juice while cooking. So, if you want your chicken extra juicy, save that juice! Once you slice the chicken, pour the juice on top!
Fresh herbs always elevate a semi-homemade dish. Add some fresh parsley to the top for a lovely flavor.
It’s best to check whether the meat is done with a thermometer! Stick it into the thickest part of the meat and make sure it has reached 165F.
You can stock up on this chicken shawarma & put it in the freezer. When you are ready to enjoy it, just thaw it in the fridge overnight and stick it in the air fryer!
FAQ
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The ingredients in Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma include boneless, skinless chicken thighs, spices, herbs, and seasoning. The shawarma is typically marinated in a blend of dry spices, including onion, garlic, sea salt, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and parsley.
My Air Fryer Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma recipe calls for chicken shawarma from Trader Joe's, rice, tzatziki, and fresh vegetables for a complete and delicious meal.
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Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma pairs well with a variety of sides, like tzatziki, hummus, tahini sauce, pita bread, Greek salad, or rice.
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To cook air fryer Chicken Shawarma, preheat the air fryer to 400F. Remove the chicken from the packaging and spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil. Place the chicken thighs in an even layer in the basket for a cooking time of 18-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 Fahrenheit.
Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Shawarma Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 package of Trader Joe’s chicken shawarma thighs
- Avocado oil spray
Instructions
- Remove the Trader Joe’s chicken shawarma from the packaging.
- Spray an air fryer with avocado oil spray.
- Place the chicken in an even layer in the air fry basket.
- Cook at 400F for 18-20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
Notes
- All air fryers are slightly different. So it is best to check it after 15 minutes to see if it is cooked through. I like using a thermometer to check. Just pop it into the thickest part of the chicken and make sure it reads 165F or higher.
- Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, just heat in the microwave for 60 seconds or in the air fryer at 350 for 2-3 minutes.
Hey, I’m Jazz
I’m a nutritional therapist practitioner and spent 3 years as a personal chef to NBA athletes. Follow along for easy, attainable and healthy recipes in under 30 minutes!
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