Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad

If your brain is saying “salad” but your heart is screaming “something crunchy and exciting,” Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad is about to become your new weeknight crush. It’s got warm, spiced chicken, cool veggies, that ridiculously satisfying crispy rice situation, and a creamy tahini-lemon dressing that tastes like it should have its own fan club.

This is one of those meals that looks fancy (hello, meal-prep queen energy) but is secretly super doable—even if your day has already included 73 emails, a picky eater, and a missing left shoe.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad

• Big flavor, minimal drama: Shawarma-style spices do the heavy lifting.
• Crunchy + fresh = perfect balance: Crispy rice meets juicy tomatoes and cucumber.
• Great for meal prep: Everything holds up well (and tastes even better the next day).
• One bowl = a whole vibe: It’s hearty enough to count as dinner, not “sad desk salad.”

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Chicken Shawarma

• 1 lb chicken thighs or breasts
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp turmeric
• Salt & pepper to taste

For the Crispy Rice Salad Base

• 2 cups cooked rice (cooled)
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• ½ red onion, sliced
• Fresh parsley or cilantro

For the Tahini Lemon Dressing

• ¼ cup tahini
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Water to thin dressing

Optional but fun: chopped pickles, pickled onions, or a few olives for extra tang.

How to Make Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad

1) Marinate the Chicken (aka: flavor therapy)

In a bowl, mix:

• olive oil
• cumin
• paprika
• garlic powder
• turmeric
• salt & pepper

Coat the chicken well and let it marinate for 30 minutes.

Real-life note: If you only have 10 minutes, do 10 minutes. We’re cooking for life, not a cooking show judge.

2) Cook the Chicken

Grill or pan-sear the chicken until fully cooked through.

• If using a skillet: medium-high heat, a little oil, and cook until browned and done.
• Let it rest 5 minutes, then slice.

That rest time matters—it keeps the chicken juicy instead of “why is my chicken dry again” sad.

3) Crisp the Rice (the star move)

You’ve got two great options:

Skillet method (crispiest edges):

• Heat a skillet with 1 tbsp oil
• Add cooled cooked rice
• Press it down and let it cook until golden and crunchy
• Flip/stir and crisp more

Air fryer method (hands-off magic):

• Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes
• Shake halfway through if you remember (if not, it’ll still be fine)

The goal: crunchy little rice bits that make you want to “taste test” 47 times. (No judgment. I’m usually right there with you.)

4) Prep the Veggies

Dice the cucumber, chop the tomatoes, slice the red onion, and chop your herbs.

Quick tip: If raw onion feels too strong, soak slices in cold water for 10 minutes. It softens that “I will haunt your breath” energy.

5) Make the Tahini Dressing

Whisk together:

• tahini
• lemon juice
• minced garlic
• olive oil

Then add water a little at a time until it’s creamy and drizzle-able.

Chill it for 15 minutes if you can. The flavor settles in and turns extra dreamy.

Tiny warning: Tahini can thicken and look weird for a second when lemon hits it. Don’t panic—it’s normal. Just whisk and add water. It’ll smooth out like magic.

6) Assemble the Salad

In a big bowl (or your prettiest serving platter if you’re feeling fancy):

1. Layer the crispy rice
2. Add sliced shawarma chicken
3. Pile on cucumber, tomatoes, onion
4. Sprinkle parsley or cilantro
5. Drizzle with tahini dressing
6. Optional garnish: pickles (highly recommended)

Now take a bite and enjoy the crunch-sizzle-fresh combo like the dinner genius you are.

My Little Story With This Salad

The first time I made Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad, I was trying to “use up leftovers” and accidentally created a meal that my family asked for again two days later. That never happens with leftovers in my house. Usually leftovers sit in the fridge like a science project until someone throws them away with guilt.

But this? The crispy rice pulled everyone in. Even the “I don’t like salad” crowd. And honestly, I get it—this doesn’t feel like salad punishment. It feels like flavor.

Tips & Tricks (So It Turns Out Perfect)

• Use cooled rice: Fresh hot rice won’t crisp well. Leftover rice is perfect here.
• Chicken thighs = extra juicy: Breasts work great too, just don’t overcook.
• Want more heat? Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the marinade.
• Make it extra tangy: Toss in chopped pickles or a spoon of pickled onion.
• Meal-prep strategy: Store crispy rice separately so it stays crunchy.

And if your rice isn’t perfectly crispy? Still delicious. Let’s not make dinner harder than it has to be.

FAQs About Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad

A Bowl You’ll Actually Crave Tomorrow

This Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad is the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together—even if your laundry says otherwise. It’s crunchy, fresh, cozy, and bold all at once, and it fits into real-life schedules without demanding a whole evening.

Make it once, and I promise you’ll start thinking, “Hmm… do I have leftover rice again?” just so you can make Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad on repeat. Happy cooking!

Keep the Chicken Magic Going

• If you loved the bold spices in this Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad, you’ll probably want to try Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma for busy-day flavor next—same cozy Middle Eastern vibes, even less effort.
• Want that creamy-tangy “drizzle everything” moment again? Make a side of Smashed Cucumber Salad for a cool, crunchy bite—it’s refreshing and plays so nicely with shawarma spices.
• If your favorite part was the crispy rice crunch, don’t miss Chicken Crispy Rice Salad with Peanut Dressing for another crunchy bowl—different dressing, same can’t-stop-eating texture.
• And if you’re in a full-on “bowl era” (same), this one’s a perfect follow-up: Mediterranean Chicken and Rice Bowl for an easy weeknight win.

If you make this recipe, I’d LOVE to hear how it went—please leave a quick review and tap your star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (be honest… but if you give it five stars, my spatula and I will do a happy dance).

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