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What to Serve With Shawarma Chicken Thighs: 15 Best Side Dishes

When serving shawarma chicken thighs, pairing them with delightful side dishes can elevate the entire meal. Homemade pita bread and zaatar bread are perfect for sopping up rich flavors. Parotta bread offers a distinctive flaky texture, while Trader Joe's cornbread mix provides a quick, tasty option. Drizzle tahini sauce for a nutritious touch. Round out the meal with fresh tabbouleh salad or a light couscous salad. Sumac onions add a tangy twist, and vermicelli rice enhances the flavor profile. Explore these options to bring a flavorful and satisfying touch to your shawarma feast!

Homemade Pita Bread

freshly baked pita bread

Homemade pita bread is a traditional Middle Eastern flatbread known for its soft and chewy texture. It serves as an ideal companion to shawarma chicken thighs. Made with simple ingredients like flour, water, yeast, salt, and a bit of olive oil, this fresh bread enhances the dining experience.

Its versatility also makes it perfect for scooping up hummus or baba ganoush.

Zaatar Bread

middle eastern flatbread delight

Zaatar bread, a Middle Eastern flatbread adorned with a vibrant mix of za'atar spices, offers a tangy and aromatic complement to shawarma chicken thighs.

Baked until crispy and golden, this side dish features a unique blend of thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, and salt.

Served warm and fresh from the oven, it enhances the meal with its delightful flavors and inviting aroma.

Parotta Bread

indian layered flatbread recipe

Parotta bread, with its distinctive flaky and layered texture, serves as an excellent accompaniment to shawarma chicken thighs.

This popular Indian flatbread, known for absorbing flavors, pairs beautifully with chicken shawarma.

It can be used to wrap or scoop up the meat and yogurt sauce, providing a delicious way to enjoy the dish.

Found in South Indian cuisine, it's a delightful choice.

Cornbread Mix

delicious cornbread mix recipe

Utilizing Trader Joe's Copycat Cornbread Mix provides a convenient and efficient way to complement shawarma chicken thighs with a comforting side dish.

This cornbread mix offers the classic flavor with minimal preparation, requiring only the addition of wet ingredients like eggs and milk.

Customize it with jalapeños, cheese, or honey for a unique twist, making it a versatile and delicious accompaniment.

Tahini Sauce

creamy sesame seed paste

Tahini sauce, with its nutty and slightly bitter flavor, serves as an excellent complement to the savory spices of shawarma chicken thighs.

This creamy condiment, made from ground sesame seeds, oil, and lemon juice, is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. Its smooth texture and bold flavor elevate the dish, adding nutritious healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Perfect for drizzling or dipping!

Mint Yogurt Sauce

lamb kebab marinade option

Building on the theme of complementary sauces, mint yogurt sauce offers a tangy and invigorating alternative to pair with shawarma chicken thighs.

This revitalizing condiment, made from yogurt and mint, adds a cool and creamy element to your meal. Its subtle hint of rejuvenation complements the savory flavors of the shawarma, making it an easy and versatile addition to any dinner spread.

Hummus

hummus recipe with tahini

Hummus, a creamy dip made from chickpeas, is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine that pairs exceptionally well with shawarma chicken thighs.

Its mild taste and rich plant-based protein content make it a nutritious and satisfying side dish.

High in fiber, hummus complements the robust flavors of shawarma, providing a delightful texture contrast that's easily made at home.

Baba Ganoush

middle eastern eggplant dip

Complementing the creamy texture of hummus, Baba Ganoush offers a smoky and savory profile that enriches your shawarma chicken thighs. This popular Middle Eastern dip, made from roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice, adds a rich, delicious flavor to your meal.

As one of the best side dishes, Baba Ganoush is also packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making it both tasty and nutritious.

Toum

garlic dip condiment sauce

Toum, a traditional Lebanese garlic sauce, brings a creamy texture and robust garlic flavor that perfectly complements shawarma chicken thighs. Made from garlic, oil, lemon juice, and salt, it is an easy-to-make condiment that elevates your meal.

Pair it with a fresh salad for an invigorating contrast or Lebanese Spicy Potatoes for an extra kick, enhancing your dining experience.

Labneh

strained yogurt cheese spread

Labneh is a strained yogurt cheese with a thick and creamy texture. It is a versatile and tangy addition to any shawarma chicken thighs meal. Similar to Greek yogurt but tangier, labneh can be enhanced with a drizzle of olive oil and herbs.

It's not only delicious but also packed with probiotics, calcium, and protein, making it a nutritious and flavorful side dish.

Fattoush

lebanese bread salad recipe

Fattoush, a lively and invigorating salad, brings a delightful mix of textures and flavors to the table, making it an ideal accompaniment to shawarma chicken thighs.

Made with fresh veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers, crispy pita chips, and dressed with lemon juice and olive oil, it offers a revitalizing, zesty bite.

This Lebanese salad adds a vibrant, light element to your meal.

Tabbouleh Salad

fresh parsley tomatoes bulgur

Complementing the invigorating Fattoush, Tabbouleh salad introduces a vibrant medley of parsley, tomatoes, and bulgur wheat, dressed in a zesty mix of olive oil and lemon juice.

The addition of red onions enhances its flavor, making it a revitalizing counterpart to the rich and savory chicken shawarma.

This nutrient-packed salad is not only delicious but also provides essential fiber and antioxidants.

Couscous Salad

healthy vegetarian summer dish

Couscous salad, with its fluffy grains and fresh vegetables, serves as a light and flavorful side dish to accompany shawarma chicken thighs.

Dressed with a tangy vinaigrette of lemon juice and olive oil, couscous salad offers a delightful mix of textures and flavors.

The addition of herbs like parsley and mint enhances its freshness, making it a nutritious and vibrant complement to the meal.

Sumac Onions

flavorful garnish for dishes

Sumac onions, with their tangy and citrusy notes, offer a vibrant contrast to the rich flavors of shawarma chicken thighs. This Middle Eastern side dish features thinly sliced onions marinated in sumac, a spice known for its zesty taste.

Easy to prepare and best made ahead of time, sumac onions enhance the overall dining experience with their bright, zesty flavors.

Can the Same Side Dishes be Served with Shawarma Chicken Thighs and Salsa Verde Chicken?

Yes, the best side dishes for salsa verde chicken can also be served with shawarma chicken thighs. Some great options include grilled vegetables, a fresh mixed green salad, or a side of rice pilaf. These versatile sides complement both dishes and provide a delicious and balanced meal.

Vermicelli Rice

delicious asian inspired rice dish

Adding to the array of vibrant side dishes, vermicelli rice brings a fragrant and textural contrast to the robust flavors of shawarma chicken thighs.

This quick and simple dish, seasoned with butter and spices, sometimes includes toasted nuts for extra richness.

A staple in Turkish cuisine, vermicelli rice offers a comforting and aromatic complement, making it a perfect pairing for chicken shawarma.