Description
Delicious and easy Chicken Shawarma Pita Pizza combines the Middle Eastern flavors of marinated chicken shawarma with the comfort of cheesy pita bread pizza. This recipe features tender, spiced chicken thighs cooked in a skillet and topped on warm pita with mozzarella, fresh veggies, tangy banana peppers, tahini sauce, and parsley for a flavorful, quick meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cardamom
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Pita Pizza Toppings
- 4 pita breads
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 roma tomatoes, sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 ounces pickled sliced banana peppers
- ½ cup tahini sauce
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, paprika, cardamom, cumin, cinnamon, and crushed red pepper to create the marinade mixture.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the thinly sliced chicken thighs to the bowl with the marinade, stirring well to coat all the pieces evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours, allowing flavors to meld.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes.
- Prepare Pita Base: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and place two pita breads on each sheet. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the pita breads.
- Bake the Pita Pizzas: Bake in the preheated oven until the pita breads are lightly toasted and the cheese has melted, approximately 5 minutes.
- Assemble the Pitas: Remove the pita pizzas from the oven. Distribute the cooked chicken shawarma evenly over the cheese layer. Top with sliced roma tomatoes, red onions, and pickled banana peppers. Drizzle tahini sauce generously over the toppings and sprinkle chopped parsley for garnish.
- Serve and Enjoy: Cut each pita pizza into four slices and serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken overnight enhances flavor but a minimum of 1 hour is sufficient.
- Use a cast iron skillet to get the best sear and even cooking for the chicken.
- The baking step melts the cheese and crisps the pita but avoid overbaking to keep the pita from becoming too hard.
- Substitute mozzarella with a blend of mozzarella and provolone for extra richness.
- Tahini sauce can be homemade or store-bought depending on convenience.
- Adjust crushed red pepper to control the spiciness of the chicken marinade.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pizza
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: Chicken Shawarma, Pita Pizza, Middle Eastern Pizza, Easy Dinner, Quick Pizza, Tahini Sauce, Skillet Chicken
