Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad (Printable)

Spiced chicken meets crispy rice with fresh vegetables and tangy yogurt for a satisfying Middle Eastern-inspired bowl.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 ounces)

→ Grains

02 - 2 cups cooked basmati rice, preferably cold and day-old

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 large cucumber, diced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dairy & Dressing

06 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

→ Spices & Oil

07 - 2 tablespoons shawarma spice blend (or ground cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, garlic powder, and cayenne)
08 - 4 tablespoons olive oil
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Slice chicken breasts into thin strips. In a bowl, toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, shawarma spice blend, and a generous pinch of salt. Set aside to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove from the pan and keep warm.
03 - Wipe the skillet, add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, then add the cooked rice. Press into an even layer and cook undisturbed for 4–5 minutes until the bottom is golden and crispy. Stir, then let crisp for another 2–3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
04 - In a large bowl, combine cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
05 - Add the crispy rice and cooked chicken to the vegetables. Toss gently.
06 - Drizzle with Greek yogurt. Toss again or serve with yogurt dolloped on top.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The crispy rice creates these incredible crunchy nuggets that soak up all the spiced juices
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like it took all day
  • The warm chicken against cool crisp vegetables is genuinely satisfying
02 -
  • Do not rush the rice crisping step, those golden crunchy bits are the best part of the whole dish
  • Let the chicken marinate even just 10 minutes makes a noticeable difference in flavor
03 -
  • If your rice is sticking to the pan, let it cool another minute before trying to scrape it up
  • Dairy-free yogurt works perfectly here if you need to accommodate dietary restrictions

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