Description
Tender marinated chicken with aromatic Middle Eastern spices served over fluffy rice and topped with creamy tahini sauce for an authentic and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 pieces (1.5 lbs) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 cloves, minced fresh garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 whole lemon fresh lemon
- 1 cup tahini
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 cups jasmine or basmati rice
Instructions
- Prepare oven and dish: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking
- Create marinade: Mix olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in large bowl
- Marinate chicken: Add chicken breasts to marinade, coat thoroughly. Let sit minimum 30 minutes for flavor penetration
- Bake chicken: Transfer marinated chicken to baking dish. Bake 25-30 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Prepare tahini sauce: Whisk tahini, Greek yogurt, lemon zest, salt, and water until smooth and creamy
- Cook rice: Follow package instructions for jasmine or basmati rice, ensuring fluffy texture
- Assemble bowls: Layer rice first, add sliced chicken, drizzle generously with tahini sauce
Notes
- Pound chicken breasts to even thickness before marinating – this ensures uniform cooking and prevents dry spots
- Let chicken rest 5 minutes after baking before slicing to retain juices and maintain tenderness
- Thin tahini sauce with warm water gradually until it reaches your preferred consistency for drizzling
- Double the marinade recipe and freeze half with raw chicken for quick future meals
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 685 calories
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 48g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: chicken shawarma bowls, Middle Eastern recipe, tahini sauce, marinated chicken, rice bowls, healthy dinner