Name: One-Pan Chicken Shawarma Salad with Bulgur
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 600 g Boneless skinless chicken thighs, 1 cm strips; 50 g Mayonnaise; 0.5 lemon Lemon juice; 2 cloves Garlic cloves, crushed; 1 tbsp Tomato puree; 1.5 tsp Sumac; 1 tsp Baharat; 0.5 tsp Paprika; 2 tbsp Olive oil; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); 250 g Bulgur; 400 ml Stock; Fresh parsley, finely chopped (handful); Salt (to taste); 80 g Tahini; 80 ml Water; 0.5 lemon Lemon juice; 1 clove Garlic clove, crushed; Salt (pinch); 4 large Tomatoes, deseeded and finely chopped; 0.5 cucumber Cucumber, deseeded and finely chopped; 0.5 onion Red onion, finely chopped; 0.5 lemon Lemon juice; 1 tbsp Olive oil; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste)

One-Pan Chicken Shawarma Salad with Bulgur

This one-pan chicken shawarma salad cooks bulgur in the same pan as the spiced chicken for maximum flavor, then finishes with a fresh chopped salad and tahini sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

Mayonnaise helps the spices cling to the chicken for deep browning. Bulgur absorbs the pan juices, and the tahini sauce brings creamy balance.

Ingredients Overview

Sumac and baharat give warm, tangy spice, while bulgur makes it hearty. Tomatoes, cucumber, and onion keep it fresh and crisp.

How to Make It

Sear the chicken, steam the bulgur in stock in the same pan, then assemble with salad and tahini sauce. Serve immediately.

Tips and Storage

Store bulgur, chicken, and salad separately for best texture. The tahini sauce thickens in the fridge, so loosen with water before serving.

What To Watch In The Pan

Because the bulgur cooks after the chicken, the browned bits left behind matter. They season the grain and give the finished bowl much more depth than plain stock alone.

Try not to overcook the chicken during the first stage. It only needs color before the rest of the components are assembled, and a short rest before slicing helps the juices stay in the meat instead of pooling on the plate.

Make-Ahead Notes

This works well for meal prep if the salad is kept separate until serving. The tahini can be made a day ahead, and the chicken and bulgur reheat well without losing too much texture.

The chopped salad should stay crunchy, so salt it lightly and not too far ahead of time. If it sits too long, the tomatoes and cucumber will release water and dilute the sharper shawarma flavors from the pan.