One of the best ways to cook Trader Joe's shawarma chicken thighs is in the air fryer! This air fryer chicken shawarma is incredibly flavorful and juicy with crispy edges. Your family will love it served with steamed rice or inside warm pita bread with a salad. It's an easy dinner ready in under 15 minutes!

Also try my Trader Joe’s pesto chicken air fryer, Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs air fryer and Trader Joe’s breaded chicken air fryer.

cooked trader Joe's shawarma chicken thighs in air fryer

Trader Joe's is always my go-to store for picking up something quick and easy to make for lunch or dinner. Their pre-marinated chicken thighs are great to have on hand. They are great for days when you don't feel like cooking, or you simply do not have a whole lot of time to prepare something completely from scratch for your family.

These Trader Joe's shawarma chicken thighs are so good and perfect any day of the week. Boneless skinless chicken thighs are covered in a tangy and savory Middle-Eastern-inspired shawarma spice marinade.

Paired with steamed rice, hummus, or your favorite vegetable side dish, you can have a delicious dinner on the table with hardly any effort at all!

How to cook Trader Joe's shawarma chicken thighs

Begin by removing the Trader Joe's shawarma chicken thighs from their packaging and letting them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. This allows for more even cooking.

recipe ingredient vacuum packed on the table

If your chicken thighs are stacked or overlapped in the packaging, separate them gently.

Preheat your air fryer by setting it to 400 degrees. Allow it to run for about 2-3 minutes to reach the desired temperature.

After the air fryer has preheated, open the basket and place the chicken thighs inside in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching or overlapping. This will allow for proper air circulation and even cooking. Close the air fryer and set the timer for 13 minutes.

Midway through the cooking time, around the 7-minute mark, carefully open the air fryer and use tongs to flip each chicken thigh. This will help in achieving an even crispiness on both sides.

After the timer goes off, check the chicken thighs to make sure they're fully cooked. They should have a golden-brown exterior and the internal temperature should read at least 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.

raw poultry in the black air fryer basket

Once you've confirmed they're done, carefully remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer basket, placing them on a serving plate. Let them rest for a couple of minutes to lock in the juices.

Serve immediately and enjoy your Trader Joe's shawarma chicken thighs, cooked to perfection in your air fryer!

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What is shawarma and what does it mean

Shawarma refers to a Middle Eastern dish where thinly sliced meat is stacked onto a skewer and cooked in a similar way to a rotisserie chicken. Although, instead of cooking the meat horizontally, shawarma is cooked vertically over a spit.

In addition to chicken, shawarma can be made with thinly sliced beef or lamb meat. It just depends on your preference!

What really makes shawarma stand out from other dishes is its intensely savory and delicious spice blend. Plenty of ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon, onion and garlic, paprika, and turmeric are used to create this incredibly flavorful dish.

What i love about this recipe

You can decide to cook your chicken any way you like, but I prefer to cook these shawarma chicken thighs in the air fryer because it's much easier than grilling, pan frying, or oven-baking.

Not only do I prefer the flavor better but it's a much faster cooking method, so it's perfect if you are running short on time. Trader Joe's shawarma chicken thighs always come out juicy and tender in the air fryer. The circulating hot air works so that you have a crispy exterior similar to if you had cooked them on over the stove, just without the hassle!

Frequently asked questions

Why is my chicken rubbery in the air fryer?

If your chicken is rubbery it was probably overcooked. Cook the chicken until it has an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Another reason for rubbery chicken could be crowding the air fryer. If the meat is stacked or overlapping each other it could lead to the meat steaming and having an unpleasant texture in the air fryer.

Should I flip the chicken in the air fryer?

You don't have to flip the chicken, but you can if you want to make sure it browns evenly on both sides. Flip it over about halfway through the cooking time.

What do you eat chicken shawarma with?

Chicken shawarma is seasoned with a large amount of warm and savory spices. It's best to serve this chicken with flavors that are bright and fresh like a chopped cucumber and tomato salad, garden salad, greek salad, guacamole, or a yogurt sauce. Steamed rice, hummus, pita bread, or french fries also pair excellently with shawarma.

Expert tips

Let the chicken thighs sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before cooking for more even results.
Place chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket without them touching or overlapping. This setup promotes even cooking and maximizes crispiness.
To verify that the chicken is cooked perfectly, use a meat thermometer. Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
After cooking, let the chicken rest for a few minutes. This pause helps lock in the juices, resulting in moist and flavorful meat.

Trader Joe's Shawarma Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer

Yield: 4 oz

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 13 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 package of Trader Joe's shawarma chicken thighs
chopped cilantro for garnish

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes. Open the chicken package and add chicken to the air fryer. I made two batches.
Cook at 400 for 13 minutes, flip half way through.

Notes

Let the chicken thighs sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before cooking for more even results.
Place chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket without them touching or overlapping. This setup promotes even cooking and maximizes crispiness.
To verify that the chicken is cooked perfectly, use a meat thermometer. Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
After cooking, let the chicken rest for a few minutes. This pause helps lock in the juices, resulting in moist and flavorful meat.