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Chicken Shawarma Melt

A mouth-watering sandwich made with tender, seasoned chicken, creamy garlic sauce, melted cheese, and fresh vegetables, all nestled inside a ciabatta roll.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 4 hrs
Cook Time 12 mins
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 5 lbs Chicken half chicken thighs, half chicken breast (thinly sliced)

Marinade:

  • 1 1/2 heaping tsp Paprika
  • 1 1/2 leveled tsp Salt
  • 1 heaping tsp Black pepper
  • 1 heaping tsp Turmeric
  • 1/2 heaping tsp Cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp Hot sauce of you choosing (I used franks red hot "cayenne")
  • 1/4 cup Vegetable oil
  • 1 cup Vinegar

Build your sandwich with:

  • Garlic sauce
  • Pickles
  • Sliced tomatoes
  • Sliced raw onion
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Caramelized onions/or grilled onions optional
  • Ciabatta rolls

Instructions
 

  • Cut your chicken into very thin strips.
  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken strips with the paprika, salt, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, hot sauce, olive oil, and vinegar. Stir well to coat the chicken evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.
  • Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken strips to the skillet and cook for about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly browned. While cooking the chicken, you may notice a significant amount of liquid in the pan. Instead of draining it, it’s important to keep it in as it contains a lot of flavor. Continue cooking the chicken until all the liquid has evaporated, allowing the flavors to fully develop and intensify.
  • While the chicken is cooking, slice the ciabatta rolls in half and spread a generous layer mayonnaise on each half. Place the rolls on a separate pan on medium heat until they are lightly toasted and the mayo has turned golden brown.
  • Add a layer of garlic sauce, place a few slices of pickles on one half of the roll, followed by sliced tomatoes and raw onion.
  • Add a generous amount of cooked chicken strips on top of the vegetables, then sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top.
  • Place the baking sheet with the sandwiches back under the broiler and allow the cheese to melt and become bubbly, usually around 1-2 minutes.
  • If using, add some caramelized onions on top of the cheese.
  • Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place the top half of the roll on the sandwich.
  • And you're done !! If you end up having any left-over chicken, it is perfect for meal prep throughout the week!