Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Kebab) is a popular Turkish dish made of chicken pieces marinated in olive oil, milk, tomato & pepper paste, and aromatic spices. Although these tender and juicy Chicken Shish Kebabs are originally from Turkey, they are also quite common in Middle Eastern or Balkan countries.

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This authentic Shish Tawook/Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab (or Kabob) dish is almost on every restaurant's menu in Turkey. It is also popular in Western countries as takeaway food and is usually wrapped in a flatbread with some garlicky yoghurt sauce. I promise they taste just as good, if not much better!
Why This Recipe Works?
- They are absolutely delicious and very easy to make at home with my simple recipe.
- Perfect for entertaining your dinner guests, you can prep them a few days ahead and cook them on the day.
- It's a healthy and delicious dish with a minimum of prep time.
- They are freezer-friendly, you can keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- Chicken - I prefer using skinless & boneless chicken thighs for kebabs but chicken breast works perfectly too. You can also use frozen chicken if that's what you have in hand. Make sure you defrost them overnight before marinating them.
- Olive oil - I use cooking olive oil instead of extra virgin olive oil for the marinade. It adds flavour to the meat and keeps it moist.
- Tomato paste - It is the staple of Turkish cooking. It adds an umami flavour to the dishes as well as a bright red colour. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or buy online from Amazon .
- Red pepper paste - Turkish red pepper paste is a rich, delicious paste made with juicy, spicy red peppers and I use it quite often with my Turkish recipes. You can buy it from Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or online from Amazon.
- Milk - I use semi-skimmed or full-fat milk. Milk helps the chicken get tender&melt in the mouth. Many recipes include yoghurt for the marinade. I prefer milk instead as yoghurt tends to burn quickly.
- Spices - Adjust the amount to your taste.
- Vegetables - Onions, peppers and tomatoes are typically used for kebabs but you can use any other vegetables you fancy, such as chillies, mushrooms or aubergines.
How to Make Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Kebab)?
Making Chicken Shish Kebabs at home is surprisingly easy. However, there are a few simple steps to follow for you to achieve the best results:
Marinate the Chicken
There are many recipes for chicken shish kebab marinade and most of them use yoghurt. I prefer using milk instead as it gives a softer texture and better taste to the meat. To prepare the marinade, mix milk, tomato paste, olive oil, salt and spices in a bowl.
and then add the chicken. Nicely combine until all chicken pieces are covered with marinade then cover the bowl. Let the chicken marinate overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours. Don't let them marinate for more than 24 hours as the acid in the marinade will destroy the texture of the meat.
Thread the Chicken Pieces and Veggies Onto Skewers
When the chicken is marinated and you are ready to cook, start preparing the vegetables. Firstly, peel the onion and then cut it into chunky cubes similar size of the chicken. Secondly, wash the tomatoes and cut them into wedges, or use whole cherry tomatoes.
And then cut the Turkish chilli peppers into 4 pieces. If you are using bell peppers, cut them into chunky cubes similar size to chicken. Thread the chicken and vegetables onto metal kebab skewers. If you want to use bamboo skewers, soak them in the water beforehand for 30 minutes so that they don't burn.
Cook the Chicken Kebabs
The best way to cook shish tawook is by grilling them on the BBQ. Alternatively, you can use your oven grill to cook them. When cooking on the BBQ, make sure the grill is properly hot before you place the chicken shish kebabs on them. Cook for 12-14 minutes or the core temperature reaches 74 °C.
If you want to use the oven, preheat the oven grill to 210 °C. Place them on a tin foil-lined tray and then cook for 15 minutes or the core temperature reaches 74 °C. The cooking time may vary on the size of the chicken cubes and the heat of your BBQ/oven. Make sure you keep a good eye on them to prevent burning.
Related Recipes
For more delicious chicken recipes why not try:
Use boneless and skinless chicken breast or thigh for shish kebabs. You can also use a mixture of both if you want to enjoy two different textures at the same time.
Marinating the chicken prevents the meat from drying out and making it chewy. It also helps to tenderize the chicken, makes it juicier, and reduces the time of cooking.
The best way to serve these homemade Chicken Shish Kebabs is to serve them with Pita Bread, our classic Turkish Rice Pilaf, and some pickled gherkins. Other alternatives are Bulgur Pilaf, Lentil and Bulgur Pilaf (Mercimekli Bulgur Pilavi), Bazlama (Turkish Flatbread), Tomato and Walnut Salad (Gavurdagi Salatasi), Mediterranean Whipped Feta Dip or Authentic Hummus.
Yes, tawook shish kebab is a healthy dish as they are grilled meat and usually served with some salad and pita bread.
Top Tip From the Chef
Use the same marinade for marinating chicken wings or whole chicken. This marinade is perfect for any part of the chicken!
I hope you enjoy the process of making these delicious and healthy Turkish Chicken Shish Kebabs as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun!

Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab)
Equipment
Ingredients
Marinade for the Chicken
- ¼ cup olive oil (60 ml)
- ¼ cup milk (full fat or semi-skimmed)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon red pepper paste (optional, could be replaced with tomato paste)
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes (adjust to your taste)
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Chicken Shish
- 4 pieces boneless and skinless chicken breast (approximately 800 grams) (or equivalent amount of chicken thigh)
- 1 onion (red or white)
- 2-3 green Turkish chilies (or 1 large green bell pepper)
- 2 medium tomatoes (or 6 cherry tomatoes)
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into chunky cubes size of 4-5 cm.
- Place the olive oil, milk, tomato paste, red pepper paste (if using), chili flakes, paprika, freshly ground black pepper, and salt in a bowl and whisk until combined.
- Add the chicken pieces into the bowl and give it a toss until all the chicken pieces are covered with the marinade.
- Cover the bowl, place in the fridge, and let the chicken marinate for a minimum of 2 hours or preferably overnight.
- Peel the onion and cut into chunky cubes similar size to chicken.
- Wash the tomatoes and cut them into wedges.
- Cut the Turkish chili peppers into 4 or if using bell peppers, cut them into chunky cubes similar size to chicken.
- Thread the chicken and vegetables onto metal or soaked bamboo kebab skewers.
- Cook the kebabs on the BBQ for 12-14 minutes or in the 210 °C preheated oven-grill for 15 minutes, until the core temperature reaches 74 °C.
Nutrition
FOOD SAFETY
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
Ayla
Amazingly delicious
Brian
They tasted better than restaurant kebabs! Such a great recipe 👍🏻
Ayla Clulee
Thank you Brian, I am so glad you liked them.
Best wishes
Ayla
Jo
This recipe is so simple and so tasty. Perfect for the upcoming BBQ season.
Moustapha
This was delicious, and had excellent instructions.
Cathy
Wonderful flavours. I’ll definitely be able to make the same recipe for for my family at the next opportunity!
Diya
I really enjoyed this kebabs! The chicken was so juicy and tender. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Liam
Perfect recipe for BBQ season coming up! I made this a couple of times in the oven, still delicious. Can't wait to try them on the BBQ.
Hanna
They tasted so good, these kebabs will be on our menu often!
Dani
Delicious!! I made this recipe and oh man, perfectly moist chicken skewers. Thank you for sharing!!
Rana
Thanks so much for your lovely easy recipe. I doubled up on the ingredients for my family. Cooked it in the oven and served it up with a platter of cuscus and salad. Devoured in minutes requesting same for tomorrows dinner. Thank you.
Cara
Made this for the first time and it was fantastic. I had 10 skinless, boneless chicken thighs so I doubled the recipe. This was straight up delicious, and had excellent instructions.
Gail
The marinade on this chicken is perfect. Spicy and delicious!
Chris
Delicious!!! Even my wife and kids loved it! Very easy to make!!