Let me start by saying that this Chicken Doner Recipe is not the same as visiting your favorite Döner stand in Germany at 1 am looking for delicious nourishment to get you through an evening of celebrating with friends. BUT… it’s a pretty darn good recipe, and it might just satisfy your cravings for those fabulous flavors. And since it’s made with chicken, you can sort of pretend it’s healthy-ish.
I know, there are also going to be a few people out there grumbling that Döner isn’t German, it’s Turkish! Well… yes… it first came to Germany in 1969 to the city of Reutlingen … but shortly after that, a Döner stand opened at Berlin’s Zoo Station, and the popularity EXPLODED! In fact, a 2007 survey determined that Döner was the most characteristic food of Berlin (pretty amazing, when you consider that the Currywurst was invented there in 1949).
Now… this recipe is not made on a stand up Spiess…. but you can make it in your home oven, or even on a grill (oooohhhhh or on a Schwenker grill!). My daughter REFUSES to eat onions, so I use cucumbers for her instead. And we put some Tzatziki on it just for a nice fresh punch. Add the toppings you like (you can even add hot sauce!) serve it on a Pita or over a salad… and just ENJOY your Ersatz Döner!
Chicken Döner Recipe
There are a lot of different spices and seasonings in this marinade. Don’t leave any out, or the Chicken Doner kebab recipe just won’t be right.
Chicken Döner Recipe -An Ersatz Döner Recipe to Keep You Satisfied Until You Get to Germany Again!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 to 3 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs around 9
- 1 cup Plain Yogurt you can use Sour Cream
- 1 tsp. Lemon Juice
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 2 tsp Cumin powder
- 2 tsp Coriander powder
- 2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Ground Pepper
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 1/2 TBL Tomato Paste
- 2 tsp. Olive Oil for drizzling
For Serving:
- Pita Bread or Lavash
- Diced Tomato
- Shredded Lettuce
- Diced Cucumber
- Tzatziki
- Hummus
- Hot Sauce
In Addition:
- Wooden or metal Skewers
- Aluminum Foil
Instructions
- Wash and trim some of the extra fat off of the Chicken Thighs.. pat dry
- In a medium bowl, combine the Yogurt or Sour Cream and all the seasonings, lemon juice, tomato paste, salt and pepper and garlic. Mix it well.
- I found it easiest to put the chicken thighs in a gallon sized zip-lock bag... then add the the yogurt marinade. Zip the bag shut, then knead the bag to completely coat the chicken.
- Set the plastic bag on a dish, then put in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
- When you are ready to cook....
- Take the chicken thighs out of the bag. Roll each one up into a semi-tight roll, and secure onto 2 skewers. Add one or 2 other rolled up thighs to the skewers.
In the oven-
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Line a baking pan with foil (for ease of cleaning)
- Set the skewered thighs across the edges of the pan... so that they are held slightly above the pan bottom
- Drizzle with the Olive Oil
- Roast for 30 minutes
- Then spoon some of the drippings over the chicken... flip the skewer over... spoon with more drippings... then Roast for another 10 - 15 min.
On the Grill-
- Pre-heat your grill... If you are using a gas grill, only heat half of the grill. If you are using coal, move the coals to one side.
- When the grill is hot, oil the grill, then put the chicken on NOT DIRECTLY OVER THE FIRE!
- Cook 15 min... flip... 15 more... flip... then 10 more.
- Remove from the grill.
To Serve-
- Slice the chicken thighs the long way (parallel to the skewer).
- You can add more drippings to the pile of meat.
- Serve in a Pita with tomato, onion, hummus, hot sauce, tzatziki... I find it easiest to warm the Pita in the oven, lay it on a piece of foil, then load it up and wrap the foil up to hold it together.
- Alternatively, build a salad with the Chicken Döner meat on top. Or serve with an assortment of side dishes.
Notes
Looking for more easy German Recipes? Try my Easy German Cookbook! It’s packed with 80 traditional recipes made simple for the American Kitchen.
Order from Amazon… or order a signed copy from my online shop.
Easy German Cookbook: 80 Classic Recipes Made Simple
Easy German Cookbook SIGNEDGermanGirl Shop
Ordering from Canada? Get your copy here…
Buy Your Own Döner Machine HERE
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Find a Quick Tzatziki Recipe HERE–>Tzatziki
Chicken Döner Recipe Step by Step Photos
there is nothing more german than a Doner Kebap. The first thing i’m doing when i go back home to visit is going to a Kebap Haus and eating one.
I made this last summer and it was a big hit, making it again this year. I loved it so much, I put the dry spices in jars and printed recipe & instructions as gift tags for gifts for colleagues. They’ve all since been kebab converts!
What a great idea!
Looks so tasty and delicious.
Visited Germany a while back and fell in love with Doner kebabs. I’ve been craving them ever since! I’m trying it out this weekend
Let me know how it goes…(and keep in mind that this won’t be exactly like the one you had from Döner stand)
Hello! I tried this and it was great!!! One question though… what was I supposed to do with the tomato paste??? Was it supposed to go in the marinade??
Nice, I’ll try this. Döner is always high on my Must-Eat-List, when I’m in Hamburg.
My daughter and I always head straight for a Döner stand in Germany. So delicious. This recipe is a nice way to keep the cravings satisfied until we can get back to Germany
Thanks for the recipe I am always looking for something different to cook. This looks so good. Cook in training. 😀
Let me know how it goes.