Store-Bought vs Homemade Shawarma Seasoning

Guide · About 5 minutes to read

Shawarma flavor comes mostly from the spice blend. You can buy a ready-made jar or mix your own. Here's how they compare, so you can pick what suits how you cook.

Store-bought: why people like it

• One jar instead of eight spices.
• Consistent flavor batch to batch.
• Easy to try before committing to a full spice cabinet.

Homemade: why people like it

• You control salt and heat.
• You can tweak it for chicken, beef or lamb.
• Often cheaper if you already own the spices. Try our homemade shawarma spice blend.

Either way, build a full marinade

A blend on its own isn't a marinade. Add oil, lemon juice and plenty of garlic, then let the meat sit for at least an hour. See our all-purpose marinade.

FAQ

Is store-bought shawarma seasoning as good as homemade?

It depends on the blend and your taste. Store-bought saves time; homemade lets you control salt, heat and each spice.

What's usually in shawarma seasoning?

Common spices include cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, allspice, cardamom and black pepper. Check each product's label for its exact ingredients.

How much seasoning do I use?

Follow the package, then adjust. As a rough start, many cooks use about 1 to 2 tablespoons of blend per pound of meat, plus oil, lemon and garlic.

Keep going

• Best shawarma seasonings to buy
• Shawarma spice guide
• Air fryer chicken shawarma