10 Arabic Chicken Recipes for Dinner Tonight

Chicken kabsa is a popular traditional dish from Saudi Arabia – sometimes considered THE national dish of the country. It is also known by the name of makbus. There are variations of this dish made in the areas around Saudi Arabia as well. What makes this dish really special is the use and combination of spices that flavor the chicken and the rice.

Take the dish up a bit with the addition of daqqus, an Arabic tomato sauce that can be made spicy if you like. Kabsa rice is easy to make and can be reheated if you make a big batch by placing into the oven, covering with aluminum foil and slowly warming up.

My middle son absolutely adores chicken shawarma and living where we do it's easy enough to pop outside and buy a sandwich. But, they're not always the healthiest and I can't really control the quality or what's in them. Instead I love making this dish at home.

It's also turned out to be a REALLY popular dish for potlucks and gatherings. If you're wondering what to make with chicken shawarma there's no limit! Make up a big batch of the meat, put it out with different toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, pickles to name a few and then whip up some shawarma garlic sauce and you're all set to party!

Get ready to go crazy for this dish! Basically there is nothing wrong with this meal – what's not to love when you combine chicken, fried pita bread, rice, and a garlicky yogurt/lime sauce? Best of all, there's a shortcut if you don't have the time to cook a whole chicken to add to the dish – rotisserie chicken works too.

Make this when the rice and chicken are warm and eat immediately because it really can't be reheated. Don't worry you won't have any leftovers to heat up anyway!

Palestinian chicken musakhan is a delicious and fun addition to any dinner table. Don't be scared off by the steps, the flavor pays off in the end. This is a great way to save some money too as it uses chicken legs, though you could swap for any cut of meat that you like.

The ingredients in this dish are all easy to get in the region though if you're living elsewhere it may require a little bit of effort. This dish is a favorite for kids.

You get to eat with your hands!

The Arabic name for this dish is Djaj bil-Bahar Il-Asfar and it makes for a fantastic summer grilled chicken recipe. When you want to really up your grill game – go for this! The spice blend on this chicken is what really makes it special and it does require a few specialty items you might not have in your pantry.

You can leave them off but know the recipe won't be quite the same. When I made this I added a bit of olive oil to the spice paste and popped it in the fridge overnight. Drool worthy!

Hailing from the Mediterranean island of Djerba this rice dish is an all in one meal with starch, protein and vegetable all in one dish. It's also steamed making it a unique preparation. That being said it's quick and easy to make with minimal oversight. ideal for a weeknight dinner.

I made this dish for the first time recently after having it saved on Pinterest for months. I don't know why I waited so long. My family LOVES this dish. So much so that my husband has asked me to add it to the weekly meal plan.

My kids gobble it up and ask for seconds and thirds. I like it because honestly, it's really easy to make! While you should marinade the chicken for 2+ hours I've left it for just 15-30 minutes and it's still very good. Whatever you do, DO NOT skip making the yogurt sauce topping, it really makes the dish.

For those of us who are really short on time but still want to put something delicious on the table, this recipe might be just want you're looking for. Not only is it super fast, you're going to have minimal dishes to wash from cooking! It is a great use of an instapot for dinner.

Make the recipe once and then adjust based on your tastes. Add more hot peppers if you'd rather a bit of a kick, or mix in some toasted nuts when it's complete for added texture. There are dozens of variations you could make!

This dish might be hard to get your kids to eat if they're not big on “green” foods but it's extremely popular in the Levant. The stew portion is made from a leafy vegetable called nalta jute that grows in the region – it's similar to spinach.

Historically speaking this dish is OLD dating back to the pharaohs of Egypt and was prized because of its health benefits. You can make it with any kind of meat on the side. This recipe uses beef but has instructions for substituting chicken.

This Moroccan sweet and savory dish is a little difficult to master but sure to impress your family or guests. Originating in Moorish Spain it was once only served in the royal dining rooms. However as the average person gained access to the prized materials needed to create this, it became a special occasion dish.

It does take some time and effort to master but it's a show stopper of a dish that will make your guests (or family) ask for seconds.