This chickpea shawarma bowl is an easy, comforting dinner made with roasted vegetables, warm spices, and simple ingredients that come together in one pan for a filling, satisfying meal you can feel good about cooking at home.
For more easy Mediterranean dinners, check out our roasted broccoli salad with butter beans, Greek baked beans, lentil sweet potato patties, and Greek bean salad.

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Why you’ll love this chickpea shawarma bowl!
This chickpea shawarma bowl is the kind of dinner that works on a busy weeknight but still feels special ๐ฟ. You get warm spices, roasted vegetables, and a filling base of chickpeas and quinoa, all made in a simple, no-fuss way.
Louise and I make recipes like this often because once everything goes in the oven, it practically cooks itself. We toss the quinoa right onto the hot sheet pan so it soaks up all the roasted flavors, which keeps cleanup easy and the bowl extra comforting ๐
This Mediterranean chickpea bowl is fiber-rich and packed with vegetables, making it a healthy dinner without being diet food. Itโs hearty without feeling heavy and naturally low in saturated fats ๐ซ
Served with Greek yogurt, lemon, and a small pinch of feta, this vegetarian shawarma bowl is simple, satisfying food you can feel good about cooking at home.
P.S. It’s also delicious with hummus, baba ganoush, and tzatziki
Ingredients
Full ingredients and substitutions are in the recipe box below.

- Chickpeas: the base of this roasted chickpea bowl, hearty and filling. Use canned for ease, or cooked dried chickpeas if you have them.
- Eggplant: adds a soft, creamy texture when roasted. Zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers work just as well.
- Sweet potato: brings gentle sweetness and helps balance the spices. Swap with carrots, butternut squash, or regular potatoes.
- Onion: roasts into sweet, almost caramelized slices. Yellow onion, red onion or shallots all work.
- Extra Virgin Olive oil: helps everything roast evenly and adds richness. Avocado oil or another neutral oil will also work.
- Lemon: brightens the whole plant-based shawarma bowl. Use lime or a splash of red wine vinegar if needed.
- Garlic: optional, but it adds depth to the spices. If garlic doesnโt sit well with you, you can skip it or use a little garlic powder instead. We sometimes leave it out for a lighter dinner.
- Shawarma spices: we use paprika, coriander, cumin, and cinnamon to give this Middle Eastern inspired vegetarian bowl its warm flavor. A mild curry powder or ras el hanout can be used instead.
- Quinoa: makes the bowl filling and balanced. Brown rice, farro, or couscous are easy swaps.
- Feta: a small amount adds a lot of flavor. Use a non-dairy feta if needed.
- Greek yogurt: cool and creamy contrast. Use a yogurt sauce made with low-fat Greek yogurt or Skyr for even more protein, or a dairy-free yogurt if preferred. Hummus, tzatziki, and baba ganoush also work.

How to Make Chickpea Shawarma Bowl
1) Make the shawarma mix
Preheat the oven to 425ยฐF (220ยฐC). If youโre using pre-cooked quinoa or another pre-cooked grain, set it aside for later. If your grain is not cooked yet, start cooking it now according to the package instructions. It will be ready by the time the vegetables finish roasting.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, grated garlic (if using), paprika, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper.

2) Roast the chickpeas and vegetables
Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper if you like easier cleanup. Add the diced eggplant, sweet potato, red onion, and well-drained chickpeas to the sheet pan. Pour the shawarma mix on top and toss well so everything is coated. Spread into a single layer. Roast for 30 minutes until tender and lightly browned.

3) Build the bowls
Add the cooked quinoa right onto the hot pan. Squeeze over a little lemon juice, sprinkle with parsley, and crumbled feta. Toss gently to pick up all the pan flavors.

4) Build the bowls
Spoon into bowls and top with Greek yogurt or tzatziki. This works great as a make-ahead vegetarian bowl for easy lunches. It’s great warmed or at room temperature.

Tips
- Even cuts: Cut the vegetables into similar-sized pieces so they roast evenly.
- Give them space: Use a large sheet pan and spread everything out to avoid steaming.
- Hot pan quinoa: Add the quinoa while the pan is still hot so it absorbs flavor.
- Final taste check: Adjust salt or lemon just before serving if needed.
- Mixed diets: Serve feta and tzatziki on the side so everyone can build their own bowl.
- Fresh finish: Add parsley right before serving for the best flavor and color.
- Better tomorrow: Leftovers taste even better the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This recipe works very well as a make-ahead vegetarian bowl. Store the roasted chickpeas, vegetables, and quinoa together, and add tzatziki and feta just before serving.
Absolutely. Rice, farro, or couscous all work well and still keep this a satisfying quinoa shawarma bowlโstyle meal.
Let it cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep toppings separate if possible.
A mild curry powder or all-purpose spice blend will still give you a flavorful result.
Reheat gently in the microwave or in a skillet with a small splash of water or olive oil to keep it from drying out.
More Mediterranean Meals
- Easy Greek chickpea soup
- Mediterranean lentil and quinoa skillet
- Easy Lemon Lentil Soup
- Mediterranean One-Pot vegetable orzo
- Chopped lentil salad with lemon dressing
- Greek cauliflower bowl (Gyros-style)
- Cauliflower shawarma bowl
- Greek sheet pan gnocchi
If you try this Chickpea Shawarma Bowl Recipe please leave a ๐ star rating and let us know how it turned out in the commentsโwe love hearing from you.

Easy Chickpea Shawarma Bowl with Roasted Vegetables
Video
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas (15 oz / 400 g can) rinsed and drained
- 1 medium eggplant diced
- 1 medium sweet potato peeled and diced
- 1 onion sliced
- ยฝ lemon
- โ cup parsley chopped
- 1ยฝ cups cooked quinoa or more to taste
- ยผ cup crumbled feta + Greek yogurt to serve
Shawarma Spice Mix
- 4 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1 clove garlic optional – grated
- 3 teaspoons paprika smoked or sweet
- 2 teaspoons coriander ground
- 1 teaspoon cumin ground
- ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt + black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ยฐF (220ยฐC). If using pre-cooked quinoa or another pre-cooked grain, set it aside. If not, start cooking it now according to the package instructions. Make the Shawarma Mix: In a small bowl, whisk together 4 tablespoons olive oil, 1 clove garlic (grated), 3 teaspoons paprika, 2 teaspoons coriander, 1 teaspoon cumin, ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper.
- Roast the Vegetables: Add 1 can chickpeas (rinsed), 1 medium eggplant (diced), 1 medium sweet potato (diced), and 1 onion (sliced) to a large baking sheet. Pour the shawarma mix over the top. Toss well so everything is coated.Spread the vegetables into a single layer. Roast for 30 minutes until soft and lightly browned.
- Add the quinoa: Add 1ยฝ cups cooked quinoa to the hot baking sheet. Squeeze over the juice of ยฝ lemon then add โ cup parsley and ยผ cup crumbled feta. Gently toss to mix everything together.
- Serve: Spoon into bowls. Top with a dollop of Greek yogurt or tzatziki. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
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Delicious! I used bulgar as my grain (it’s what I had on hand). I will look up more of your recipes.
Thank you so much, Shannon! Bulgur is a great choice! So happy you enjoyed the bowl, and I hope you find a few more recipes you like. Really appreciate you sharing!
Nico
Wondering if there is a sub for feta? I cannot do any dairy. Of course will just go without, but wondered.
Hi Della! You could try dairy-free feta! Most larger supermarkets carry it these days, and some brands are actually pretty good!
Or you could skip the feta altogether and add some quick pickled red onions for a little tanginess. A drizzle of tahini sauce would be delicious too. Hope you enjoy it!
Nico
Absolutely delicious and healthy! The flavors came together so well! I cooked a package of Trader Joes Shawarma Chicken Thighs alongside this in the oven and it timed perfectly and added more protein to the bowl. This will be on regular rotation for dinners and lunches in the fall and winter!
Thank you so much, Michelle! That’s exactly what we’re trying to achieve here! Making veggies so tasty and easy that you can pair them with your favorite protein and have a great meal. So happy you enjoyed it!
Nico
Excellent
Thanks Rosemarie!
Nico
This is a five star recipe. It is so warming and tasty. It is my new Lunch favorite, swapping out feta for goatscheese insteadโฆ..yum
Thank you so much, Vicki! โค๏ธ So happy you loved it! Weโre thrilled itโs become a new lunch favorite! ๐
Nico